Killing Floor 2 Game Modes Explained

KF2 Server Game Modes

Killing Floor 2 supports five distinct game modes. The active mode is set via the game= parameter in your server's launch URL (or startup command).

Survival (Default)

The classic KF2 experience. Players fight waves of ZEDs and face the Patriarch or Hans Volter boss.

Launch class:

?game=KFGameContent.KFGameInfo_Survival

Wave counts (set via GameLength=):

• 0 = Short — 4 waves + boss
• 1 = Normal — 7 waves + boss
• 2 = Long — 10 waves + boss

Weekly Outbreak

A rotating weekly variant with special modifiers that change each week (e.g. all ZEDs are tiny, unlimited ammo, etc.). These modifiers are handled server-side and update automatically — no manual config needed.

Launch class:

?game=KFGameContent.KFGameInfo_WeeklySurvival

Versus Survival

A PvP mode where some players control ZEDs against the human team. Requires enough players on both sides to be enjoyable.

Launch class:

?game=KFGameContent.KFGameInfo_VersusSurvival

Note: Versus uses different map balance settings. Some community maps are not well-suited for Versus. Stick to official maps for the best experience.

Endless

Survival with no final boss — waves continue indefinitely, increasing in difficulty over time. Popular for high-score communities.

Launch class:

?game=KFGameContent.KFGameInfo_Endless

Objective Mode

Players complete in-map objectives while defending against ZED waves. Not all maps support Objective mode — it requires specifically designed maps (e.g. KF-Outpost, KF-Bioticslab).

Launch class:

?game=KFGameContent.KFGameInfo_Objective

Setting the Game Mode

Add the game= parameter directly in your startup URL:

./Binaries/Win64/KFGameSteamServer.bin.x86_64 \
  KF-BioticsLab?game=KFGameContent.KFGameInfo_Survival?difficulty=1?GameLength=1 \
  -log

If using a systemd service, put the full URL in ExecStart:

ExecStart=/home/steam/kf2server/Binaries/Win64/KFGameSteamServer.bin.x86_64 \
  KF-BioticsLab?game=KFGameContent.KFGameInfo_Survival?difficulty=1?GameLength=1 \
  -log

Switching Modes via WebAdmin

You can also switch game modes live from the WebAdmin panel:

1. Log in at http://YOUR_IP:8080
2. Go to Current Game → Change Map
3. Select the new map and game mode from the dropdowns
4. Click Change — the server will switch maps and reload with the new mode

This is the easiest way to change modes without restarting the server process.