Whether you’re brand new to Minecraft, or you’re just new to modding, we’ve put together a list of the 15 best Minecraft mods that improve graphics or performance, add useful functionality, and open up brand new worlds to explore. The mods in our list work regardless of the platform you’re using, so you can safely grab them whether you’re playing on Windows, OS X/mac OS, or Linux. However, they only work with Minecraft: Java Edition. If you’re playing a version of the game like Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition, or any console or mobile version, you have to buy skins, modpacks, and other content from the in-game store. Mods for the Java version of the game do not work with any other version. OptiFine is a behind-the-scenes mod that improves and optimizes the graphics of Minecraft so that the game runs as smoothly, and looks as great, as it possibly can on your computer. This is the best mod to grab, and the first one you should download, if you care about visuals and smooth gameplay. If you’re brand new to Minecraft, it’s just fine to install this mod right away. All it does is make the game look better and run more smoothly. You can safely ignore most of the features, which can be overwhelming, until you’ve spent more time in the game. Download from Minecraft Forum Download from OptiFine.net Since the built-in mapping feature that Minecraft includes by default is so basic and requires you to craft a bunch of stuff, Journeymap is a must-have mod for anyone who likes to explore. While it’s worth playing Minecraft without this mod to start just to get a feel of how the game is meant to work, adding this mod makes for a much better experience even for complete beginners. Download from Minecraft Forum Download from CurseForge Without the help of a mod, moving a chest even one block in any direction is a tedious, multi-step process that looks something like: With this mod, you can collapse all of that down to the two-step process of picking up the chest and then placing it wherever you want it. This mod is all about convenience. If you’ve found yourself getting tired of the hassle of dealing with full chests, then grab this mod to make your life a whole lot easier. Download from Minecraft Forum Download from CurseForge The biggest benefit of this mod is that you no longer have to experiment with random combinations, or search the internet, to figure out how to craft anything. However, it’s also useful in creative mode, since it makes it easier to locate and place new items in the world. While this is another quality of life mod, some people may feel like it takes away some of the fun of exploration and experimentation. Grab this one once you’re an old hand at the game and just want to streamline things. Download from Minecraft Forum Download from CurseForge In addition to the name of the item, the mod can also show information like the contents of a chest, the progress of items being processed in a furnace, and more. If you have Just Enough Items installed, this mod also allows you to look up recipes by looking at items and blocks. Download from CurseForge The basic functionality of Minecraft villagers is retained, in that you can still trade with them. However, there are additional dialog options and a complex relationship system that even allows you to marry a villager and have your very own Minecraft baby. If you’re getting tired of the droves of identical villagers you run into in game after game, this is a great mod to install. Download from Minecraft Forum Download from CurseForge The mod adds a ton of new blocks and patterns, but it also allows you to craft a chisel that lets you change the appearance of blocks by smacking them. Download from Minecraft Forum Download from CurseForge In addition to new foods and plants, the mod also includes a beekeeping system, which adds even more new gameplay. Download from Minecraft Forum Download CurseForge This mod was introduced when Minecraft only included a handful of default biomes, but it’s still good if you’re tired of the standard biomes or just want to generate a world with a whole lot more diversity. This mod retains all of the default biomes, but it adds dozens more, including a mystic grove populated by pixies. Download from Minecraft Forum Download CurseForge This is a great mod to grab if you’re getting tired of the same old Minecraft biomes, or you just want a different type of survival experience. Download from Minecraft Forum Download from CurseForge The way Aroma1997’s Dimensional World works is that you craft a portal, similar to a Nether portal, out of a new kind of brick that the mod introduces. Activate the portal with a tool that the mod also introduces, and you’re whisked away to a specialized mining dimension. Download from Minecraft Forum Download from CurseForge This mod adds a ton of new gear, items, blocks, and a boss that can even kill you in creative mode. Download from Minecraft Forum Download from CurseForge Since The Twilight Forest is set in a separate dimension that you access by jumping into an enchanted pool, you can run it alongside a lot of other mods without disturbing anything. Download from Minecraft Forum Download from CurseForge The progression doesn’t end there, though. Once you’ve launched a rocket, you can also build space stations and even explore new worlds. Download from Minecraft Forum Download from CurseForge While the Windows 10 Edition of Minecraft includes built-in VR support, the Java Edition doesn’t support VR natively. ViveCraft adds that functionality, and it actually does a better job than the official implementation in the Windows 10 Edition. If you’ve ever wanted to play Minecraft in roomscale VR, and physically walk around inside your creations, then this is one mod that you absolutely have to check out. Download from Github Download from Vivecraft.org
