I found a public ATM 10 server that started as a friends server but now it is open to everyone.
The big idea is letting people play how they want. You can team up and make a nation with rules and laws or you can travel thousands of blocks away and live alone.
There are rules but they are just the normal basic ones you would expect. The server also has basic commands like home back and tpa so getting around is easier.
If you have questions the owner says you can ask and they will try to respond.
ArcticMC is a brand new SMP that started a couple days ago and it feels pretty chill. It is a survival server that mixes Towny and factions so you can build a town and claim land then make alliances or fight over territory.
PVP matters here but it is not just random chaos since they use an honor system. The rules explain how it works so fights stay more fair.
It also has McMMO skills so you level up while you play and get special abilities as you progress. There are custom items too including furniture and it is entity based so they plan limits to help with lag.
The world uses Tectonic generation so the terrain looks more realistic with big mountains and valleys. The community is meant to be calm and friendly so you can grind build explore or just hang out.
TiraCraft is a fresh survival multiplayer server that is all about alliances PvP and raids. People team up and make rival groups and then fight over control and bragging rights.
The world is new so there is lots of space to build and grow. Getting in early matters because you can grab important spots before other players do.
The economy is run by players with shops and trading. The server is still being worked on and the community gets to give feedback while it grows.
I found a survival multiplayer server called Sitana SMP.
It is an SMP and any age is allowed.
It looks like you join through their Discord and then you can play with everyone.
RuinCrest SMP is a survival server where players build nations and run them like real leaders.
People make their own factions then they build towns bases and full cities. You can team up with other nations and make alliances or you can start wars and fight over territory.
There is a live BlueMap so you can look at the world and see nations spreading. The community is meant to be welcoming and respectful and the vibe is good gameplay and fair play.
It runs on version 1.21.11 and it is all about politics diplomacy and player made stories.
Craftiverse is a competitive Factions server that brings back that classic land claiming and raiding vibe but made for 1.20+.
The world is custom made so it feels fresh and it is built for smart base spots and big terrain fights. You can build up with your faction then defend your stuff or go out and wipe someone else.
There are weekly events plus King of the Hill and other custom challenges where big loot is on the line. The server leans into hardcore PvP and high stakes raiding so alliances and rivalries actually matter.
It also has a balanced economy and the community helps shape what happens next. If you miss old school factions this is the kind of place where you can try to run the map.
BeeetCraft is a semi vanilla survival world that is meant to be slow and long term. It is not trying to be a chaotic public place. The idea is people actually stay and build something that lasts.
The gameplay is vanilla plus with quality of life tweaks and nothing that feels overpowered. Netherite tools are not allowed for now so progression stays more balanced. Players also get a say since the community votes on features and future updates.
There is a whitelist to help keep griefers out and the server aims for a chill low drama vibe with a 17 plus player base. It runs on a dedicated self hosted machine so it is not the usual shared host lag.
They are shaping the center spawn and want people to join early and build near it. Towns can form naturally and shops and player economy can matter. Politics and rivalries can happen without things getting toxic.
There is an arena style fighting event called Sols Gladiator World Tourney with prizes and more details are shared in the Discord.
Straight Up is a straight vanilla survival server that is trying to be a forever world. The overworld has not been wiped since April 1st 2019 and the point is to keep it going with real history and old places to find.
There are no land claims and no protected areas. PvP and griefing are allowed so you have to watch your back and play smart.
There is no tpa and no home commands. There is also no currency factions or economy stuff. It is just survival the way it normally feels.
Proximity voice chat is supported with Simple Voice Chat if you want it. The server is tuned for stable performance and it uses an anticheat that tries to stay out of the way while stopping unfair exploits.
SMPnir is a mostly vanilla survival server that feels like a normal SMP but with extra stuff that is made by the owner who is also a developer. The plugins are custom so the gameplay feels unique and it keeps getting changed and improved from player feedback.
There is a leveling system and it is meant to feel rewarding. Getting really strong gear like netherite and maces is made harder so it feels more earned when you finally get it. You also get death chests so your stuff is not just gone right away.
At night there can be events with bosses and modified monsters. There is also teleporting and other quality of life features. Cheating is taken seriously and chat is moderated. Paid options are said to be optional and only for convenience so players stay on an equal footing.