A decade after its release, Minecraft remains one of the most popular games with millions of players. Minecraft is almost its own platform more than a game, since part of the joy is finding servers with unique mods and playstyles. In that sense, a term that can't be ignored for new players is SMP.
Really, Minecraft has been a sandbox since the beginning. There are three main modes in the game: Survival, in which players have to scavenge for food and resources; Creative, which removes threats for the sake of building projects; and Adventure, which is similar to Survival but offers more structure, including scripted server commands via command blocks. Indeed server mods have enabled a universe of possibilities beyond what was originally envisioned.
SMP stands for Survival Multiplayer, effectively the core experience of Minecraft without any of the more elaborate mods. Even within that context, however, there are several variations, as Apex Minecraft Hosting notes. For purists, it's best to hunt down Vanilla servers - these have few (if any) mods, and may be good launching points for people just branching out from single-player. Friendlier still are Vanilla PvE or Peaceful servers, which disable the option for players and AI enemies to attack. Newcomers to the game should start here if they can, since it can be frustrating to lose inventory or building progress.
Modded Minecraft Offers Rewards And Danger
Modded servers come in many different varieties, so once Vanilla Minecraft is played out, it's really a matter of trying different ones until something clicks. One step up is a Semi-Vanilla server, which simply smooths over some of the game's rough edges, like adding a shop that lets players sell items to each other instead of conducting manual trades. For a challenge, Skyblock servers drop players on small floating islands, Faction servers are based on conquest, and Anarchy servers are complete chaos. In fact, if Peaceful is a great introduction for beginners and children, Anarchy is the exact opposite - players should be prepared for cheating, griefing, and offensive language and buildings.
SMP in general may not be for everyone. Some players are attracted to Minecraft as if it were a Lego set - and though it is possible to build massive structures in Survival, it's better to stick to Creative to avoid having days of work destroyed by a creeper. Particularly in the case of Anarchy servers, players who have their own definitions of fun may prefer more difficult Minecraft SMPs.
Source: Apex Minecraft Hosting