It should come as no surprise by now that the Minecraft community is home to some of the most creative and ambitious minds on the planet. From complex, fully functional mods to beautiful, award-worthy cinematic shaders, Minecraft players are capable of some truly awe-inspiring development feats.
The game’s sandbox world—coupled with its free-form, there-are-no-rules concept—has functioned as a safe avenue for architectural artists to create to their heart’s content.
And create they have.
In this article, we take a look at Minecraft servers. 15 of the best community-created platforms brought to life, made by Minecraft players for Minecraft Players.
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Want to learn a valuable skill while playing Minecraft? Enroll in CodaKid classes which use games like Minecraft to teach coding for kids!
Table of Contents
What is a Minecraft Server?
A Minecraft server is a player-owned or business-owned platform that allows Minecraft players to play with other Minecraft players online or via a local area network. It basically turns this single-player sandbox game into a multiplayer experience for users to enjoy all over the world.
Minecraft servers are typically modeled after existing fictional worlds or settings to make them more appealing. However, Minecraft servers that are perfectly content not following a certain theme, game, story, or movie are still fairly common.
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There are 9 different types of Minecraft servers:
- Minigame
- Anarchy
- Survival
- Creative
- Faction
- Personal/Private
- Hardcore
- Roleplay
- Pay-to-Win
How Can I Join a Minecraft Server?
Joining a Minecraft server is fairly easy to do. We’ve outlined the steps below:
- Find a Minecraft server that you’re interested in joining. You’ll need:
- The server’s name
- The server’s IP Address
- Boot up Minecraft like you normally would.
- Type the name of the server as the title, and then type or paste the server’s IP address in the box below the title
- Save your entry
- Click Play
And that’s it! If you follow the steps correctly and the server is still active, you should be able to join without any problems.
15 Best Minecraft Servers
I. Mineplex
IP Address: us.mineplex.com
If you’ve been playing Minecraft for a while, then you’ve probably heard of Mineplex. For all I know, you’ve probably already tried it!
Mineplex is arguably the largest and most popular Minecraft server right now. It’s extensive, hefty, and offers plenty of things to do. Multiple arenas, dozens of game types, a handful of different activities … they even have their own version of Smash Bros, if you can believe that.
Make sure to check out Minekart – their version of Mario Kart, recreated in Minecraft’s signature blocky elements. There are plenty of tracks, power-ups, and race types to keep you entertained for days.
Regular occupancy numbers in the thousands at any given time, but it never suffers from lag or downtime. All thanks to the fairly active staff who make sure Mineplex stays a safe and wholesome server for everyone inside. Seriously; if you have to pick just one server from our list, Mineplex is one that consistently rates glowing feedback.
II. Purple Prison
IP Address: purpleprison.org
Purple Prison is yet another Minecraft server that – despite its age – is still quite popular and enjoyed by many. Even during its inception over 7 years ago, it was considered the gold standard for Minecraft servers. In fact, well-known YouTubers PewDiePie and Skeppy have played it for themselves—alongside hundreds of daily returning players.
Purple Prison’s community is perhaps one of the strongest and most tight-knit communities in the Minecraft server space. Their current Discord server boasts 30,000 active users and counting, and many of them are quite friendly and welcoming.
The Minecraft server itself has a fairly large mod team as well, and they’ve done an excellent job of keeping the whole thing safe and appropriate for all ages.
As for what you can do in the server, Purple Prison is set in a virtual prison world where players must mine and fight their way through different levels to collect rewards and progress. There’s also a plethora of side jobs and side quests to complete, like claiming plots of land and making in-game shops for some extra cash.
III. Roleplay Hub
IP Address: mc.roleplayhub.net
For both veteran gamers and newbie players, Roleplay Hub is a Minecraft server that caters to those that prefer to socialize by immersing themselves in different roles suited for different worlds.
For instance, one of the most popular roleplay universes in Roleplay Hub is centered on a Japanese high school. Players can choose to play as students or faculty, and they’re free to create their own storyline with other players or just go with the flow. Hundreds of players hop on every day to update their stories, so you’ll never be left bored or wanting. This Minecraft server is a great option for people who need a break from the typical hack, slash, mine, and craft loop of Minecraft.
IV. PirateCraft
IP Address: mc.piratemc.com
Take to the seas and establish your dominance as captain of the strongest crew, or else sail solo and outwit all the other players trying to wreck your ship. PirateCraft is a pirate-themed Minecraft survival server that lets you build and sail your own ship! You can even build and fire a range of actual working cannons.
Yes, naval combat is a thing here, and yes, it can get pretty rough.
Sailing your shop, shooting down enemy crews, and working your way up the pirate ranks takes a while to get used to – as is typical of most Minecraft survival servers. But believe me, it’s well worth the trouble. The ranking system yields some pretty useful rewards, the community projects are a great way to meet other players, and there are always ongoing competitions for you to snag some sweet, sweet loot!
