The best Minecraft servers

Our pick of the best Minecraft servers around including survival, RPG, skyblock, PvP, and more.

We’ve collected the very best Minecraft servers for those who want to see some of the best builds the block-building sandbox has to offer. You’ll find plenty of Minecraft survival servers, PvP servers, roleplay servers, creative servers, and competitive servers down below—more than enough to keep you and your friends in awe.

Minecraft servers are the single best way of seeing the ingenuity that Minecraft’s community has. Whether it’s outwitting your friends in a collection of clever mini-games, or going on an epic adventure around Middle-earth, Minecraft servers provide more than what the base game can offer, and all from the minds of an active and creative community.

Joining a server with a group of your friends is nice and simple. Boot up Minecraft like you normally would, type the name of the server as the title, then type or Ctrl+V the IP address into the box below (we’ve bolded each server’s IP in each entry so you can’t miss it). Save it, click play, and you’re good to go. Some of the prettier servers may ask that you download resource and texture packs, and you can find out how to install them with our best Minecraft texture packs guide.

We’ve updated this list for 2021 with the very best servers that the Minecraft community has to offer.

Mineplex

IP Address: us.mineplex.com or pe.mineplex.com

Mineplex is one of the best Minecraft servers on this list. It’s an astoundingly large server and has a vast array of things to do. They’ve got FPS games, painting, and even their own version of Smash Bros. Basically if you can think of a game type, there’s a large chance of it being available within Mineplex. If you’re after a Minecraft survival server, they’ve got a whole section dedicated to survival games. It’s also got an incredibly active staff and as a result, suffers from a lot less grief than some of the less wholesome servers around.

PirateCraft

IP Address: mc.piratemc.com

Sailing a ship around in Minecraft is tricky, but in PirateCraft, they do a surprisingly good job of making it work. As is often the way with these Minecraft survival servers, it takes a bit of time to get used to things, but it’s well worth the effort if you like the idea. The scale of the ships is impressive, as is the ship-to-ship combat. Just don’t be surprised when someone nicks your pirate ship. There’s no honour among thieves.

Herobrine.org

IP Address: Herobrine.org

Who doesn’t want to play on a Minecraft server named after the game’s most popular creepypasta mystery? Herobrine.org has a bunch of different games including survival, skyblock, factions, and more. It also has an Earth, a geopolitical game mode so make sure to check that out. When you’re done, why not check out the infamous Herobrine world seed that was found earlier this year.

WesterosCraft

IP Address: mc.westeroscraft.com

Game of Thrones is over now, and whether you liked or loathed the ending, you’re probably hungry for more. Well, hunger no longer, and feast yourself on this WesterosCraft. While it’s not finished, it’s still going to provide a nice rush for those who want to try their hand at being King for a day. We’ve yet to see whether or not you can pet the Direwolves though…

ImagineFun

IP Address: mc.imaginefun.net

The ImagineFun Minecraft server is Minecraft’s most realistic Disneyland park, and it’s beyond impressive. All the park’s main areas—Fantasyland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, Critter Country, and Adventureland—have been created block by block and this includes all the rides too. And get this—you can ride all of them.

Pixelmon Generations

Pixelmon Generations is a Minecraft mod, but it’s spawned a whole bunch of Pokemon-related servers, including PokeSaga, PokeZone, Pixelmon Harmony a strand within Complex Gaming, and many more. Pixelmon Generations features every Pokemon ever from Generations 1-7, and many from the most recent, Generation 8. That means this server has more catchable Pokemon across its many biomes than Pokemon Sword & Pokemon Shield, which is quite sad when you think about it.

Autcraft

IP Address: mc.autcraft.com

Autcraft is a server designed specifically for children and adults who have autism. It’s designed to be a safe haven for those who want a reprieve from the potentially overwhelming things you would find on other servers. This includes things like no frightening characters and making sure everything is kept child-friendly. You have to apply in order to join the server, but if you make it in then you’re good to go. It’s not doing anything special in terms of how it plays, but it’s a useful one to know about if you or a family member have autism and would like to know there’s somewhere safe to go.

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Hypixel

IP Address: mc.hypixel.net

Hypixel is another mini-game heavy server. There are all the normal games you would expect from a high-quality server, but there are also a few noteworthy ones as well. Games like VampireZ, where you have to try and survive as a human while the vampires hunt you. There’s even a game called Turbo Kart Racers, which is a surprisingly good racing game that will pit you against other players as you try and reach the finish line first. It’s a lot of fun, and they update it regularly, so it’s worth sticking around for.

