I found this Minecraft network that is pretty new and still in early launch. It is called NovaCraft Network and it focuses on fair progression and actually listening to players. It does not feel pay to win and it does not rely on weird gimmicks.
The main gamemode right now is Skyblock. It has balanced progression and a player driven economy. It seems made for both casual players who just want to chill and also for competitive players who like to grind and race ahead.
There is also BedWars with 2v2 and 4v4 maps so it is good for small groups and friends who want quick pvp games. For people who like classic Minecraft there is a Survival world on hard difficulty with normal gameplay and nothing super crazy added on top.
The owners say they focus on fair progression active development and community feedback that actually matters. They are asking for players who want to help shape the server from the ground up so it feels like they really want ideas and suggestions.
Right now the server runs on Java 1.21.x and older versions are supported too. They also say Skyblock is just the beginning and that Lifesteal and Factions are planned for the future as the network grows.
NovaCraft Network Skyblock BedWars Survival
Chill Vanilla Java With Proximity Chat
I found a Java server that feels like a chill place to just play survival with other people.
It stays mostly vanilla and only uses a couple quality of life plugins like Proximity Chat and VeinMiner. The server also keeps up with the latest Java version.
The players seem active and friendly and it is heavily moderated so griefing is almost not a thing. It looks like the goal is a solid long lasting world with a good community and positive gamers.GG.MINEWIND.NET New Server IPChill Vanilla SMP With Bedrock Crossplay
I found a brand new Minecraft server that just started today and it is focused on vanilla survival.
It is a chill SMP with some plugins and it also has crossplay so Bedrock players can join too.
The owner is new to hosting and is looking for more players plus someone to help manage the Discord and share ideas for the server.
They also mention anti griefing tools so it should be safer for building and playing together.GG.MINEWIND.NET New Server IPRainbow Unity SMP Rankups and Land Claims
I found Rainbow Unity and it is an SMP that just updated to 1.21.11. It feels like a place where you can settle in and actually stay for a while.
You can claim land so your builds feel safe. The server pushes you to grow with a rankup system and perks so you always have something to work toward.
There are quests to do and custom items to chase. You can open crates for rare gear and pick up daily rewards which makes logging in feel worth it.
If you like building an empire and grinding upgrades with other players around this server is trying to be that kind of home.GG.MINEWIND.NET New Server IPSemi Vanilla SMP Starting Soon
I found a small semi vanilla SMP that is in testing right now
They are planning to fully start in about a week so it feels like a fresh beginning
If you want a simple survival server with a small group this one is trying to get goingGG.MINEWIND.NET New Server IPBoneBound ATM10 Forever Modded Server
BoneBound is an All The Mods 10 modded server that is trying to be a fun forever place to play. It is run by someone with a full time job who still wants the server to stay active and chill.
There is no pay to win stuff and no donation drama. The world border is set to 75000 so there is tons of room to build and explore.
They also ban a bunch of items that cause grief exploits or big lag. It feels like they are trying to keep things fair and keep the server running smooth.
Ranks go up by playtime and they are cosmetic bragging rights for now. More perks and land claims are planned later as the server grows. The listed version is 5.5.GG.MINEWIND.NET New Server IP