Mods & Modding
Magic Mods
| Resource | Description | Platform | Audience | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ars Nouveau | Custom spellcrafting with combinable glyphs | Java | Intermediate | Free |
| Blood Magic | Dark magic using life essence | Java | Intermediate | Free |
| Botania | Nature-themed magic using mystical flowers | Java | All | Free |
Mod Development Tools
| Resource | Description | Platform | Audience | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectury API | Cross-platform API for Forge+Fabric from single codebase | Java | Technical | Free |
| Fabric Loom | Official Gradle plugin for Fabric mods | Java | Technical | Free |
| ForgeGradle | Gradle plugin for Forge/NeoForge development | Java | Technical | Free |
| MCreator | Visual mod creation without coding | Both | Casual | Free |
| ParchmentMC | Community parameter names on top of Mojang mappings | Java | Technical | Free |
| Yarn Mappings | Open-source Minecraft mappings (CC0) | Java | Technical | Free |
Mod Hosting Platforms
| Resource | Description | Platform | Audience | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CurseForge | World's largest mod repository with 10,000+ mods | Java | All | Free |
| Modrinth | Modern, open-source platform with clean UI and 90% creator revenue share | Java | All | Free |
| Planet Minecraft | Community site for mods, maps, and skins | Both | Casual | Free |
Mod Loaders
| Resource | Description | Platform | Audience | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Lightweight, fast-updating mod loader with excellent performance mods | Java | Intermediate | Free |
| Minecraft Forge | Original mod loader since 2011, largest mod library | Java | Intermediate | Free |
| NeoForge | Modern Forge fork (2023) by original team, recommended for 1.20.4+ | Java | Intermediate | Free |
| Quilt | Community-driven Fabric fork with enhanced modularity | Java | Technical | Free |
Modpack Launchers
| Resource | Description | Platform | Audience | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATLauncher | Lightweight launcher with 150+ built-in modpacks | Java | Casual | Free |
| CurseForge App | Official launcher with one-click modpack installation | Java | Casual | Free |
| FTB App | Official Feed The Beast launcher | Java | Intermediate | Free |
| GDLauncher Carbon | Modern launcher with automatic Java management | Java | Intermediate | Free |
| Modrinth App | Official Modrinth launcher (~150MB RAM usage) | Java | Casual | Free |
| MultiMC | Power-user launcher for instance management | Java | Technical | Free |
| PojavLauncher | Runs Java Edition on Android/iOS | Mobile | Technical | Free |
| Prism Launcher | Top community choice—open-source MultiMC fork with CurseForge/Modrinth support | Java | Intermediate | Free |
Performance Mods
| Resource | Description | Platform | Audience | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embeddium | Sodium port for Forge/NeoForge | Java (Forge) | Intermediate | Free |
| FerriteCore | Memory usage optimization | Java | Intermediate | Free |
| ImmediatelyFast | Improves immediate mode rendering | Java | Intermediate | Free |
| Lithium | Game logic optimization (physics, AI, ticking) | Java (Fabric) | All | Free |
| Sodium | Modern rendering engine—300-500% FPS boost over vanilla | Java (Fabric) | All | Free |
| Starlight | Complete lighting engine rewrite | Java | Intermediate | Free |
Quality of Life
| Resource | Description | Platform | Audience | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEI (Just Enough Items) | Essential recipe viewer—must-have for modded | Java | All | Free |
| JourneyMap | Real-time mapping with minimap and waypoints | Java | All | Free |
| Waystones | Teleportation network via discoverable stones | Java | All | Free |
Technology Mods
| Resource | Description | Platform | Audience | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Energistics 2 | Digital storage and autocrafting system | Java | Intermediate | Free |
| Create | Beautiful mechanical automation with rotational power | Java | All | Free |
| Mekanism | Advanced tech with 5x ore processing and fusion reactors | Java | Intermediate | Free |
| Refined Storage | Simpler digital storage alternative to AE2 | Java | Casual | Free |