Gamepressure's Favorite Minecraft Mods 2023

You can love Minecraft or hate it – there's nothing in between. The ignorant ones see it primarily as a children's game, which is popular among streamers. However, just delve into the mechanics and possibilities offered by this title to quickly notice that in addition to building a simple house, some extremely complex virtual inventions can be created here. Projects like a functional computer are pretty awe-inspiring, even for gamers who have never installed Mojang's work. However, you don't have to be an engineer to create something amazing. Some players devote entire years on transferring real objects to the cuboid world. In short, Minecraft can be played in many different ways.

These possibilities are further extended by thousands of mods. Minecraft is a production that has one of the largest mod bases. Of course, the vast majority introduce small changes and you can ignore them, but there are also real gems. And there will only be more of them.

The only sad thing is that many great projects have been abandoned by their creators, and as a result, they do not work in new versions of Minecraft. Therefore, our priority was to list the mods compatible with the latest patch at the time of writing – 1.19.3. The list also includes mods created for 1.19.2, which will certainly be updated. Diversity was also important to us. We have thus included projects from various areas in the ranking. Some of them are huge works that change the shape of the game, others introduce small, but important changes.

How to install Minecraft mods?

1. Download and install the Minecraft Forge. To run the installer, you need Java (preferably the latest version).

2. Now you need to find the main Minecraft folder – drive C:/username/AppData/Roaming/.minecraft. The easiest way is to search %appdata% in Windows, and then go to the .minecraft folder.

3. Here you will find the mods folder (if it doesn't exist, you can create it yourself). Once you download a mod, put the .jar or .zip file in here.

4. Start Minecraft by selecting the Forge profile.

5. Done – the mod should now work. Remember that mods aren't always compatible, so apart form modpacks, you should only install one mod at a time. If you want to install a few, you should try to engage them one by one, at each time checking if the game's running properly.

Mods and modpacks for Minecraft. 2023 list

Mods for Minecraft can be downloaded not only from curseforge.com. Trusted sites also include minecraftmods.com, 9minecraft.net, and planetminecraft.com. When using the Minecraft Forge tool, however, it will be best to use the first of them.

OptiFine

OptiFine is one of the mods that is best downloaded early in your adventure. This modification makes Minecraft run smoother (up to 2x more frames per second) and look better at the same time – OptiFine adds support for high-resolution textures. In addition, the mod opens access to many options – the game can be configured freely in options such as render distance, lighting, shadows, and anti-aliasing.

Source: Insider/Emma Witman

Changes can be seen in the quality of grass, snow and water. For example: the water is transparent and you can see what's under the surface. There are many more visual fixes. Staying with elements of nature, it is worth mentioning that many of them can be turned off or changed. It's possible to set the height of clouds, disable fog or stars, or disable the animation of fire or dripping water.

Although OptiFine allows for higher frame rates, setting everything to the max (anti-aliasing, shadow detail, draw range, dynamic lighting) requires a fairly powerful PC. If you don't have such a machine, you'd better be interested in the Fabulously Optimized mod (1.19.2), which will significantly increase the framerate of the game on older hardware.

Source: optifine.net

Xaero's Minimap and Xaero's World Map

Source: planetminecraft.com/xaero96

It's easy to get lost in a randomly generated world. In such conditions, a minimap becomes helpful in orientation. According to the author of the Xaero's Minimap mod, the vanilla minimap leaves much to be desired. Xaero has made a lot of changes and added a lot of capabilities, but the aesthetics of the map is still in the spirit of the vanilla. Thanks to this, the plan doesn't stand out from the rest of the game and it seems just like it was part of the original.

The author boasts that his work is the first cuboid minimap with an auto-rotate function. Its advantages do not end there. The mod also introduces a whole host of configuration options. What elements will be displayed and how depends on the player himself. You can change the shape of the map itself and make it round. In addition, it's possible to block rotation, show objects, mobs and players as icons or colored dots, as well as set way points.

Xaero went a step further and also developed a mod with a map of the entire game area. Xaero's World Map generates a real-time view of the world that can be viewed in full screen. The modification is very similar to another project of this type called JourneyMap (1.19.3).

Source: planetminecraft.com/xaero96

Biomes O'Plenty

Source: CurseForge/Forstride

To understand what the Biomes O'Plenty mod adds to Minecraft, it's worth explaining one thing. The boxy world consists of a few biomes. These are areas with a specific climate, and unique fauna and flora. The existing biomes of the vanilla include the Roofed Forest, Plains and Desert, and others. There are dozens of them in the original. However, there have been few new ones added recently. If that bothers you, you should try this mod. It will have a positive impact on the diversity of locations and will allow you to rediscover the beauty of this world.

The mod introduces many new biomes, which include new models of trees, plants and cubes that can be used in building. Of course, there are many more new elements. Importantly, they can be found both in the regular world and in the Nether.

Note! In order for everything to work as intended, it's necessary to download and install the TerraBlender mod.

Source: CurseForge/Forstride

SimCraft

Source: planetminecraft.com/SimcraftMod

Building is an absolute cornerstone of Minecraft, and while there are plenty of possibilities in the original version, they are not limitless. The base of what we can bet and the number of available materials is significantly expanded by the SimCraft mod. Interestingly, realism was important to the creator of the mod. The result is that many objects look like they've been transferred from the real world. There's also a whole lot of creativity in the additional building options.

This modification allows you to build e.g. a functioning brewery, a hydraulic press, a stone crusher, forges and conveyor belts. It's possible to make this game similar to Factorio, although of course on a smaller scale. SimCraft also adds a huge number of new minerals, which can be processed in an automated process.

