11 Best Minecraft Survival Mods

by Edward C. Ames, Gaming Editor

Published in Gaming on 20/10/2019

Minecraft is a blocky phenomenon. It’s the only game to ever exist that allows you to construct a castle the height of Jack’s famous beanstalk and fall through an increasingly challenging abyss for an eternity – but it could do with some Minecraft mods to improve things. From interface changes to tools to aid your hours of exploration, you have the option to make Mojang’s classic even better on PC.

If you're getting bored of the base Minecraft survival mode, why not try adding some mods into the mix? In this list, we've picked out 10 of the best mods to keep gameplay as interesting as possible.

This list of Minecraft survival mods includes new mobs, new areas to explore, new ways to build, and unique changes to the standard gameplay mechanics.

All of the mods on this list are compatible with each other, so you can install of them and play them all, or just pick and choose the ones that interest you the most.

BIBLIOCRAFT

Bibliocraft also offers a bunch of aesthetically-pleasing blocks, but these ones come with their own functionality. Display cases and shelves let you show off your trophies, while a printing press lets you copy in-game books. It even adds a monocle for the distinguished gentlemen amongst you.

Infernal Mobs

With Infernal Mobs installed, all hostile mobs will have a chance to be spawned with a random modifier.

The selection of modifiers is quite expansive. One modifier makes it so that mob will do double damage, but hurt itself in the process. Another modifier will make mobs be able to set players on fire, whilst other modifiers can add different potion effects to players if they get it. There are over a dozen different modifiers.

Not only do the different Infernal Mob modifiers make gameplay more interesting, but it actually makes fighting mobs a challenging experience.

Dynamic Lights

Dynamic Lights is a mod that switches up the way light sources from torches works. With Dynamic Lights installed, the light source from a torch will be brighter nearer the torch.

The torch also doesn't have to be placed on a wall for the light source to appear - it can also be dropped on the floor or be held by the player.

The same effects explained above work for all other light sources in Minecraft, including lava and fire.

Minecraft Comes Alive

Minecraft Comes Alive is a mod that completely redesigns the villagers in Minecraft. Instead of having odd, big-nosed creatures that look like Squidward, you can have a village filled with human characters.

All villagers have unique traits, names, and some are even in relationships with others. You'll also have the opportunity to interact with each villager and get to learn more about their unique personalities.

Mo' Creatures

Mo' Creatures expands upon the existing number of Minecraft mobs massively by adding dozens of unique monsters, animals, and mythical creatures.

There are over 40 new creatures added with this mod, most of which are non-hostile creatures such as ostriches and ducks. There are some hostile mobs added with this mod as well. Some hostile mob examples include a flame wraith, a crocodile, and a werewolf.

Adding Mo' Creatures alongside Infernal Mobs can create a very dynamic mob fighting experience that's very different to vanilla Minecraft. Just keep in mind that things can get a little crazy at times with both mods installed so you may prefer to pick one or the other.

Pam's Harvestcraft

Pam's Harvestcraft is a great mod for those that enjoy spending time building up their very own self sustainable farm in Minecraft. With this mod, hundreds of new crops are added to the game, and each crop can be useful in some way or another.

All of the default food items, crops, and consumables have also been reworked in Pam's Harvestcraft to look and function better as well.

Players can get lost in the new farming options and then spend hours learning new recipes and crafting opportunities by mixing the different crops together in a crafting table.

Chisel

If you care more about decorating buildings and creating big structures, you must give Chisel a try.

With Chisel, dozens of new building blocks are added to Minecraft. All of the blocks can be accessed by a single tool called the chisel. The chisel can be built with a single iron ingot and stick.

Once you've built the chisel, you'll have access to all of the new building blocks. The building blocks give you the tools you need to create stunning works of architecture, so if you're interested in building massive towering buildings, then this mod is for you.

Biomes O' Plenty

The selection of biomes in vanilla Minecraft is pretty vast as it is, but if you want more, you must give Biomes O' Plenty a try.

With this mod, you'll get access to a range of new biomes. As soon as you've downloaded the mod, create a new world and you'll begin to see the new biomes all around you.

Some of the different biomes include the Alps, the Bamboo Forest, the Bayou, the Cherry Blossom Grove, and the Crag.

The Alps biome is filled with huge mountainous snowy terrain and lots of trees. The Bamboo Forest is filled with tiny trees made out of vines. The Bayou is a little like a swamp, but it's packed with trees similar in size to those found in a Jungle biome.

The Cherry Blossom Grove is filled with flowers and beautiful pink trees. Finally, the Crag biome is home to some of biggest mountains and waterfalls you'll ever lay your eyes on.

Twilight Forest

Twilight Forest is a mod that adds a brand new dimension to Minecraft. The Twilight Forest is similar to the End in some ways, but it comes with new terrain, incredible custom structures, and new boss battles.

If you enjoyed the first time you explored the End and fought the Ender dragon, you must try the Twilight Forest mod.

Carpenter's Blocks

Carpenter's Blocks is another Minecraft mod that adds new building tools to the game. With Carpenter's Blocks, one of the things you can do is create usual building items out of almost any material. For example, you can make doors and windows out of sand or wool.

Carpenter's Blocks also adds a number of blocks that step away from the usual cube shape - you can get slopes, half blocks, and much more.

Rope Bridge Mod

The final mod on this list is the Rope Bridge mod. With this mod, you are given a grappling hook that can be used to create a rope bridge from one tall place to another.

For example, if you're on top of a tall mountain, you can shoot your grappling hook across a valley towards another mountain and create a bridge that allows you to cross over the valley.