Game server status: Rust, CS2, ARK, Palworld, FiveM
Query ports, server lists that lie, and what each protocol actually proves. Minecraft has its own hub; this one covers everything else.
How to check if a Rust server is down
Rust puts its query port one above the game port, which is why most Rust status checks fail against a healthy server. How to check it properly.
How to check if a CS2 server is down
Counter-Strike 2 community servers answer A2S on the game port. Official matchmaking servers answer nothing at all, and knowing which you have changes the whole question.
How to check if an ARK server is down
ARK uses one port for gameplay and a completely different one for queries, and the two are not adjacent. That single fact explains most failed ARK status checks.
How to check if a Palworld server is down
Palworld's community server list is unreliable enough that a missing server usually means nothing. How to check the server itself instead.
How to check if a FiveM server is down
FiveM does not use the Source query protocol. It exposes plain HTTP endpoints, which makes checking one easier than any other game server — once you know where to look.
CS2, Rust, ARK, Palworld: checking any Source-style game server
One query protocol covers a surprising number of games. How A2S works for CS2, TF2, Rust, ARK, and Palworld servers, why the query port isn't the game port, and where each game's quirks hide.