The Discord Sacred Seven: Ranking the best Discord servers

At Project N, one of the many exciting things we do is manage and maintain Discord servers. We’ve been at it for a while - most notably for Elden Ring and Tekken in collaboration with Bandai Namco - alongside other partners looking to build, engage, and grow their communities.

Through this work, we’ve developed a set of best practices that help ensure any server is not only a safe place for users to chat and connect, but also a place they’ll want to return to - intuitively designed, welcoming, and engaging.

To put these ideas to the test, we recently evaluated some of the most popular and well-known gaming Discord servers using what we call ‘The Discord Sacred Seven’.

Here are the seven critical elements of a Discord server:

1. Onboarding process
The onboarding process is critical for your server as it’s the first thing users encounter. It should be clear, simple, and community-focused. Let users easily pick the content or channels they want to see without overwhelming them. Avoid trying to ‘sell’ to users here (e.g. “Do you want notifications for new item store skins?”). Instead, spotlight the exciting aspects of the community.

2. Server rules
Following onboarding, the next step is understanding the rules. The rules should be visible early on and written clearly, concisely, and without ambiguity. Good rules will set the tone and expectations for behaviour while protecting users. Don’t overcomplicate them - think short, direct, and focused on fostering a safe environment.

3. Auto-moderation
Every well-run server should take advantage of Discord’s built-in auto-moderation features. These tools help protect users from NSFW language, slurs, or malicious links. It’s surprising to see how many large servers skip this, risking not only their community’s safety but also the reputation of the brand.

4. Contactable mod team
While auto-moderation should be set up, bots can’t catch everything. A visible and approachable moderation team adds an essential layer of human oversight and interaction. Moderation contact should not rely on users DMing mods directly. Systems like ModMail offer a more professional and trackable way to handle issues, ensuring transparency and reducing potential abuse of power.

5. Customisation
Customisation is key for helping your community feel seen and involved. Emojis and stickers themed around the game or community in-jokes give the server personality. Additionally, these travel with users to other servers, which passively promotes yours. Consider how users might use emojis in day to day conversations: thumbs up, sad face, inside jokes - show off what the server is with engaging customisation.

6. Unique roles
Roles do more than organise your server - they offer a sense of identity. Personalise them with unique colours or names, and consider rewarding users with special roles for participating in events, winning quizzes, or contributing to the community. Roles also grant access to exclusive channels or perks, so it gives users something to work towards.

7. Optimal channel setup
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for server building, but thoughtful channel setup is essential. Start small, listen to your community, and expand only as needed. Too many empty or unused channels can make a server look and feel lifeless. Whereas a clean, simple layout helps both users and moderators navigate the space more efficiently.

If you'd like to know your Discord server score, you can fill out this quick form for your free assessment!

Best of the best - 7 out of 7 servers

After reviewing almost 100 different servers, we were pleased to find a handful that scored full marks across The Discord Sacred Seven:

Crunchyroll - A thriving anime server with a suite of wonderful looking emotes and stickers using their mascot, Hime. The layout is clear and succinct, giving every fan a relevant space to chat. One area for potential improvement: creating dedicated channels for fan art and cosplay, which are obviously huge in the anime community.

RuneScape - This server is super easy to use, with a clear layout and well-organised channels. Strong attention to detail having servers banners separating sections in the server rules. The moderation process is well thought out and thorough. A suggestion from us would be to look at implementing a VC bot.

Delta Force - A smooth, easy-to-navigate server packed with relevant, well-used channels. The inclusion of a VC generator bot keeps things tidy. Our only gripe is a Sapphire bot that DMs users upon joining. But other than that, a really solid server.

Warframe - Another example of a server that hits all the marks in terms of setup. The channels make sense, moderation is clear, and everything on the server is up to date with the latest edition of Discord. A great addition would be more customisation and attention to detail with rule banners, as long as the game’s community is receptive to this.

Terraria - This one ranks high in our list for the strong brand integration. The visual design fits seamlessly with both the game and the Discord UI. Modmail and game info are easily accessible. They encourage inclusivity by actively promoting foreign language servers, which is often overlooked. A great way to expand the community outside of the usual ENG language solutions.

ARK: Survival Evolved - There are sprinkles of thoughtful customisation throughout the server, making it feel alive, but what really sets it apart is integrating official game support into the community space. This creates a direct line between users and the devs, encouraging both engagement and staff presence.

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - A masterclass in visual consistency and functionality. The banners, icons, and roles are themed beautifully to match the game. Everything from onboarding to moderation is well thought out and easy to use.

Curious to know your Discord server score? Fill out this quick assessment form and we'll send you your free assessment!