Minecraft Servers Are So Back
Minecraft is having a real community renaissance, and smaller, more intentional servers are leading the way. As players return for creativity, comfort, and connection, spaces like Starless SMP show how powerful cosy, people first worlds can be. In this feature, we talk to the team behind Starless about building a safe, welcoming server for girls and nonbinary players, from plushies and post offices to magazines and daily events. We also introduce G.URL SMP, now live at play.gurlworld.live.
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For a game that has never really left, Minecraft is having a very real main character moment again. Everywhere you look, servers are popping off. Group chats are filling with screenshots of half finished houses. People who “haven’t played since 2014” are suddenly arguing about shaders and block palettes like it is a full time job. But this is not just nostalgia doing a victory lap. What is coming back is not only the game- it’s the community.
There is something different about how people are returning to Minecraft this time. Over the past few years, the focus drifted towards massive, impersonal servers, where it was easy to feel like just another username in the crowd. Now, the energy is shifting again. Smaller servers, often sitting comfortably around 50 to 100 regular players, are proving they can be just as lively, if not more so. These are spaces where names become familiar, builds grow into shared towns, and logging in feels more like turning up somewhere you belong than joining a queue.
At G.URL, we have always loved spaces that feel like little worlds of their own. Part playground, part hangout. That is exactly why G.URL SMP is now live at play.gurlworld.live. Our own cosy, curated Minecraft server built around creativity, collaboration, and actually wanting to log in just to hang out. It is designed to feel like an extension of the magazine itself. Cute, considered, community first, and full of small details that make the world feel alive. A place to build, explore, collect cute things, run shops, and spend time with other G.URLs.
This new wave of servers is not about scale. It is about intention. It is about choosing spaces that feel human, welcoming, and worth showing up for. And one of the best examples of this shift is Starless SMP, an all girls and nonbinary server that has quietly built something genuinely special.
Starless has grown into a global community, but its heart is still rooted in the feeling of a smaller, safer space. A discord girls-only community that holds daily events, a monthly magazine, and even yearly fundraisers. More importantly, it is a place where people feel comfortable being themselves.
We spoke to the team behind Starless about how it started, how it grew, and why Minecraft servers like this are thriving right now.
In Conversation with Starless SMP
For anyone new to Starless SMP, how would you describe the server and its core vibe?
Starless SMP is a cosy, safe community for girls and nonbinary players where everyone’s welcome. You can meet new friends, build cute towns, run a shop, or just explore without worrying about toxicity, griefing, or theft. It’s the kind of place where you can log on and just feel at home. We even have fun little touches that make the server feel extra special, cute plushies, pets, a post office where members can leave each other adorable gifts, and even member hosted celebrations like weddings, birthday parties, and baby showers.
What originally inspired you to create Starless, and how has it evolved since launch?
On May 16th, 2022, I started Starless with the goal of meeting more girls to chat and play games with. I never imagined it would grow so big, but here we are. Now we’re a family of 40,000 members from all around the world, bringing women gamers together. Just three years ago this was a small friend server and it’s amazing to see how it has become so big. Today, we run our own magazine, host events every single day, and even organise yearly fundraisers. Creating Starless was truly one of the best decisions I’ve made.
Community seems central to Starless. How do you encourage that atmosphere in game?
Community is truly the heart of Starless. We focus heavily on creating spaces where members feel seen and valued, both in game and outside of it. That means regular events, casual hangouts, even just friendly chats in the server. We also make sure our rules and moderation prioritise kindness and respect, so people feel safe opening up, making friends, and being themselves.
Are there any features or design choices you’re especially proud of?
I’d say the Starless Monthly Magazine is something we’re really proud of. We’ve put out 24 issues so far, and each one is such a team effort. It’s not just server news. We cover gaming, art, fashion, self care, relationships, basically everything our community is into.
Can you tell us a bit about the team behind Starless?
Our team is around 70 incredible people who make Starless run smoothly. From verifying members and moderating chats to hosting events, answering questions, and running our Minecraft server, they do so much behind the scenes. Starless wouldn’t be where it is today without them. We make a big effort to treat the team like family by hosting bonding events, maintaining private team spaces, and recognising their hard work through things like Staff Member of the Month.
What kind of players do you think feel most at home on Starless?
