Even 10 years after its release, Minecraft has remained one of the most watched video games across YouTube and Twitch. With a record number of active monthly players last year, Minecraft also has one of the largest communities in gaming. There are a variety of ways to play and watch, from speedrunning to creative mode and hardcore survival. One of the most popular types of series to watch is survival multiplayer - aka Minecraft SMP - and fans have a few of these series to choose from.
When Minecraft released in 2011, YouTube Let's Players were quick to jump into the block sandbox game. YouTubers such as Pewdiepie and Tobuscus loaded into worlds with nothing more than chickens and pigs to keep them company. The solo survival genre was quickly overshadowed by Minecraft battle royales and Skyblock series, and a new wave of YouTubers rose to the top. Now, the popularity of Minecraft minigames has subsided, and Minecraft SMPs reign supreme.
Although there are hundreds of Minecraft Let's Plays available, there are three major Minecraft SMP series, each involving a large number of popular creators: Dream SMP, EpicSMP, and Hermitcraft. While all focus on surviving inside the blocky world of Minecraft, each is very different from the others and will appeal to a different audience. For viewers who aren't sure which Minecraft SMP is right for them, here is a guide to the three biggest.
Dream SMP - Minecraft Survival Role-Playing
The Dream SMP is the most popular Minecraft series, by far, because of the popularity of the creators involved. The server is owned by Minecraft speedruner Dream, who has seen an unprecedented spike in popularity over the past year, and is populated by characters such as Tommyinnit, Tubbo, Quackity, and a large number of similar creators. The Dream SMP largely focuses on role-playing, and big scripted events can draw hundreds of thousands of live viewers on Twitch. However, the majority of Dream SMP streams feature players wandering around the map and goofing off with one another. Dream SMP creators mainly stream their gameplay on Twitch or YouTube, and some upload highlight reels of their streams after the fact. This makes the series less episodic, which makes it important for viewers to tune into streams to keep up with their favorite creators.
For those interested in watching a group of friends pull pranks, joke around, and occasionally role-play scripted events, Dream SMP is the route to go. The downside to Minecraft's Dream SMP is that it's hard to keep up with for those who can't always watch a stream, and there aren't proper episodes. The humor may not be for everyone, and the players tend to yell at each other often. But it is a very active SMP that offers a lot of hilarious moments.
EpicSMP - Minecraft For The Popular Kids
Started by musician and SuperMega member Matt Watson, EpicSMP was and is one of the wildest Minecraft series and is unlike any other. When the server launched, 41 of the internet's most popular creators were invited, including Game Grumps' Arin Hanson and Ross O'Donovan, Jacksfilms, Eddy Burback, Dolan Dark, and SwaggerSouls. EpicSMP takes place on a heavily modded Minecraft server, which makes for some very interesting creations and situations. However, it was a flame that burned bright and fast.
After a month of fantastic Minecraft content, the server started to dwindle. SwaggerSouls is one of the most active players and continues to stream gameplay, but it's obvious that the momentum from day one has died off. Despite the limited run of the server, the first month of content was magical, and seeing how these creators played Minecraft together was a treat.
Hermitcraft - Minecraft As It Should Be
Hermitcraft started in 2012, making it the longest-running Minecraft SMP to date, but the "hermits" have come a long way from when they first started. Hermitcraft is a group of adult Minecraft players that share a server for a year or two at a time. When one season ends, another begins on a new server with a new seed. Some of the more popular creators on Hermitcraft are Mumbo Jumbo, Grian, and Keralis. These creators are commonly featured at official Minecraft events and provide a mostly family-friendly atmosphere.
There are 23 different hermits on the server, and each has a specific skill set. Some are amazing builders, while others are great at Redstone creations. The server is almost completely vanilla, with the exception of a few slight modifications. The hermits do get into shenanigans every now and then, sometimes involving improv storylines. However, hermits can choose whether or not they want to participate and can also start their own events. Hermitcraft is for those who enjoy watching skilled players play Minecraft as intended, and each creator uploads episodes, making it easy for viewers to follow along. With there being seven seasons of Hermitcraft already, there's also a substantial backlog for viewers to enjoy.