Plasmid
by NucleoidMC
Plasmid is a server-side library for building minigames, where each game type and its variations are described by data-driven JSON configs.
What it does
Plasmid gives minigame developers a base for declaring a game type with a unique identifier, then referencing that type from game config JSON files. A game config is a specific variation of a game type, and different maps can play entirely different mechanics without duplicating code. The data is loaded through a Codec, a helper built on Mojang's DataFixerUpper library that converts between a Java object and a JSON file, so configs can be edited later without recompiling.
The library supports games whose behavior is set by data rather than hard-coded logic, and it runs on servers only. A game config can be defined in a JSON file inside a datapack, which references a GameType and passes along extra data. The author text describes an example game and config, and notes that the tutorial was updated for Plasmid 0.5.x.
Installation requires Fabric API and Polymer. Plasmid is published for Fabric and Quilt, and it bundles Text Placeholder API. The optional AfkDisplay and DisguiseLib dependencies are not required. Files cover 1.20.1 – 26.2 with eight release versions, and the code is open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 only.
Key features
Declared game types
A game type is registered with a unique identifier, and game config JSON files refer to it by that identifier.
Data-driven configs
Each game config is a JSON file that tweaks a game type, so one minigame can produce many variations.
Codec serialization
Codecs convert Java objects to and from JSON, which keeps game configuration out of the code.
Start method reference
A method reference is used as the function that starts the game when a player requests it.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 2
Optional 2
Embedded 1
Required by 6 mods
Use cases
Multiple variations of one game
A developer can ship one game type and several configs that change maps and rules without copying the code.
Datapack-defined minigames
Minigames can be added through datapacks that reference an existing game type and pass along extra data.
Who it’s for: Minigame developers writing server-side games for Fabric or Quilt servers. The library expects familiarity with Java and JSON, and the author notes that a more detailed explanation of Codecs is found elsewhere for readers who need it.
Questions
Does Plasmid have to be installed on the client?
Which loaders does Plasmid support?
Can Plasmid run on the newest game versions?
In the catalog
Plasmid is one of 2,135 Minigame mods on ModsFinder, and one of 1,454 Minigame mods for Fabric. 13,894 mods support Minecraft 26.2.
More from NucleoidMC
Similar mods
What the author says
Plasmid is the core of the Nucleoid Project, an effort to build an open source ecosystem for server-side Minecraft minigames. You can view many examples of games implemented with Plasmid on the Nucleoid GitHub Organisation. You may even be interested in playing some of them over on our testing Minecraft server at…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/plasmid
- Owner
- NucleoidMC
- Published
- 2023-07-26
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-06-27
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15