Published 2026-09-23 · Updated 2026-09-23
What is a Minecraft SMP server?
SMP means a shared survival world that people return to. Here is how it differs from a minigame network.
A world, not a round
SMP is survival multiplayer. You share one world with other players, gather resources, and build things that are still there when you log back in. That is different from Skywars, Bedwars, or a lobby that sends you into a fresh round every ten minutes.
An SMP can still have rules, claims, a whitelist, or a season. The name only tells you the shape of the game. The listing has to tell you the rest.
How to choose one
Read whether the world wipes. A seasonal SMP publishes an end date. A no-reset listing says the owner does not plan to wipe. ScopeCraft does not inspect the world, so the description is the owner's statement.
Then check edition, version, and how grief is handled. A quiet vanilla+ world and a large anarchy SMP are both SMPs. They are not substitutes for each other.