Are custom seeds just not custom enough to get you excited? Is playing god in creative mode not giving you the same rush that it used to? Enter: the world editor, a sandbox-in-a-sandbox that, if you’ve never used one before, will set you on the path from mere casual to full-fledged modder in no time.
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Don’t be intimidated, though. What started as a data-parsing, scriptwriting slog has become a highly-accessible—and even enjoyable—process by a host of programs and websites dedicated to helping you make your Minecraft worlds truly yours. Whether you’re just trying to tweak a biome, are all in on mapping out the custom realm of your dreams, or anywhere in between, there’s a world editor for everyone.
10 MCEdit: A Powerful Throwback
An OG world editor hailing from 2010, MCEdit allows you to edit saved games to your heart’s content. Originally created to help players port their old worlds into newer versions of Minecraft, this trailblazing program evolved into a veritable world editor that lets you paint blocks into your world, clone entities and even modify world size by adding and deleting chunks.
Unfortunately, MCEdit is less compatible with newer versions of Minecraft, so you’ll want to check out some of the other picks in this list if you’re not still rocking version 1.10. But if you’re feeling nostalgic and your creative juices are flowing, boot up this blast from the past and make something beautiful.
9 Amulet: Does It All
This powerful 3D world editor checks all the boxes for players who want a feature-rich, user-friendly customization client that works with newer versions of Minecraft. Taking the best of MCEdit and throwing in a bunch of newfangled features that a more advanced user base might expect, Amulet aims to be a one-stop shop for all your modding needs.
Edit Realms and server worlds, copy and paste between saves, and of course, paint, paint, and paint some more. As long as Amulet stays up to date with latest and greatest Minecraft versions, it’s a strong contender for world editor to beat.
8 Chunker: A Useful Addon
Microsoft’s very own world converter, Chunker isn’t really a world editor but belongs on this list because it’s an incredibly useful tool for players and mapmakers who want to move their worlds from one version of Minecraft to another.
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Chunker is web based, and is capable of converting level settings, world data, dimensions, containers, items and in-game maps from Java to Bedrock and back again. All you need to do is upload your world to the app, select a target output, and convert. It’s super simple, and will make working with any world editing tool a much more straightforward process.
7 NBT-Data: Community-Driven Editing
Another supporting member of the world editing cast, NBT data doesn’t edit Minecraft worlds directly, rather it’s a community hub for mapmakers, designers and players to share downloadable versions of their in-game creations.
From decorations, to command block creations, to entire buildings, you can plug the beautiful creations of more talented builders directly into your world. In a way, it actually is sort of a form of world editing. And as is true across much of the Minecraft universe, the power of the collective does truly get things done.
6 Minecraft Tools: Good For Beginners
Minecraft Tools is a web-based customization platform that gives players a more visual way to spawn custom items, create custom crafting recipes, and even generate custom worlds. Most of the modifications you can perform in Minecraft Tools are implemented via in-game console commands, but a few require downloading custom files.
For example, if you want to generate unique loot tables, you’ll need to add the custom file to your save data. It’s a bit deprecated, but its ease of access and simple interface makes Minecraft Tools a solid entry point into the world customization scene.
5 BiomeTweaker: Not For The Faint-Hearted
Are you a mod pack creator? Are you familiar with scriptwriting? And no, we’re not talking about the acting kind. If you’re not, you’d better brush up a bit because BiomeTweaker will have you getting down and dirty in some custom code to set your biomes a world apart.
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Change temperatures and block colors, add custom decorations, or just start from scratch—if the world of Vanilla Minecraft is your oyster, then BiomeTweaker is the mother-of-pearl. If there were beauty pageants for Minecraft worlds, a BiomeTweaker creation would probably win first place.
4 CraftTweaker: Meticulous Mods
Think of CraftTweaker as a sort of spiritual cousin to BiomeTweaker. Yes, they share similar names, but that’s about where the resemblance ends. Where BiomeTweaker is—as it’s name suggests—all about biomes, CraftTweaker focuses on helping modders create custom recipes, add unique script events and change the properties of in-game items.
This decidedly player-focused mod is ideal for server owners looking to spice up the experience for their denizens, and is especially great for mod builders who are looking for a tool that helps them make their creations stand out to potential downloaders.
3 WorldEdit: In-Game Fun
WordEdit sets itself apart from its map editing counterparts by making all the customization action an in-game experience. Instead of loading up a 3D or top-down GUI in a standalone program, you’ll be right in the middle of your edits as they happen.
Point, click and watch in awe as forests sprout from flat earth, sand turns to grassy earth and entire mountains are reduced to dust. You can also copy and paste blocks similarly to other in-game editors. If you prefer to do your customizing at 1:1 scale, WorldEdit’s got you covered.
2 Universal Minecraft Tool: Two-For-One Combo
Best thought of as a suite of apps combined into standalone program, Universal Minecraft Tool provides powerful world editing capabilities to miners playing in Java, Bedrock and even legacy consoles like Wii U and PlayStation 3. With an NBT editor and edition converter running the show, there’s plenty under the hood to get excited about.
Universal Minecraft Tool really shines with its super modern, easy to navigate user interface that makes typically-daunting tasks like navigating through your save file and copying and pasting NBT codes much less intimidating tasks. Even total beginners can pull off advanced editing tasks with this program, making it an easy choice for newbies and veterans alike.
1 WorldPainter: For The Budding Artist
Maybe the mother of all world generators, WorldPainter is best described as the MS Paint of Minecraft. Load up the program, generate your world with a suite of custom settings, select your terrain brush, and you’re off to the races.
Not only can you create a unique overworld using WorldPainter, you can add layers to build the caverns of your dreams. Maybe you want to concentrate certain kinds of ore in a particular quadrant of the map, maybe you want to build a tall mountain range that acts as a natural wall between players. With WorldPainter’s tool set at your fingertips, you’ll feel like a true terraformer.
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