V. Brawl
IP Address: mcmp.brawl.com
Less of a survivalist, more of an FPS gamer?
Don’t worry; Brawl’s got you covered.
This Minecraft server is exactly what the name suggests—an all-out slugfest for players who love the thrill of combat and the rush to become Last Man Standing.
Think of all the action-packed games you know and love, and then put that in a Minecraft setting. From battle royale games like Fortnite and PUBG to tactical combat rushes like Call of Duty and Capture the Flag, you’re guaranteed hours of fast-paced adrenaline rush full of non-stop shooting, running, punching, and reloading fun.
Definitely check out Raid on that server. It’s a hardcore survival game mode where the goal is to simply be the best!
VI. Grand Theft Minecart
IP Address: org.mc-gtm.net
Even if you don’t play it, you’ve definitely heard of Grand Theft Auto. More popularly referred to as GTA, this cult-favorite amplifies the thrills of car chases, complex heists, and living life in the fast lane. It’s arguably one of the biggest games of its generation, so whoever thought to combine it with Minecraft is a genius.
Own houses, buy weapons, drive planes, and run from the cops without having to download and install mods into your actual Minecraft client.
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If you’re a fan of the GTA series, you’re sure to spend hours on this server. If you aren’t, this server’s widespread community, consistent updates, and regular competitions make it a winning choice to check out!
VII. Arkham Network
IP Address: mc.arkhamnetwork.org
Although this is one of the smaller Minecraft servers, Arkham Network still hosts a pretty cool community, of chill (and not so chill) game modes, plenty of custom plugins, and a handful of other unique features worth checking out. If you’ve got a deep-seated love for comic books, graphic novels, and superheroes (or supervillains), this server’s right up your alley.
Play as the golden-hearted hero doing their best to keep the citizens safe while juggling a day job and secret identity, or else choose the path of questionable morals and watch the city burn. Whichever side you choose – and whichever game modes you opt to play – you’re sure to have a blast.
Pro tip: make a lot of friends on this server, because you’re going to need them.
VIII. MineScape
IP Address: play.minesca.pe
This server utilizes resource packs and beautifully handcrafted maps to recreate RuneScape – the popular, award-winning fantasy MMORPG brimming with diverse races, rich storylines, and classic dungeon-delving-styled combat.
Experience Gielinor reimagined as a Minecraft world. The same locations, mobs, and skills of RuneScape, all lovingly converted and reproduced for Minecraft players. You’re looking at two years’ worth of solid, painstaking effort—all culminated into one beautiful server with immersive maps, picturesque landscapes, moving game modes, and plenty of unique elements.
The MineScape community is a friendly bunch of both new and old-school RPG-ers who are always eager to welcome new visitors into the fold. With over 140,000 unique players and virtually zero downtime, MineScape is one of the best, most unforgettable Minecraft servers out there.
IX. Hypixel
IP Address: mc.hypixel.net
Hypixel is another fairly massive Minecraft server. It averages roughly 100,000 active daily players—yep; daily!—and updates practically every month.
Indeed, Hypixel’s claim to fame is fast-paced innovation. Ever since its conception, the moderators and administrators of this server have stopped at nothing to create unique, high-quality game modes that always score near-perfect runs on the first try.
Many agree that this Minecraft server has always been – and may always be! – ahead of its time. In fact, Hypixel is so innovative and so high-quality, they’ve ingrained themselves deep into the base game’s culture. So even if you’ve never considered trying Hypixel, you’re sure to come across it eventually—whether it be mentioned, referenced, or referred to.
Some of Hypixel’s most popular games include Bedwars, Skyblock, and TNT-Tag.
X. Origin Realms
IP Address: play.originrealms.com
Also referred to as “Minecraft V2,” Origin Realms is a Minecraft: Jave Edition server that seeks to expand, enhance, and build upon vanilla Minecraft survival mode gameplay.
Through a mix of exclusive features, select resource packs, and unique plugins, Origin Realm’s ultimate goal is to breathe new life into the basic elements of Minecraft survival mode that all players know and love. Custom items, rich storylines, new biomes, novel blocks, animated cutscenes, and more, Origin Realms is perhaps one of the most deeply and extensively developed Minecraft servers available. The amount of effort that’s gone into this platform is purely astounding, and there’s definitely more to come.
Currently available on early-access beta, curious players can join right now to get a taste of the Minecraft community’s best-kept secrets.
Whether you want to build the ultimate base, collect the rarest of resources, or complete all of the quests, Origin Realms promises something for everyone.
XI. PixelmonCraft
IP Address: play.pixelmonrealms.com
Gotta craft ‘em all? Easy-peasy with this Pokemon-themed Minecraft server!
