Survival, Factions, SkyBlock… Minecraft server game modes explained

On a Minecraft server, the “game mode” completely changes the experience. Here are the main ones, with a link to the ranking of the best servers in each category.

“Building and adventure” modes

• Survival: the original Minecraft experience, with others. Gather, build, survive. Often with land claims to prevent theft.
• Vanilla: the game without plugins that change gameplay, for purists.
• Hardcore: one life only. Every mistake counts.
• Creative: unlimited resources and plots to build freely.
• Adventure: quests, dungeons and bosses on handmade maps.
• Modded: modpacks that add magic, technology or new worlds. You need to install the same mods as the server.

“Island” modes

• SkyBlock: start on a tiny island in the sky and expand it by automating your farms.
• OneBlock: a single block that regenerates, with richer and richer phases.

Competitive modes

• Factions: create a team, claim territory, fortify your base and raid others. Strategy, farming and PvP.
• PvP: duels, arenas and kits, for combat lovers.
• Minigames and BedWars: short matches (BedWars, SkyWars, Rush…), great with friends.
• Prison: mine to earn money and rank up until you are free.
• Anarchy: no rules and no protection, griefing and PvP are allowed everywhere. The freest mode, and the most ruthless.

“Community life” modes

• RP (roleplay): each player plays a character with a job and a story.
• Semi-RP: survival with jobs and a player economy, without strict immersion rules.
• Economy: trading, auction house and player shops.
• Towny: found towns and nations, with politics between players.

What about playing from a phone or a console?

Choose a Bedrock or cross-play server (Java and Bedrock). More details in our guide playing on a Bedrock server.

Still unsure? Check the servers rising this week or the Server of the month.