MineFortress: Turn Minecraft Into an RTS Colony Builder Like Rimworld
MineFortress: The Ultimate RTS Mod for Minecraft
Have you ever wished Minecraft was more like Rimworld or Dwarf Fortress? Meet MineFortress - a revolutionary mod that transforms Minecraft into a full-fledged real-time strategy game where you manage a colony of villagers, build settlements, and conquer your neighbors!
What is MineFortress?
MineFortress is a Fabric mod that completely changes how you play Minecraft. Instead of the traditional first-person survival experience, you take on the role of a village leader, commanding multiple villagers (pawns) from an RTS-style top-down perspective.
Think of it as Age of Empires meets Minecraft - you'll gather resources, construct buildings, assign jobs to your colonists, manage their needs, and even wage war against hostile neighbors.
Key Features
RTS-Style Controls
Forget the first-person view! MineFortress gives you:
- Mouse-pointer control like classic RTS games
- Click and drag to designate mining areas
- Pan across the landscape by holding sprint and moving the mouse
- Select multiple villagers for group commands
Colony Management
Build and manage your thriving settlement:
- Hire professionals - Miners, lumberjacks, farmers, craftsmen, blacksmiths, and warriors
- Construct buildings - Houses, workshops, farms, and defensive structures
- Manage resources - Wood, stone, iron, food, and more
- Expand your territory - Grow from a small camp to a mighty fortress
Blueprint System
One of MineFortress's most powerful features:
- Pre-designed medieval blueprints for quick building
- Custom blueprint creation - Design your own structures
- Functional buildings - Each blueprint serves a purpose
- Upgrade paths - Improve buildings over time
Villager Jobs & AI
Your pawns are smart and capable:
- Automatic task assignment based on profession
- Hunger and mood systems - Keep your villagers happy
- Health and survival - Villagers can be injured or die
- Specialized roles - Each job type has unique abilities
Combat System
Defend your village and conquer new lands:
- Train warriors to protect your settlement
- Fight hostile mobs that threaten your village
- Attack neighboring settlements to expand
- Build defenses like walls and towers
Multiplayer Support
As of version 1.8.3 beta:
- Play with friends in cooperative colony building
- Compete against other players for territory
- Trade resources between settlements
How to Get Started
Installation
- Install Fabric Loader for your Minecraft version
- Download Fabric API (required dependency)
- Download MineFortress from CurseForge or Modrinth
- Place the mod files in your mods folder
- Launch Minecraft with the Fabric profile
Starting Your First Colony
-
Create a new world and select "Fortress" game mode
- Or use the command in an existing world
-
Place your campfire - Right-click to establish your village center
- This is the heart of your settlement
- All expansion happens from here
-
Hire your first colonist - Open the hiring menu and recruit a worker
-
Gather resources - Left-click and drag to designate mining/chopping areas
-
Build your first structure - Use blueprints or freehand building
Early Game Strategy
Step 1: Establish Basics
- Place a crafting table
- Hire a craftsman for item production
- Gather wood and stone
Step 2: Resource Production
- Hire miners for stone and ore
- Hire lumberjacks for wood
- Hire foresters to plant trees (sustainability!)
Step 3: Food Production
- Build a farm
- Hire farmers to grow crops
- Ensure food supply for your growing population
Step 4: Industry
- Hire a blacksmith for smelting ores
- Build workshops for advanced crafting
- Start producing tools and weapons
Step 5: Defense
- Train warriors to protect your village
- Build walls around your settlement
- Prepare for hostile encounters
Tips for Success
Resource Management
- Balance your workforce - Don't over-specialize
- Stockpile food - Hungry villagers are unhappy villagers
- Plan your layout - Efficient villages are productive villages
Village Happiness
- Build houses - Homeless villagers get sad
- Provide varied jobs - Some villagers prefer certain work
- Keep them fed - Starvation leads to death
Combat Preparation
- Train warriors early - Threats come unexpectedly
- Build defensive structures - Walls save lives
- Have backup supplies - Wars consume resources
Expansion Tips
- Secure your core before expanding
- Scout the area for resources and threats
- Build outposts to claim distant resources
Why MineFortress is Amazing
For RTS Fans
If you love games like:
- Rimworld
- Dwarf Fortress
- Age of Empires
- Banished
- Going Medieval
MineFortress brings that strategic colony-management gameplay into the infinite, procedurally-generated world of Minecraft!
For Minecraft Players
If you're tired of:
- Playing alone in survival
- Manually mining everything yourself
- The same gameplay loop
MineFortress offers a completely fresh way to experience Minecraft!
For Content Creators
- Unique content that stands out
- Long-form gameplay potential
- Multiplayer collaboration opportunities
- Story-driven possibilities
Technical Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Mod Loader | Fabric |
| Dependencies | Fabric API |
| Latest Version | 1.17.5-beta |
| Minecraft Versions | 1.18.2, 1.20.1, 1.20.2 |
| Downloads | 568,000+ |
| Developer | Remmintan |
| Price | Free |
Download Links
- CurseForge: MineFortress RTS
- Modrinth: MineFortress
- Official Website: minefortress.net
- Wiki: MineFortress Wiki
- GitHub: Source Code
Conclusion
MineFortress is one of the most innovative Minecraft mods available. It completely transforms the game into something new while still leveraging everything that makes Minecraft special - the block-based building, infinite worlds, and creative freedom.
Whether you're an RTS veteran looking for a new challenge or a Minecraft player seeking a fresh experience, MineFortress delivers an incredible colony-building adventure that you won't find anywhere else.
Ready to build your fortress? Download MineFortress today and start your colony!
Looking for servers to play on? Check out our Minecraft server list to find the perfect community for your next adventure!