Realistic Torches
by Chaosyr
Players who rely on torches early in a world need to plan lighting sooner, because Realistic Torches adds a timed burnout to every torch.
What it does
Torches come out of the crafting grid unlit, and a matchbox or flint and steel is needed to light them. Once lit, a torch goes out after a set period, 60 minutes of real time by default. Rain also puts torches out, and torches generated in vanilla structures are swapped for unlit ones.
The mod is aimed at making the early game harder and at pushing players toward longer-lasting light sources. Permanently lit vanilla torches remain available, crafted from glowstone. The server and every player need the mod installed. Files are published for Forge only, and the latest file is 1.21-3.2.0 for 1.21.
The code is available as source and the issue tracker is public. The license is Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 4.0, and the mod is not open source.
Key features
Unlit crafted torches
Torches come out of the crafting grid unlit and need a matchbox or flint and steel before they give light.
Timed burnout
A lit torch is extinguished once its timer runs down, 60 minutes of real time by default, and the timer can be changed.
Rain extinguishes torches
Torches exposed to rain are put out, so open-air lighting needs more planning.
Structure torch replacement
Torches generated in vanilla structures are replaced by unlit torches, so explorers find dark rooms.
Glowstone torches
Permanently lit vanilla torches can be crafted from glowstone, as a lasting alternative.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
1.21.x1 of 1 version with builds
1.20.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.19.x2 of 2 versions with builds
1.18.x1 of 1 version with builds
1.16.x1 of 1 version with builds
1.12.x1 of 1 version with builds
1.7.x1 of 1 version with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Harder early game
Players who want a slower start can rely on timed torches and push toward glowstone or other lasting light sources sooner.
Who it’s for: Players who want lighting to be a resource to manage, and modpack builders looking for a torch mechanic that keeps early progression tight. Server owners need it installed on the server and on every client.
How it compares
No Structure Torches is server-side only, so players join without installing it, and it is released under All rights reserved for 1.20.1. Vanilla Auto Torch is for Forge 1.20.1 under the Apache License 2.0 and needs to be on both client and server. Auto-Torches covers 1.20.1, and either side can run it, and neither needs it.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Realistic Torches | Forge | 1.7.10 – 1.21 | Client and server | 2024-06-26 |
| No Structure Torches | Forge | 1.20.1 | Server-side only | 2026-03-17 |
| Vanilla Auto Torch | Forge | 1.20.1 | Client and server | 2026-02-02 |
| Auto-Torches | Forge | 1.20.1 | Client or server, optional | 2025-07-27 |
Questions
Does Realistic Torches need to be installed on the server?
Which loader and versions does Realistic Torches support?
How long does a lit torch last?
In the catalog
Realistic Torches is one of 12,078 Decoration mods on ModsFinder, and one of 6,149 Decoration mods for Forge. 15,770 mods support Minecraft 1.21.
More from Chaosyr
Similar mods
What the author says
Realistic Torches makes torches burn out after a configurable amount of time, making the early game more difficult and encouraging players to move toward more permanent light sources early on. Lit torch (shapeless, matchbox takes damage)
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/realistic-torches
- Owner
- Chaosyr
- Published
- 2023-09-10
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2024-06-26
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15