Starless is especially for women and nonbinary players who have experienced toxicity, exclusion, or sexism in gaming spaces. A lot of our members are looking for a safer, more comfortable space, and that’s exactly what we aim to create. It’s a place to enjoy games without judgement, pressure, or fear of being treated differently. I often hear stories of players feeling shy at first, then finding a small group of friends they chat with daily. It’s always heartwarming to see someone go from nervous newcomer to fully integrated member.
With Minecraft servers having a real resurgence right now, what excites you most about the players still coming into the game today?
What excites me most is seeing people from all ages and backgrounds come together through Minecraft. For many players, the game is tied to childhood memories, and getting to relive that nostalgia alongside others makes it even more special. Watching friendships form, communities grow, and memories being made, especially among people who may not have felt welcome elsewhere, is incredibly beautiful.
If Starless existed beyond Minecraft, as a place, a feeling, or an aesthetic, what would it look like?
It would be like a warm, cosy room filled with friends, with a big blanket fort in the corner, comfy chairs, and warm lights everywhere. There would be a record player in the corner playing softly lo fi music, mugs of hot chocolate scattered on tables, and little nooks to sit and chat with whoever’s around. It’s a place where you can just relax, laugh, and be yourself without the fear of being judged.
Join Starless using the IP below:
starlessmc.net
Starless is proof of what happens when a server is built around people first. It shows that Minecraft does not need to be massive to be meaningful. It needs to be thoughtful. Welcoming. Designed with care.
Which brings us back to G.URL SMP.
We built G.URL SMP with that same heart. A creative, fashion forward, cosy, community first space where you can build, explore, collect cute things, and actually enjoy being online again. Think plushies. Think pets. Think shops, boards, events, and lots of small details that make the world feel lived in. Think a place that feels more like hanging out in a cute corner of the internet than ticking off a checklist.
G.URL SMP is designed to feel personal. A place where you start recognising names in chat. Where your builds slowly turn into shared neighbourhoods. Where logging in might mean decorating a room, running your shop, checking the post, or just wandering around to see what everyone else is working on. It is about being part of something ongoing, not just dropping in and out.
In a lot of ways, this new wave of Minecraft servers feels like a return to something we missed. Smaller communities. Familiar faces. Shared spaces that actually mean something. Minecraft servers are back, but more than that, community servers are back. The kind where you log in not because you have to, but because you want to see who is around and what is new.
Want to join G.URL SMP? Join using the ip below:
play.gurlworld.live
For a game that has never really left, Minecraft is having a very real main character moment again. Everywhere you look, servers are popping off. Group chats are filling with screenshots of half finished houses. People who “haven’t played since 2014” are suddenly arguing about shaders and block palettes like it is a full time job. But this is not just nostalgia doing a victory lap. What is coming back is not only the game- it’s the community.
There is something different about how people are returning to Minecraft this time. Over the past few years, the focus drifted towards massive, impersonal servers, where it was easy to feel like just another username in the crowd. Now, the energy is shifting again. Smaller servers, often sitting comfortably around 50 to 100 regular players, are proving they can be just as lively, if not more so. These are spaces where names become familiar, builds grow into shared towns, and logging in feels more like turning up somewhere you belong than joining a queue.
At G.URL, we have always loved spaces that feel like little worlds of their own. Part playground, part hangout. That is exactly why G.URL SMP is now live at play.gurlworld.live. Our own cosy, curated Minecraft server built around creativity, collaboration, and actually wanting to log in just to hang out. It is designed to feel like an extension of the magazine itself. Cute, considered, community first, and full of small details that make the world feel alive. A place to build, explore, collect cute things, run shops, and spend time with other G.URLs.
This new wave of servers is not about scale. It is about intention. It is about choosing spaces that feel human, welcoming, and worth showing up for. And one of the best examples of this shift is Starless SMP, an all girls and nonbinary server that has quietly built something genuinely special.
Starless has grown into a global community, but its heart is still rooted in the feeling of a smaller, safer space. A discord girls-only community that holds daily events, a monthly magazine, and even yearly fundraisers. More importantly, it is a place where people feel comfortable being themselves.
We spoke to the team behind Starless about how it started, how it grew, and why Minecraft servers like this are thriving right now.
In Conversation with Starless SMP
For anyone new to Starless SMP, how would you describe the server and its core vibe?
