
Better than hardcore
A hardcore mod that pushes vanilla Hardcore mode to its limits.
Screenshots






About this Mod
Better Than Hardcore is a new life for Minecraft's vanilla Hardcore mode.
⚠️ This is only the beta version of the mod, and it is currently under active development.
When entering a world, players start with only 4 hearts. Sprinting and jumping are disabled when you're too hungry. Food spoils over time, hunger drains even while AFK, and hostile mobs become much more dangerous at night.
To progress, you'll need a lot of time, flint, and cookies!
When you create a new world, you'll be greeted by a new companion — a chicken named Barry.
But... DON'T KILL BARRY!
Barry is a friendly companion. If you feed him, he may reward you with feathers. He follows the player wherever they go and will teleport to them if they get too far away.
In future releases, the F3 debug screen will be heavily restricted. To compensate for this, maps already display the coordinates where they were created.
Currently, progression is implemented up to the first iron nuggets.
However, the mod is still in development! If you cannot progress further, it is not a bug — the content simply has not been added yet.
I am actively looking for feedback about the mod! Tell me what should be added, what should be made harder, and what you would like to see in future updates.
Already implemented:
- Multiple progression workbenches
- Part of the furnace progression system
- Full set of flint tools
- Full set of stone tools
- Barry the companion chicken
- Food spoilage
- Hunger drain while AFK
- Hardcore survival mechanics
- Foundations for future updates
And one more challenge:
Try changing the game mode... if you can.
There are many more features planned for the future, but everything depends on your interest and activity around the mod!
Available Versions
How to Install Better than hardcore on Your Server
Order Server
Order a Minecraft Java server with at least 3 GB RAM (4 GB recommended).
Set forge Loader
In the panel under "Egg", select the forge loader and matching Minecraft version (1.12.2).
Install Mod
Open the mod browser in the dashboard and search for "Better than hardcore". Click "Install" – done! Alternatively, upload the .jar via SFTP to the /mods folder.
Compatibility
Mod Loaders
Minecraft Versions
1.12.2
Server-side
✓ RequiredRecommended RAM
4 GB(min. 3 GB)Frequently Asked Questions
Better than hardcore server crashes on startup – what to do?
Most common cause: wrong forge version or insufficient RAM. Check the server log (latest.log) for "OutOfMemoryError" or "Mixin" errors. With Mado Hosting: ensure at least 3 GB RAM is allocated and the loader matches the mod version (1.12.2). You can switch loaders with one click in the panel.
Is Better than hardcore compatible with forge?
Better than hardcore officially supports forge for Minecraft 1.12.2. The Mado dashboard automatically detects incompatible loader combinations.
Server lagging with Better than hardcore – how to optimize performance?
Recommended RAM: 4 GB (per 8 players). Use /spark profiler to check if Better than hardcore consumes the most tick time. Common fixes: reduce server view-distance to 8-10, install "performant" or "starlight" as supplementary mods on Forge. With Mado Hosting, your server runs on NVMe SSDs with dedicated CPU cores for minimal latency.
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