Survival, Skyblock, Factions, Prison, Anarchy, Creative, Minigames, Economy, Roleplay and Modded: what each Minecraft server type is like.
Survival (SMP)
Survival Multiplayer is the classic game with other people in your world. You gather resources, build a base and play at your own pace. Many survival servers add land claims so your builds are protected, plus a few quality-of-life plugins. Vanilla survival servers keep the rules as close to the single-player game as possible.
Skyblock
You start on a small floating island with a few resources and expand it by growing farms, generating stone and trading. It is a favourite for players who like slow progression and optimising small spaces. Many Skyblock servers add islands you can invite friends to, upgrades and leaderboards.
Factions
Players form groups called factions, claim land, raid other factions and defend their base. Expect competitive PvP, TNT and politics. It is intense and very social, but progress can be lost in raids, so it suits players who enjoy conflict.
Prison
You begin as a prisoner mining blocks to earn money and rank up through mine levels. It is a mining and economy game with a clear progression ladder and often a light PvP element.
Anarchy
Anarchy servers have almost no rules. Griefing, combat and exploits are part of the experience, and only a few server-wide limits exist. They attract experienced players who like technical challenges. They are not a good place to start, and you should never build something you cannot afford to lose.
Creative
You get unlimited blocks and can fly. Creative servers focus on building, with plots you own, shared projects and build contests. Some also teach redstone and terraforming.
Minigames
Short, rule-based games such as Bed Wars, Sky Wars, parkour, Hide and Seek and Build Battle. You queue, play a round and come back to a lobby. They are easy to pick up and suit short sessions.
Economy
Players earn in-game currency by selling items, running shops or completing jobs, then spend it on land, gear or perks. Economy features appear in many other modes too, which is why you will often see Economy next to Survival or Skyblock.
Roleplay
A story-driven world where you play a character, such as a villager, a knight or a traveller. Roleplay servers often have custom plugins and lore, active staff and a strong community, with rules about staying in character.
Modded
Servers that need a mod loader or modpack, or use custom items and creatures. You usually need to download a particular modpack and match the server's version exactly.
Frequently asked questions
What is an SMP server?
SMP means Survival Multiplayer: the normal game with other players in the same world, often with land claims and a few quality-of-life plugins.
What is Skyblock in Minecraft?
You start on a small floating island with a few resources and expand it by building farms and trading. It focuses on slow progression and optimising small spaces.
What is a Factions server?
Players form groups called factions, claim land, raid other factions and defend their base. It is competitive and often involves TNT and PvP.
Which game mode is best for beginners?
Survival or Creative servers with active staff and clear rules are the easiest to start with. Anarchy and Factions suit experienced players.