HARDCORE SMP · ONE LIFE, NO RESPAWN
whoever dies, watches

Want to start a hardcore SMP with your friends?

From $ 5.94 a month · cancel monthly

Your own world, your own group of friends and just one life. The last one standing wins the season. At MC-Node your server is online within two minutes in our Dutch data centre.

Start your own SMP How does hardcore work? ↓
★★★★★ 500+ reviews · 23,000+ customers · code valid until 8 November
  • From $5.94 a month for 10 friends, easy to split
  • Java and Bedrock: friends on phone or console can join too
  • Dutch data centre (Hengelo), NVMe, DDoS protection, online right away
your-smp.mc-node.net ONLINE
This is what a hardcore SMP looks like
1LIFE
0RESPAWNS
2MIN TO GO LIVE
15%OFF
LocationHengelo, Netherlands ✓
server.propertieshardcore=true ✓
Whitelistonly your friends ✓
Voice chatSimple Voice Chat ✓
After a deathspectator, or one revive ✓
WHAT IS A HARDCORE SMP?

What is a hardcore SMP?

An SMP (survival multiplayer) is a private server for a fixed group of friends; hardcore means everyone has one life. If you die, you become a spectator and watch until the season is over. No modpack needed: hardcore is built into Minecraft (hardcore=true); the rest is agreements and a few plugins. Rather just survive together without the one-life rule? Check out our regular SMP server: same plans, same discount.
PICK YOUR SERVER

Hardcore SMP server hosting: four plans for 10 to 40 players

One person orders and manages the server and the rest join in: split across your group, a hardcore season costs just cents per player. All plans run on NVMe with DDoS protection and your own panel. Pay monthly, upgrade when your group grows, stop whenever you like.

Redstone
5 GB RAM
For a small group of friends · 1 to 10 players
  • 75 GB NVMe SSD storage
  • Minecraft DDoS protection
  • Paper, Purpur, Fabric or Forge
  • Your own panel with console and files
  • Online right after payment
$ 5.94a month
≈ $ 0.59 per player with 10 players
First month $ 5.05 with HARDCORE15 · until 8 Nov
Order Redstone
BEST FOR AN SMP
Dirt
8 GB RAM
The sweet spot for an SMP · 1 to 20 players
  • 75 GB NVMe SSD storage
  • Minecraft DDoS protection
  • Paper, Purpur, Fabric or Forge
  • Your own panel with console and files
  • Online right after payment
$ 9.50a month
≈ $ 0.48 per player with 20 players
First month $ 8.08 with HARDCORE15 · until 8 Nov
Order Dirt
Clay
10 GB RAM
Room for plugins and mods · 1 to 25 players
  • 75 GB NVMe SSD storage
  • Minecraft DDoS protection
  • Paper, Purpur, Fabric or Forge
  • Your own panel with console and files
  • Online right after payment
$ 11.88a month
≈ $ 0.48 per player with 25 players
First month $ 10.10 with HARDCORE15 · until 8 Nov
Order Clay
Gravel
15 GB RAM
For a whole community · 1 to 40 players
  • 75 GB NVMe SSD storage
  • Minecraft DDoS protection
  • Paper, Purpur, Fabric or Forge
  • Your own panel with console and files
  • Online right after payment
$ 16.20a month
≈ $ 0.41 per player with 40 players
First month $ 13.77 with HARDCORE15 · until 8 Nov
Order Gravel
HARDCORE IN 5 STEPS

Make a hardcore SMP in 5 steps

No modpack needed: hardcore is built into Minecraft. With a few settings and three plugins you play just like the hardcore seasons you watch on YouTube.

STEP 1

Pick your plan

Up to 10 friends: 5 GB. Up to 20: 8 GB. More players or lots of plugins: 10 or 15 GB. Your server is ready in your panel right away.

STEP 2

Turn on hardcore

Open server.properties and set hardcore=true and difficulty=hard. Whoever dies automatically becomes a spectator.

STEP 3

Whitelist your friends

Set white-list=true and add everyone with /whitelist add name. That way nobody gets in uninvited.

STEP 4

Install the plugins

Simple Voice Chat to talk, CoreProtect against griefing and a revive plugin if you agree that someone may come back once.

STEP 5

Share your IP and play

Send the address from your panel to your friends. Friends on Bedrock (phone or console)? Install Geyser and everyone can join.

Simple Voice ChatTalk to whoever is next to you, great for tension in a cave too. Installation guide in the knowledge base.
Revive mechanicWith a revive plugin a dead player can come back once through an offering of rare items. How to bring back a dead player.
CoreProtect and a claim pluginEverything is logged and can be rolled back. Want no PvP? How to turn off PvP.
A SEASON THAT STAYS FUN

Three agreements every hardcore SMP needs.

The tech is the easy part. What keeps a season exciting are the rules you set with your group beforehand. Our guides help you with that.

RULE 1

How long does the season last?

Three weeks is the sweet spot: long enough to build, short enough to stay exciting. Work towards a finale with a shrinking world border.

Running a hardcore season →
RULE 2

What happens after a death?

Dead is dead, one revive per season, or a deathban of a few days. All three work, as long as you agree on it beforehand.

Making a hardcore SMP server, step by step →
RULE 3

Which plugins are in or out?

Voice chat, CoreProtect and a revive plugin are enough. Anything that makes the game easier takes the tension out.

The best plugins for a hardcore SMP →
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions about a hardcore SMP

What exactly is a hardcore SMP?

A survival multiplayer server where everyone has one life. If you die, you are out and watch as a spectator. The last one standing wins the season.

Do my friends chip in too?

That is up to you. One person orders and manages the server; the rest play for free or chip in a little. With 20 players on Dirt ($9.50) that is $0.48 per player per month.

How much RAM do I need?

Up to 10 players 5 GB is enough, up to 20 players 8 GB, up to 25 players with plugins 10 GB, and for 40 players or big modpacks 15 GB. You can always upgrade from your client area.

Can friends on phone or console play along?

Yes. With the Geyser plugin, Java and Bedrock players play together on one server. Floodgate means Bedrock players do not need a Java account.

How does the discount code HARDCORE15 work?

Click a plan on this page or enter the code at checkout. You get 15% off your first invoice, once per customer, valid until 8 November 2026.

Can I take more or less RAM later?

Yes. Upgrades happen right away, downgrades from the next month. Your world and settings stay in place.

Does the server stay on when nobody is online?

Yes. Your server runs 24/7 in our data centre in Hengelo, with no queue and no PC that has to stay on at home.

Can we bring our existing world?

Yes. Upload your world folder via the panel or SFTP, put the world name in server.properties and turn on hardcore. Make a backup first.

Can a dead player come back?

Yes, if you agree on it. An admin puts someone back with /gamemode survival, or you use a revive or deathban plugin with fixed rules. Guide in the knowledge base.

Ready to start?

Pick your plan, turn on hardcore and invite your friends. Online tonight.

View the plansQuestions? Discord