How to Play DarkRP in Garry’s Mod in 2025: Complete Guide

DarkRP remains one of the most popular Garry’s Mod game modes in 2025 for roleplay enthusiasts. It places players in a simulated urban environment, where each one can take on a specific role: police officer, mayor, gangster, doctor, shopkeeper, or regular citizen. The goal is to simulate a functioning society with rules, laws, conflicts, and alliances—all within a sometimes chaotic but structured setting. DarkRP balances player freedom with server-specific rules, often enforced with penalties to prevent abuse.

To play DarkRP, you can either join an existing server or create your own. If you want to host your own server, you'll need Garry’s Mod installed on a dedicated machine (or use a server hosting service). Start by downloading the official mode files from the DarkRP github page. Click on "Download ZIP" to get the full package, then extract the folder named "darkrp". Move this folder into your server’s garrysmod/gamemodes directory. Then, update your server configuration to use DarkRP as the default gamemode instead of the standard sandbox. This can be done through a control panel or by editing the configuration files manually.

To customize the experience, it’s highly recommended to install the DarkRP-Modification extension. This allows you to easily tweak jobs, available entities, prices, rules, and more—without altering the core mode. Once everything is set up, restart your server to apply the changes.

If you just want to play, launch Garry’s Mod, head to the Multiplayer tab, and filter servers by the keyword "DarkRP". Choose an active server, read its rules carefully, and dive in. Roleplaying and interactions are essential: police officers must enforce the law, criminals can plan illegal activities, and citizens can engage in the local economy or get involved in politics.

For better communication, most servers use in-game voice and text chat systems, and often external platforms like Discord. Some public servers offer a casual, open experience, while others are more private and immersive, with custom roles, unique scripts, and stricter rules.