So, you’re bored of the old, decrepit, stale look of Minecraft, huh? Well, I got just the thing for you. Ever hear of… Resource Packs? Probably, but I’m still gonna give you the goods regardless. Ever since the early days of Minecraft, the game has been an ever inclusive project that allowed the easy implementation of mods and user-made changes. This includes but is not limited to the textures and sounds of the in game items. Today, we’ll be going over resource packs, what they are, their origins, some of my personal favorites, and more!
Before that, full disclosure: This is for Java Edition only!
Resource Packs
What exactly is a Tex-I mean Resource Pack? Basically, resource packs allow players to customize textures, models, music, sounds, language files, end credits, splash texts, and fonts without modifying the actual game code as explained by the Minecraft Wiki.
The most popular use of resource packs is what used to be known as ‘Texture Packs.’ Essentially, you could change the default textures of everything you know and see in the Minecraft world to something else, usually made by some talented chump on the internet. One of the most popular resource packs is something called ‘Faithful’ which aims to mimic the original textures of Minecraft, but in a much higher resolution. Resource packs can be used as a way to customize and personalize your Minecraft experience without the technical complexity of full blown mods.
Behavior
Here’s a step by step guide on how to install resource packs. This is assuming you already have your resource pack selected and ready to go. If you don’t have one yet, you can search through Curseforge or other third party websites to find one that best suits your needs.
1.) On the Windows search bar, type in ‘run’ and then press the Enter key. A new small window will pop up, to which you should type in: %appdata%
2.) If you did Step 1 correctly, the “Roaming” folder will be open. Now, open the “.minecraft” folder.
3.) Next, in the “.minecraft” folder, you will see the not-so-obvious “resourcepacks” folder. To finish this, just drop any resource packs you wish to use inside this folder.
Now, to use resource packs go in Minecraft and select Options > Resource Packs. You should then be brought to a screen that shows the base Minecraft resources on the right, and all the downloaded resource packs on the left. To use a certain resource pack, or more than one, just click the desired packs on the left until they shift to the right side.
Common Mistakes
So, something screwed up. Typical, amirite? Let’s go over a common issue I can see arising.
Folder within a folder
When downloading a resource pack, sometimes the folder houses another folder with all of the assets and necessary files to run the resource pack. Minecraft isn’t that intelligent, so if the folder doesn’t immediately lead to all the required stuff, it won’t work. In this case, you simply have to move the folder inside the parent folder into the ‘resourcepacks’ folder, excluding the parent folder. This is a very rare issue, but you should be able to see if it is affecting you by just opening the folder of the resource pack you downloaded. If you just see one folder in there, you caught it! Version Mismatch
This is less of a technical issue and more of a limitation. If you download a resource pack made for a different version, there is a high likelihood that the textures will not load, or there will be missing textures in your world. This will be represented by a red highlight on the resource packs in the resource pack monitor in Options > Resource Packs.
Dave’s Choice Awards
So, this isn’t necessarily a ‘Top 5’ list, but rather a collection of resource packs I personally think are cool. You’re bound to love them! For your convenience, I only included packs that are up to date with the latest version.
Faithful is an awesome resource pack that doubles (or more) the resolution of the default texture pack. Those looking for the ‘HD’ button on Minecraft, look no further!
Bare Bones is the Minecraft community’s best attempt to mimic the oddly simplistic textures seen in the cinematic Minecraft trailers. In a strange way, the flatter textures and lack of detail are endearing to me.
Clarity is interesting because its goal is to be as detailed as possible with a focus on realism and traditionalism. With a 32×32 resolution there is improved clarity, but not at the expense of the lovable blocky aesthetic of Minecraft. It’s a real treat.
Rodrigo’s 8×8 is the only 8×8 texture pack I would ever consider using. Great for PvP, or those looking to savor every frame they can get on their mommy’s laptop, it’s a great choice. Simple would be an understatement.
New Default+ is the cool kid in school. Adding hundreds of original textures for the same items to add variety to the default textures ends up in an amazing experience. Not only that, but adding ambient lighting, different fogs that are biome specific, Minecraft: Story Mode items, Minecraft Dungeons items, and so much more! This is packed with everything you would need from Minecraft while staying faithful to the original!
Conclusion
Well, now you know all there is to know about resource packs. Sometimes, you just want a change of scenery, you know? But sadly, Minecraft wasn’t made with simple technologically illiterate plebs like myself in mind. To combat this, I did what Minecraft would never expect. I learned how to install resource packs… myself… Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful day!
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What exactly is a Tex-I mean Resource Pack? Basically, resource packs allow players to customize textures, models, music, sounds, language files, end credits, splash texts, and fonts without modifying the actual game code as explained by the Minecraft Wiki.