Minecraft Middle-earth

Build IP Address: build.mcmiddleearth.com
PvP and Event IP Address: pvp.mcmiddleearth.com

A team was always going to attempt to recreate the Lord of the Rings universe in Minecraft, and the result is something truly breathtaking. Everything in MC Middle-earth has been meticulously crafted to feel as real as possible. Taking a stroll through the Shire is a lovely way to lose a few hours, but if you’re not here for a sightseeing tour, there’s also a PvP server. Because of course there is.

The Mining Dead

IP Address: hub.havocmc.net

What’s the one thing missing from Minecraft? Guns! Although that’d just make it Fortnite, wouldn’t it? Either way, if you’re a fan of The Walking Dead TV show or comic, The Mining Dead is a great opportunity to take in all the famous sights as you’re scrambling to find weapons, ammo, and generally anything to help fend off the undead. And because of the voxel stylings of Minecraft, there’s a faint whiff of Goldeneye 64 to the whole thing.

The Lord of the Craft

IP Address: mc.lotc.co

While this may sound like a Lord of the Rings server, it’s not quite. It’s fantasy, sure, but with a huge focus on roleplaying. The world, and its lore, is already set up, and a helpful warp command means travelling between the different kingdoms (high elves, dark elves, dwarves, etc) is simple. All you need is a killer skin and an elaborate backstory in Lord Of The Craft and you’re good to go.

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Grand Theft Minecart

IP Address: mc-gtm.net

You can probably guess from the title which popular video game series this server is based on. You guessed it, the unstoppable juggernaut that is Hello Kitty Online. Or GTA. It’s one of the two.

Join this server and you’ll be treated to two different game modes (Grand Theft Minecart and Vice Minecart), as well as 35 different GTA-inspired weapons. There are also plenty of vehicle offerings including cars, planes, and of course, tanks. Because it’s not GTA if there isn’t an option to go on an explodey murder-spree.

Arkham Network

IP Address: mc.arkhamnetwork.org

Fancy donning a cape while shouting “You have failed this city!”? Maybe you’re an anarchist looking to watch the world burn? Whichever side you choose to join, the Arkham Network has a comic-book world that’s just begging to be explored. And griefed, obviously. There are also a host of different day jobs for making coin, and a wealth of game modes to participate in. One of the key rules of this server is to make friends, and fast. You’ll need them.

Extreme Craft

IP Address: play.extremecraft.net

We couldn’t put out a list of Minecraft servers without mentioning one of the most popular out there. Extreme Craft keeps popping up because of the sheer amount of modes there are to play, including the likes of a fully fleshed out survival mode, hunger games, factions, skygrid, skywars, skyblock, acid island, and eggwars. That’s on top of a creative mode and the option of roleplaying. It’s like a Minecraft greatest hits compilation.

Potter World MC

IP Address: play.potterworldmc.com

When you first enter Potter World, you’re greeted by the boy himself battling a dementor as Hogwarts sits ominously in the background. Much like Middle Earth, Potter World goes all out when it comes to authenticity. Buildings appear as they do in the mind’s eye, complete with inside furnishings. You can learn about potion making, duel other wizards and witches, or go off and play a friendly round of quidditch. This is Minecraft at its strongest: creating game worlds that best those of their AAA counterparts.

Installing a Minecraft Server: Ultimate Guide Tips and Tricks

Minecraft is a game which allows players to build with a variety of different blocks in a 3D procedurally generated world. Minecraft is so popular, that it is the best-selling PC game of all time with over 29 million copies sold.

For those looking to play Minecraft with their friends, a Minecraft Server is required. It allows users to connect to one central computer which will host the game software for all the other players to use.

Minecraft Server Requirements

You’ll need the following system requirements in order to run Minecraft Server:

• A Windows 10 desktop or server
• At least 4GB of RAM is recommended
• A reliable wired network connection
• A generous Internet bandwidth plan: Minecraft can use up to 100MB per player per hour, so an unlimited bandwidth plan is ideal

For those wondering how to increase server performance, you may need a server wish more RAM or a more powerful CPU to keep up with multiplayer server demands. Check out our Dedicated Gaming Server solutions for more info on larger gaming servers.

Installation Instructions

Step 1: Open Windows 10 and download Java

Download the latest version of Java for Windows 10. Open the .EXE file and click Install. Restart your computer once installation has completed. We’d always recommend using the latest version of java for the best performance and you should keep java you are running up to date.

