Game Modes

How it works

Hardcore	Hardcore is Survival mode in a world with the Hardcore setting. Difficulty is fixed to Hard and cannot be changed. A player who dies and respawns is put into Spectator mode.
World creation	The Create New World screen offers Survival, Hardcore and Creative. Commands are on by default for Creative, off by default for Survival and always off for Hardcore.
Adventure	Blocks can only be broken with a held item that lists that block as breakable, and only placed with items that list the block they are placed on.
Creative damage	A Creative player takes no damage except from falling into the Void and from /kill. Fire on the player goes out at once.
Creative reach	Reach is 0.5 blocks longer for blocks (5 instead of 4.5) and 2 blocks longer for entities (5 instead of 3).
Spectator	A Spectator flies at all times, passes through blocks and is not seen by mobs. Containers can be opened and looked at, but items cannot be moved. Items cannot be used.
Switching	/gamemode, F3 + F4 and F3 + N all need command permission.
Commands	Whether commands work depends on the player's permission (the Allow Commands world setting or operator status), not on the game mode.


Break blocks	Yes	Yes, instantly	Only with a matching tool	No	Yes
Place blocks	Yes	Yes	Only with a matching item	No	Yes
Takes damage	Yes	Only Void and /kill	Yes	Only Void and /kill	Yes
Hunger	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes

Flying	No	Yes	No	Always	No
Passes through blocks	No	No	No	Yes	No
Mobs attack the player	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Items are used up	Yes	No	Yes	Cannot use items	Yes

Inventory	Normal	Creative item list	Normal	View only	Normal
Block reach	4.5	5	4.5	4.5	4.5
Entity reach	3	5	3	3	3
After death	Respawns	Respawns	Respawns	Respawns	Becomes Spectator

Difficulty	Any	Any	Any	Any	Hard, locked
Commands by default	Off	On	World setting	World setting	Off, cannot be turned on at creation