# Changing the Game & Map on Your s&box Server (/docs/sbox/change-game-and-map)



import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

In s\&box every gamemode is a **package** with its own ident (e.g. `facepunch.walker`). Maps are also packages (e.g. `garry.scenemap`). Which one your server loads is controlled by the `+game` launch switch.

The +game Switch [#the-game-switch]

```
+game <packageIdent> [mapPackageIdent]
```

* `<packageIdent>` — the game package to load (required).
* `[mapPackageIdent]` — optional. If omitted, the package's default map loads.

Ident format rules [#ident-format-rules]

This is the bit that trips up most operators. Idents are:

* **`org.name`** — exactly two parts separated by a dot (the publisher and the package name).
* **All lowercase.** `+game Walker` won't work; `+game facepunch.walker` will.
* **No spaces.** Don't try to use a friendly title.
* **Real and public.** The package has to actually exist on [sbox.game](https://sbox.game) and be set to public, otherwise SteamCMD has nothing to download.

`+game DeathMatch` is not a valid form — there's no implicit publisher. See [Finding Game Packages](/docs/sbox/finding-game-packages) for how to look up the right ident.

Example [#example]

Load Facepunch Walker on the Scene Map:

```bat
sbox-server.exe +game facepunch.walker garry.scenemap +hostname "My Dedicated Server"
```

Changing the Game [#changing-the-game]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Stop the server [#stop-the-server]

    Stop the running server before editing your launch script or panel **Commandline Manager**.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Edit the +game argument [#edit-the-game-argument]

    Replace the package ident with the one you want to host:

    ```bat
    sbox-server.exe +game some.othergame some.othergame_map +hostname "My Server"
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Start it back up [#start-it-back-up]

    The server will pull the new game package from sbox.game on first boot, then load it. Watch **Log Viewer** to confirm the download succeeded — a missing or misspelled ident is the most common reason a server "won't start." See [Troubleshooting](/docs/sbox/troubleshooting).
  </Step>
</Steps>

Hosting a Local Project [#hosting-a-local-project]

If you're developing your own game, point `+game` at a local `.sbproj` file instead of an ident — see [Local Projects](/docs/sbox/local-projects).

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Launch Parameters](/docs/sbox/launch-parameters)
* [Finding Game Packages](/docs/sbox/finding-game-packages)
* [Local Projects](/docs/sbox/local-projects)
* [Troubleshooting](/docs/sbox/troubleshooting)