Step 2: Download Minecraft Server

Visit the Minecraft Server website and download the Minecraft server version of the Minecraft Vanilla JAR file to your computer. When you download the Minecraft Server jar, it will be saved by default to your Downloads folder. You can also download Minecraft Server from another project like Forge or Bukkit, but the next steps of running those jars and the install may vary.

Step 3: Open the Downloads folder and move Minecraft Server

Navigate to your Downloads folder and move the Minecraft folder to your desired location. We’re going to drag it to the desktop, but we would recommend a dedicated folder for Minecraft.

Step 4: Double click on the Minecraft JAR file

Double click on the Minecraft JAR file. This will extract some files we need before we can start the server.

Step 5: Agree to the Minecraft EULA and Set Server Properties

We’ll start by adjusting the configuration files before starting the server. The first file to open is the Minecraft EULA. The EULA is the document you are agreeing to when running the Minecraft Server.

To accept the end user license agreement, open the EULA txt file and update eula=false to eula=true. Save the file.

To adjust server settings, open the server properties file and save the file once the necessary changes have been made. If you’re wondering how to adjust server settings, the server properties file determines key server settings like server port, memory, and in game settings. Port 25565 is the default server port.

Step 6: Double click on the Minecraft JAR file

Open the Minecraft server file again to get the server java file running.

Step 7: Allow the Minecraft Server in the firewall

Click Allow Access

Step 8: Review Minecraft Server stats

The Minecraft Server is now installed and running and a stats window will appear. As we can see in the window, this particular local PC can’t keep up with the resources required to run a multiplayer server, so we’ll be setting this up on a cloud server with ServerMania for a better experience.

Step 9: Connecting to your Minecraft Server

Now that your server is installed, you can connect to it from Minecraft. Launch Minecraft and select Multiplayer.

Click Add Server

Enter server details and click Done. You can obtain the Minecraft server IP address by going to Google and searching «what’s my IP». You may need to open up access to port 25565 on your router if your friends are unable to connect. Keep in mind that your home IP address may change frequently, so you will need to provide them with the updated connections details when this happens. One of the main advantages of using a cloud server is you always keep the same IP.

Click the play button next to your server to start playing!

How do I setup Port Forwarding?

When you completing the install of a Minecraft multiplayer server on your local PC instead of hosting it wth a cloud server provider, you need to open up access to your local PC to the internet through port forwarding. If you don’t setup port forwarding, your friends won’t be able to connect.

The instructions for setting up Minecraft Server port forwarding will vary based on the type of router you use. So we’d recommend performing a google search on how to setup port forwarding based on the internet router or ISP you are using. This will complete your server install process.

In Summary

You’re ready to go! You’ve now learned how to create your own server. If you completed the server install process correctly, your friends should now be able to connect to your Minecraft Server. You can follow these instructions and swap out the default Vanilla Minecraft jar with a Forge, Spigot, or Feed The Beast jar if you want to customize your Minecraft Server experience with mods and plugins!

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How do i know my server ip?

You can find your computers IP address at https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/1696588 – be sure to open any ports on your firewall.

The link above will help find your internet facing, or WAN IP address, but not your local, or LAN IP address. Without getting too technical, if you have some friends that want to connect into your server from their houses you can use the link above to find your WAN IP address and give that to them. Then you will need to apply port forwarding rules to your router or firewall in your house to forward the Minecraft connections directly to your server. Be aware, if you do not have a STATIC IP from your internet provider this IP may change every so often. (Usually a few weeks)

The IP shown in the pics above is “127.0.0.1” and is ALWAYS a loopback address. This basically means “connect me to the machine I am on right now.” For example, if you your Minecraft server is your everyday PC, and you want to play ON your server, use that address and it should connect back to the server software on your PC.

Now, what if you are having a LAN-party and want your friends to connect to a server in your house while everyone is over? Easy. Find your LAN IP address:

1. Open a command prompt on your machine.

Windows –> Press Windows Key, then type “cmd”, press enter.
Linux–> Pres Ctrl. + Alt + T (I think)

2. Run a command to show your local IP address.

Windows –> Type “ipconfig” (no quotes), then press enter
Linux–> Type “ifconfig” (no quotes), then press enter

3. Look for IPv4 address in the results. It will almost ALWAYS begin with either 10, 172, or 192. Give this local address to your buddies and they should be able to connect.

Don’t forget no matter what option you do to make sure your computer’s software firewall is set to allow the Minecraft traffic. Google how to do this and you should find another guide.