Starless SMP is a cosy, safe community for girls and nonbinary players where everyone’s welcome. You can meet new friends, build cute towns, run a shop, or just explore without worrying about toxicity, griefing, or theft. It’s the kind of place where you can log on and just feel at home. We even have fun little touches that make the server feel extra special, cute plushies, pets, a post office where members can leave each other adorable gifts, and even member hosted celebrations like weddings, birthday parties, and baby showers.
What originally inspired you to create Starless, and how has it evolved since launch?
On May 16th, 2022, I started Starless with the goal of meeting more girls to chat and play games with. I never imagined it would grow so big, but here we are. Now we’re a family of 40,000 members from all around the world, bringing women gamers together. Just three years ago this was a small friend server and it’s amazing to see how it has become so big. Today, we run our own magazine, host events every single day, and even organise yearly fundraisers. Creating Starless was truly one of the best decisions I’ve made.
Community seems central to Starless. How do you encourage that atmosphere in game?
Community is truly the heart of Starless. We focus heavily on creating spaces where members feel seen and valued, both in game and outside of it. That means regular events, casual hangouts, even just friendly chats in the server. We also make sure our rules and moderation prioritise kindness and respect, so people feel safe opening up, making friends, and being themselves.
Are there any features or design choices you’re especially proud of?
I’d say the Starless Monthly Magazine is something we’re really proud of. We’ve put out 24 issues so far, and each one is such a team effort. It’s not just server news. We cover gaming, art, fashion, self care, relationships, basically everything our community is into.
Can you tell us a bit about the team behind Starless?
Our team is around 70 incredible people who make Starless run smoothly. From verifying members and moderating chats to hosting events, answering questions, and running our Minecraft server, they do so much behind the scenes. Starless wouldn’t be where it is today without them. We make a big effort to treat the team like family by hosting bonding events, maintaining private team spaces, and recognising their hard work through things like Staff Member of the Month.
What kind of players do you think feel most at home on Starless?
Starless is especially for women and nonbinary players who have experienced toxicity, exclusion, or sexism in gaming spaces. A lot of our members are looking for a safer, more comfortable space, and that’s exactly what we aim to create. It’s a place to enjoy games without judgement, pressure, or fear of being treated differently. I often hear stories of players feeling shy at first, then finding a small group of friends they chat with daily. It’s always heartwarming to see someone go from nervous newcomer to fully integrated member.
With Minecraft servers having a real resurgence right now, what excites you most about the players still coming into the game today?
What excites me most is seeing people from all ages and backgrounds come together through Minecraft. For many players, the game is tied to childhood memories, and getting to relive that nostalgia alongside others makes it even more special. Watching friendships form, communities grow, and memories being made, especially among people who may not have felt welcome elsewhere, is incredibly beautiful.
If Starless existed beyond Minecraft, as a place, a feeling, or an aesthetic, what would it look like?
It would be like a warm, cosy room filled with friends, with a big blanket fort in the corner, comfy chairs, and warm lights everywhere. There would be a record player in the corner playing softly lo fi music, mugs of hot chocolate scattered on tables, and little nooks to sit and chat with whoever’s around. It’s a place where you can just relax, laugh, and be yourself without the fear of being judged.
Join Starless using the IP below:
starlessmc.net
Starless is proof of what happens when a server is built around people first. It shows that Minecraft does not need to be massive to be meaningful. It needs to be thoughtful. Welcoming. Designed with care.
Which brings us back to G.URL SMP.
We built G.URL SMP with that same heart. A creative, fashion forward, cosy, community first space where you can build, explore, collect cute things, and actually enjoy being online again. Think plushies. Think pets. Think shops, boards, events, and lots of small details that make the world feel lived in. Think a place that feels more like hanging out in a cute corner of the internet than ticking off a checklist.
G.URL SMP is designed to feel personal. A place where you start recognising names in chat. Where your builds slowly turn into shared neighbourhoods. Where logging in might mean decorating a room, running your shop, checking the post, or just wandering around to see what everyone else is working on. It is about being part of something ongoing, not just dropping in and out.
In a lot of ways, this new wave of Minecraft servers feels like a return to something we missed. Smaller communities. Familiar faces. Shared spaces that actually mean something. Minecraft servers are back, but more than that, community servers are back. The kind where you log in not because you have to, but because you want to see who is around and what is new.
Want to join G.URL SMP? Join using the ip below:
play.gurlworld.live
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