Minecraft texture packs are what you’re going to need if you want to change how Minecraft typically looks. From its default textures and designs for each different block, through to simply adding even more detail into your creative sandbox, texture packs are where its at. There’s quite literally something for everyone, whether you want to just slightly tweak the appearance, or give it a huge makeover to the point your world’s barely recognizable as Minecraft.
While Minecraft texture packs have changed a little with the Bedrock Edition of the game, this post is strictly about texture packs for the Java Edition of Minecraft. In the Bedrock Edition, you’ll need to use the Minecraft Marketplace Catalog to find, buy, and download your desired texture pack.
If you’re playing on this version of the game, simply head over here to begin your texture pack journey. For those playing the Java Edition, keep on reading for a quick run through how to install Minecraft texture packs, as well as the best ones you’re going to want to install.
How to Install Minecraft Texture Packs
- Download the texture pack. If it downloads as a .zip file, leave it as is and do not extract it.
- Start Minecraft
- Select ‘Options’ at the main menu.
- Click ‘Resource Packs.’
- Click ‘Open Resource Packs Folder.’
- Drag and drop your downloaded texture pack file into this folder.
- Select the texture pack from the ‘Usable Add-Ons’ list.
Best Minecraft Texture Packs
- Sphax PureBDCraft
- Faithful
- Jolicraft
- Brix
- John Smith
- oCd Pack
- Halo Minecraft Texture Pack
- Glimmar’s Steampunk
- Urbancraft
- ModernHD
Sphax PureBDCraft
PureBDCraft doesn’t make your Minecraft world entirely unrecognizable from its default look. Everything feels largely familiar, but everything — and we mean everything — has received a new texture.
The theme here is a cleaner, sharper-edged comic-book look to your world. Every block, creature, item and the UI have been reworked in HD and have plenty more detail than their original counterparts. From its angry-looking animals, to its slightly more menacing mobs, there’s a lot to love about this pack.
Faithful
Faithful is arguably the least ‘impressive’ Minecraft texture pack on this list, but it’s also one of the most appreciated for the simple yet significant changes it makes.
This texture pack is all about smoothing out textures and making things look that little bit cleaner than they originally do. There’s no entirely new textures or looks to blocks, items, animals or mobs to see here.
If you’re looking for a more natural makeover for your Minecraft world, you can download the Faithful texture pack here.
Jolicraft
Jolicraft isn’t trying to bring one particular theme to the world of Minecraft like many of the others on its list. Instead, it’s simply the end result of one player’s experimentation with textures.
Creator Jolicoeur found themselves getting carried away changing textures in Minecraft to fit his own ‘cheery’ demeanor as he mentions on the official Jolicraft site. The end result is this incredibly bright, fresh yet familiar texture pack that slaps a coat of fantasy paint across your Minecraft world.
On top of that, Jolicraft can even be customized with alternate textures. Tools have been overhauled with new looks, new original paintings have been added, and all accessories and wildlife have also been given a new look that’s more fitting with the fantasy stylings.
Brix
There’s not a whole lot that needs to be said about the Brix texture pack. Simply put, it merges Minecraft with what could arguably be its real-life, physical form inspiration, LEGO.
Floors have the studded effect that’s so synonymous with the colored bricks, and sides of buildings now have a glossy, plastic-like sheen to them. If you’ve ever wanted to LEGO-ify your Minecraft world, then Brix really is the texture pack you’ve been looking for.
John Smith
One of the best-known and highest-rated Minecraft texture packs you’ll come across online right now is John Smith.
Adopting a classic RPG look, John Smith overhauls every single block and texture in the game, aside from trees, even updating the GUI. The whole thing is created with an ample dose of realism with muted color palettes and more natural, darker colors.
In other words, this is the perfect texture pack for those who enjoy building elaborate and majestic castles and fortresses. Even if you’re not, it’s worth giving John Smith a download just to check it out for yourself. It’s close enough to the original that everything feels familiar, but different enough to breathe new life into Minecraft.
oCd Pack
For the perfectionist crafter. Those who don’t like things being even the slightest bit out of place, at the wrong angle, or just not quite looking right, we have the oCd Minecraft texture pack.
Well the oCd pack is here to solve all of your Minecraft woes. The first thing you’ll notice is this texture pack changes all angles to 90 degrees, which immediately makes things look that bit cleaner. On top of that, all noise and harsh colors have been removed and all the spacing is perfectly even.
On top of that, the oCd pack has a knock-on effect on Minecraft’s performance on your PC. Expect to see higher FPS and a smoother gameplay experience all-round.
Sugarpack
A sickeningly sweet Minecraft texture pack is Sugarpack. While there are many variants of a candy-themed texture pack, Sugarpack is the one that pops the most with vibrant colors.
Everything’s been thought of here, from sugary sweet lollipop vegetation, what look like shortbread horses, and even candy-coated mobs. Doors have candy-cane borders, and the ground is a cotton candy pink.
Sugarpack is sure to give you cavities just by looking at it (Disclaimer: It won’t really).
Glimmar’s Steampunk
Glimmar’s Steampunk is my personal favorite Minecraft texture pack you can download right now. This texture pack gives your paths and walls that faded feel, while also adding in a whole host of new tools and skins to truly give your world that Victorian Sci-Fi feel so synonymous with Steampunk.
Plus, having villagers walking around as pictured above is both amazing and terrifying. Regardless, if you’re looking for a texture pack that really shows what’s possible in the game, look no further than Glimmar’s fantastic effort here.
Urbancraft
Creator 5urface has really outdone themselves with this one. Urbancraft is a texture pack that should be a top choice for anyone looking to build impressive, large-scale modern cityscapes.
Urbancraft gives everything that distinctly clean and slick look, as opposed to the blocky, pixelated textures commonly associated with the game. It only truly comes into its own when viewing large-scale buildings, though. If you’re looking for a similar texture pack but for smaller-scale building, check out our next pick.
ModernHD
Looking for a texture pack that helps to make your modern-looking buildings and other creations really pop? Then the aptly-named ModernHD texture pack is right down your alley.
This is a pretty comprehensive resource pack, including new GUI, fonts, and every single texture reworked. The cherry on top of this delectably-modern cake are the new sounds that have been added in.
There you have the best Minecraft texture packs you can download right now to help spruce up your creative sandbox.
Looking for more ways to mess around with Minecraft? You can check out our best Minecraft 1.15.2 mods, and best Minecraft 1.15 seeds posts, or click through more of our handy guides below.