Pixelmon actually started out as a pretty popular Minecraft mod that garnered an incredible following – and numerous downloads – because of how perfectly it replicated the Pokemon game experience in a Minecraft setting. Players could battle, trade, breed, and tame cute, blocky little pixel monsters (hence the name) just like the original source.
The mod also introduced dozens of new custom items, like Poke Balls, PokeLoot chests, and Poke Marts (with collectible items like Medicine and TMs).
PixelmonCraft simply took this mod and made it multiplayer.
The server itself is even split into two separate servers in order to replicate the two major regions in the Pokemon Nintendo games—Kanto and Johto. This means that there are certain locations, characters, and Pixelmon unique to either server.
The level of development and attention to detail is what makes this one of our top Minecraft server picks, so be sure to try it out when you have the chance!
XII. Among Us Performium
IP Address: amongus.performium.net
Among Us is, by no means, a new game. However, with the entire world population forced to stay at home, online interaction has tripled since 2020. So games that capitalized on forging and depending on digital relationships blew up.
As of last year, Among Us has become one of the most played games across all platforms. People seem to love this digitized take on the simple-yet-classic “find the mole” style of gameplay, and the creators of the Among Us Performium Minecraft server took full advantage of that.
Cleverly recreating key elements using basic Minecraft features – like using a boss health bar as a task progress bar, for instance – this fairly new server is shaping up to be a hit!
Play with your friends using the Among Us Minecraft maps, or else hop onto the public server and play with complete strangers. No mods or Minecraft texture packs required.
XIII. Lunar Network
IP Address: hub.lunar-network.net
Prefer good, old-fashioned fisticuffs over looting, plundering, crafting, and/or building? Looking to fine-tune your Minecraft PvP skills in honorable battles to the (digital) death? Then this combat-specific server is one to watch out for.
Lunar Network’s claim to fame is actually their flagship Minecraft PvP client that shares the same name (“Lunar Client.”) This Minecraft client became well-known for its various optimizations, custom simulations, and intelligent built-in anti-cheat system that could help players vastly improve their PvP skills and tactics.
Despite its highly specific and specialized purpose, Lunar Network still manages to keep a fairly large amount of active daily players. It’s especially popular within the Minecraft 1.8 PvP community, and it remains one of the most highly recommended choices for players itching for practice duels.
XIV. Minemen Club
IP Address: minemen.club
Speaking of PvP, Minemen Club is another popular Minecraft server that specializes in running 1v1 game modes and combat-specific simulations for players that want to hone their skills. Just like Lunar Network, this server has built-in anti-cheat solutions to keep fights fairs and scoreboards impartial.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two is accessibility. Whereas anyone can hop onto Lunar Network, Minemen Club is a high-skill, barrier-to-entry server that offers ranked and non-ranked modes for different types of duels. They even have a myriad of duel types; debuff, no debuff, sumo, archer, and refill—just to name a few. Minemen Club is the kind of server you hear about through duel requests and organized combat invitations.
If you want a little more structure to your PvP practice, Minemen Club is the way to go.
XV. Minecraft Middle Earth
IP Address: build.mcmiddleearth.com
Rounding off this list at a neat fifteen is Minecraft Middle Earth. There (most probably) isn’t a soul alive that doesn’t know Tolkien’s colorful fantasy world of Middle-earth—even if it’s just in the context of pop culture. With so many Minecraft servers recreating fantasy RPGs and MMORPGs, it was only a matter of time before some brave soul took it upon themselves to recreate the crazy extensive universe that acts as the setting for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises.
Although it’s still a work-in-progress, the current MCME server has plenty to offer! Start as an adventurer in Bag End and deep-dive into the depths of Moria, Isengard, and Minas Tirith – all in Minecraft style!
The current map is 29,000 by 30,000 blocks in size – or a whopping 870 square kilometers in real-world measurements. So trust us when we say you won’t be running out of the area to explore any time soon!
Minecraft Middle Earth is one of the longest-running Minecraft building communities, and PCGamesN Magazine has crowned it one of the “best Minecraft servers” of all time.
Conclusion
There you have it; the 15 best Minecraft servers for you to try out this year.
Recap:
- What is a Minecraft Server?
- How Can I Join a Minecraft Server?
- 15 Best Minecraft Servers
- Mineplex
- Purple Prison
- Roleplay Hub
- PirateCraft
- Brawl
- Grand Theft Minecart
- Arkham Network
- MineScape
- Hypixel
- Origin Realms
- PixelmonCraft
- Among Us Performium
- Lunar Network
- Minemen Club
- Minecraft Middle Earth
Minecraft servers are perhaps one of the best iterations of the Minecraft community’s creativity and dedication. It’s just like mods, texture packs, shaders, and unique structures: it showcases the ingenuity and programming skills of the creator (or creators) in question.
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We personally love that Minecraft encourages (and sometimes rewards!) this sort of out-of-the-box thinking. It’s a true testament to how even seemingly simple computer games can help children develop important, life-changing skills.
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