How to Join Your Black Mesa Server

Black Mesa has no matchmaking and does not force you through a lobby. You connect to your server directly – through the developer console, through the Steam favorites or through the in-game server browser.

Find connection details

Enable the developer console

The console is disabled by default in Black Mesa.

1. Start Black Mesa
   Launch the game and wait for the main menu to load.

2. Open the options
   Open the Options from the main menu.

3. Enable the console
   Enable the Developer Console option there.

Connect through the game console

A direct connection is the most reliable way onto your server.

1. Open the console
   Press ~ in the game to open the console.

2. Connect
   Enter the following command:

   connect IP:Port
   

Via Steam favorites

Storing your server in Steam lets you find it again at any time.

1. Open Steam
   Open the Steam client.

2. Open the server browser
   Click on View in the top left and select Game Servers.

3. Add the server
   Click on the Favorites tab and then on + at the bottom right.

4. Enter the server address
   Enter the IP address and the Game Port of your server and confirm.

5. Join
   Select the server and connect. The server then also appears in the favorites section inside the game.

Via the in-game server browser

1. Open the server list
   Select Play Online in the main menu. Black Mesa then opens the server list.

2. Search for your server
   Search for your server name in the search field, or switch to the Favorites tab if you stored the server in Steam beforehand.