New elements for the construction of houses and other residential buildings deserve a separate paragraph. The mod introduces a whole lot of different bricks, tiles, carpets, doors, windows and fences. There's also new furniture. Of course, not everything is trivial to craft. The author took care of the balance and the most luxurious items will not be created without effort.

Source: planetminecraft.com/SimcraftMod

Litematica

Source: CurseForge/masady

Building a basic shelter to survive the first night is not much of a challenge. It's much different in the case of more ambitious projects. Huge structures are easier to build with the Litematica mod installed. It allows you to display a ready-made holographic patterns, which only needs to be filled with appropriate blocks. And in this aspect, the mod turns out to be very helpful, because it informs what materials and how much of them will be needed.

Where do the schematics come from? They are created by the community. Nothing stands in the way of preparing your own plans, which will later be used by other people. To do this, first build something, then copy the object and upload the file to the network. The scheme can also be used by its author himself – it is easy to keep an exceptionally successful construction and quickly recreate it in another place on the map or in another world.

There are many schematics available online for download. Among the most downloaded projects, there are all kinds of villas and houses, but you can also find huge hotels, a Skyrim dragon, and castles. The easyPlaceMode option will help to recreate huge projects. After enabling it, the model will be automatically filled with blocks – all you need to do is point the desired area with the cursor.

Source: YouTube/MaxeyMp

Better PVP Mod

Source: chocolateminecraft.com

The name of this mod is a bit confusing and says little about its content, which is truly rich and very useful. Better PVP Mod greatly improves the minimap which is available both above and below the surface. In addition, units can be displayed on it and their specific types can be marked with different colors. Waypoint creation is also a nice addition. Changes within the minimap are not everything, though.

With this mod, Minecraft takes on an RPG flair! Among others, we can display character information and stats. The status of the armor, the effects of potions and their duration are presented in clear form. There's also a more functional bar with items for quick use in the game. Other changes include the toggled stealth mode – you no longer need to squeeze the corresponding key (same for sprinting), notifications about low health, starvation and an explosion that will take place nearby, as well as a wide range of customization options for other settings.

Source: planetminecraft.com/xaero96

MrCrayfish's Furniture Mod

Source: planetminecraft.com/mr_crayfish

Before we transfer the statue of Christ the Savior from Rio de Janeiro, the stadium of our favorite team or the Eiffel Tower to the world of Minecraft, the vast majority of us, probably almost all of us, will start by building a more or less simple house. Compared to the previously mentioned projects, an ordinary cottage is not very spectacular, but thanks to MrCrayfish's Furniture Moda, it can also be a nice project.

The presented modification adds over eighty pieces of furniture to the game. Each of them is unique, and some are not just decorations – and can be used. The creator of the mod took care of variety and prepared models dedicated to specific rooms, e.g. kitchen, bedroom and dining room. He also didn't forget about garden furniture. The available equipment is constantly expanding. The mod receives regular updates and is hugely popular. It has been downloaded almost 1.5 million times from planetminecraft.com.

Source: planetminecraft.com/mr_crayfish

Cooking for Blockheads

Source: CurseForge/BlayTheNinth

The creator of Cooking for Blockheads hit the jackpot with his project. The number of downloads of this modification (almost 100 million!) shows how much the players needed the ability to cook. This hugely popular mod adds a functional and modular kitchen to Minecraft that you can remodel as you see fit, there's also a recipe book. Just open it or use the kitchen counter and cook something from the available products with one click.

Meals can be prepared in the oven and toaster. Some of the equipment can be upgraded and thus gain access to infinite water, increase storage capacity, create ice, and even get a source of unlimited milk.

Cooking for Blockheads is worth combining with other food modifications. The mod is compatible with with Pam's HarvestCraft 2 (1.18.2). Users have also confirmed (partial) compatibility with the popular Farmer's Delight (1.19.2).

Source: CurseForge/BlayTheNinth

Aqua culture 2

Source: CurseForge/Shadowclaimer

If you like fishing, this is the perfect mod for you. Aquaculture 2 expands the fishing mechanics and adds over 30 new species of fish, including the king of the lakes, catfish! New fish can be found both in the vanilla biomes and those introduced by mods.

This modification is compatible with virtually all rods (mods + vanilla). It also adds new hardware models. You can choose your own hook and bait. This is not only making fishing more realistic, but also allows you to get special bonuses. As if that wasn't enough, the author also added custom lines and floats. Full-fledged personalization.

Fished prey can be turned into fillets right away. Their number depends on the species or weight – you can set this in the options. Carp, perch, cod and pollock are not all that we can pull out of the water. There's a chance that more valuable loot will be found at the end of the rod, including legendary tools and unique weapons.

Source: CurseForge/Shadowclaimer

Better Minecraft (Better MC)

Source: CurseForge/SHXRKIIIE

Can Minecraft be even better? The Better MC mod pack proves that it can. Currently, the latest version running on patch 1.19.2 is the set marked as BMC3. Downloading and installing the entire mod pack is one of the easiest and fastest ways to rejuvinate your vanilla version. The author of Better MC made sure that all mods work seamlessly with each other, and thus saved a lot of time for players who would normally have to check it out on their own.

Pack BMC3 introduces a whole lot of new content to the square world. The package includes over 200 individual mods.Of course, we won't list all the changes here, but the most important ones include the possibility of growing your own dragon, which can then be a flying mount; new biomes and realms; shader support (OptiFine is not required); Xaero's world map and tons of new dungeons, creatures, and bosses. The collection also mends the original mechanics.

Source: YouTube/TheNeoCubest