Sparse Biome

Take control of biome generation in Minecraft.

Sparse Biome is a NeoForge mod for Minecraft 1.21.11 that allows you to configure the generation frequency of any biome—vanilla or modded—using simple and intuitive JSON configuration files. Whether you're balancing a modpack, refining exploration, or crafting a unique world, Sparse Biome gives you precise control over terrain diversity.

✨ Features

Per-biome frequency control Adjust biome rarity using weight multipliers. (Example: 0.5 makes a biome half as common.)
Biome exclusion Disable any biome entirely with a single parameter.
Dimension-specific configuration Automatically generates one configuration file per dimension, including modded ones.
Automatic biome discovery On every server start, all detected biomes are added to configuration files—perfect for modpacks and updates.
Mod compatibility out of the box Works seamlessly with world generation mods using the standard biome registry.
No in-game UI required All settings are handled through clean and editable JSON files.
Hot reload support Apply configuration changes instantly without restarting the game.

🧩 Compatibility

Sparse Biome supports vanilla and modded biomes, including:

Vanilla Minecraft
Terralith
Nullscape
Biomes O’ Plenty
Oh The Biomes You’ll Go (BYG)
Biomes We've Gone
Incendium
Tectonic
WWOO

Any mod using TerraBlender or the standard Minecraft biome registry is expected to work seamlessly.

⚙️ Example Configuration

{
  "dimension": "minecraft:overworld",
  "biomes": [
    { "id": "minecraft:desert", "weight": 0.25, "enabled": true },
    { "id": "terralith:volcanic_peaks", "weight": 1.0, "enabled": false },
    { "id": "byg:allium_fields", "weight": 2.0, "enabled": true }
  ]
}

📁 Automatic Configuration

On first launch, Sparse Biome generates configuration files automatically:

.minecraft/config/sparsebiome/
├── overworld.json
├── nether.json
├── the_end.json
└── <modded_dimension>.json

Each biome is initialized with default values, ensuring immediate compatibility with any modpack.

🛠️ Commands

Command	Description
`/sparsebiome discover`	Scans and registers newly added biomes
`/sparsebiome reload`	Reloads configuration without restarting

🔧 Requirements

Minecraft: 1.21.11
Loader: NeoForge
Java: JDK 21
Dependencies: None

📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

🌍 Why Use Sparse Biome?

Balance exploration and progression
Customize world generation for modpacks
Reduce biome clutter and enhance immersion
Fine-tune procedural landscapes with precision

🌱 Inspiration

Sparse Biome draws inspiration from Sparse Structures, which offers control over the frequency of generated structures. This mod extends the same philosophy to biome generation, giving players and modpack creators precise control over world diversity. The similarity in names reflects this conceptual lineage, adapting the idea from structures to biomes.

🚀 Future Plans

Future development will be guided by community feedback. If there is sufficient demand, backward compatibility with earlier—and potentially more widely used—Minecraft versions may be considered. While not guaranteed, such support remains a possibility depending on interest and feasibility.