Here are the 5 FTB modpacks actually worth playing in 2025. We tested the major releases, checked what people are actually playing, and cut through the outdated recommendations. These are the ones that deliver.
Top 5 FTB Modpacks
1. FTB Revelation
- Focus: Kitchen sink – ultimate sandbox experience with 200+ mods
- Standout Features: Most popular FTB pack ever (8.55M plays), optimized for stability, includes Twilight Forest dimension
- You’ll Love This If: You want every mod available without dealing with compatibility issues, prefer exploring over following quests, and don’t mind older Minecraft versions for stability
- Expect To: Choose your own adventure, build massive automation systems, explore multiple dimensions
- Difficulty Curve: Easy entry → Learn at your own pace → As complex as you make it
- Performance: Light to Medium (4-6GB RAM)
2. FTB StoneBlock 3
- Focus: Underground survival – reverse skyblock
- Standout Features: The entire world is stone. You start underground and stay underground. 7.19M plays, circular biome generation, Create mod automation focus
- You’ll Love This If: You want something completely different, enjoy cave building, prefer guided progression with quests
- Expect To: Mine out underground kingdoms, automate with Create mod, progress through resource chickens to singularities
- Difficulty Curve: Moderate start → Steady automation focus → Complex endgame crafting
- Performance: Medium (6GB RAM recommended)
3. FTB Evolution
- Focus: FTB’s newest flagship pack on Minecraft 1.21
- Standout Features: November 2024 release, 200+ mods, has the FTB Pyramid – an endgame challenge that’s actually challenging. Most players won’t beat it
- You’ll Love This If: You want the newest mods and Minecraft features, enjoy both tech and magic equally, want genuine endgame content
- Expect To: Master Mekanism fusion reactors, explore new dimensions like Afterdark, attempt the pyramid challenge
- Difficulty Curve: Accessible start → Multiple progression paths → Legitimately difficult endgame
- Performance: Medium to Heavy (6-8GB RAM)
4. FTB Skies Expert
- Focus: Expert skyblock with hostile mobs and complex recipes
- Standout Features: Seven unique starting islands, Ad Astra space exploration, actual challenge not artificial grind
- You’ll Love This If: You’re experienced with modpacks, want genuine difficulty, enjoy complex recipe chains that make sense
- Expect To: Manage scarce resources carefully, defend against constant threats, eventually reach space
- Difficulty Curve: Challenging start → Complex recipe chains → Brutal but rewarding progression
- Performance: Medium (6-8GB RAM)
5. FTB Presents Direwolf20 1.21
- Focus: Curated tech pack following YouTube series
- Standout Features: Synced with Season 14 videos, Ender IO returns, comprehensive tutorials available
- You’ll Love This If: You want guided progression with video tutorials, prefer tech over magic, like having community resources
- Expect To: Build alongside Direwolf’s videos, master automation chains, use Building Gadgets for construction
- Difficulty Curve: Moderate start → Guided progression → Advanced automation mastery
- Performance: Medium (6-8GB RAM)
III. Quick Reference Guide
Want variety? Revelation – 200+ mods, stable, huge community
Want something different? StoneBlock 3 – underground survival
Want modern? Evolution – Minecraft 1.21, newest mods
Want guided? Direwolf20 – follows YouTube series
Want difficulty? Skies Expert – actual challenge, not artificial grind
Practical Notes:
- StoneBlock 3: Some versions have memory leaks, restart occasionally
- Revelation: Older but more stable than most new packs
- Evolution: The pyramid is legitimately difficult endgame content
- All packs: 6GB RAM minimum, 8GB recommended
- Java 21 required for newest packs (Evolution, Direwolf20 1.21)
- Expect 5-10GB downloads and long initial load times. That’s normal
Community Size:
- Massive: Revelation (8.55M), StoneBlock 3 (7.19M)
- Growing Fast: Evolution (1M since Nov 2024)
- Strong Support: Direwolf20 (YouTube community)
IV. Getting Started
Download Options:
- Primary: FTB App (official launcher)
- Alternative: CurseForge/Overwolf
- Import Compatible: Prism Launcher, MultiMC
Recommended System Specs:
- Minimum: 8GB total RAM, allocate 4-6GB to Minecraft
- CPU: Intel i5 8th gen or AMD Ryzen 5 2000 series
- Java: Version 21 for 1.20.5+ packs, Java 17 for older
- GPU: Dedicated graphics only needed for shaders
Installation Notes:
- Use FTB App for automatic updates
- Enable automatic backups
- Server files available for all packs
- Most packs include performance mods pre-installed
Each pack here offers something different, and they’re all actively played by thousands of people daily. Revelation for freedom, StoneBlock for unique gameplay, Evolution for modern features, Skies Expert for challenge, Direwolf for guided progression. Pick based on what sounds interesting – they’re all solid choices.
- Official Discord: 23,000+ members for real-time help
- Reddit: r/feedthebeast community
- YouTube: Direwolf20, ChosenArchitect tutorials
- Wiki: ftb.fandom.com for documentation
Fair warning: These packs are massive time sinks. If you’ve got important deadlines coming up, maybe bookmark this for later. Otherwise, pick one and start playing. The wikis and community will help you figure out the rest.