Simple Stages
by Winnetrie
Simple Stages lets modpack creators and server admins lock recipes, items, blocks, mobs, dimensions and structures behind progression stages, configured through an in-game Stage Manager.
What it does
Stages gate content: a player or the server can be given a stage, and anything tied to a stage stays hidden or blocked until the matching stage is granted. Stages can be created, edited, duplicated and deleted directly in the in-game GUI, so manual JSON editing is not needed. Searchable browsers list registered modded items, blocks, mobs, dimensions and structures, and recipes can be staged individually by choosing their result item, without knowing any IDs.
Hidden resources already exist in a world before a player reaches a stage, and once the required stage is granted the same block becomes visible, such as Iron Ore revealed in place. New worlds automatically receive the configured stages, and changes apply immediately. Supported vanilla systems include cooking recipes; a locked ingredient already placed inside a machine recipe will not process until the required stage is granted. Custom modded machines need explicit compatibility recipe enforcement, depending on how the mod processes its recipes.
The mod is published for NeoForge only, for Minecraft 26.2, and runs on client and server, so the server and every player need it. The latest NeoForge file is 1.3.2 for 26.2, released on 2026-08-13. Source code and an issue tracker are public. The code is All rights reserved and not open source.
Key features
Stage locking
Recipes, items, blocks, mobs, dimensions and structures can be locked behind a named stage and granted by progression.
In-game stage management
Stages are created, edited, duplicated and deleted in the GUI, with searchable browsers for modded content.
Recipe staging
A recipe is staged by choosing its result item in a list, with no IDs to look up.
Custom restriction messages
Players who meet a locked item or recipe see a configurable message explaining the restriction.
Modpack testing
Progression can be built in-game and the configuration exported as a modpack's default settings.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
How it compares
Chapters is NeoForge-only, runs on client and server, and is released under the MIT License for 1.21.1 – 26.1.2, so it covers an earlier range than Simple Stages. Further Difficulty Config is also NeoForge-only, released under the MIT License, with files for 1.21.1 – 26.1 and no 26.2 build.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Stages | NeoForge | 26.2 | Client and server | 2026-08-13 |
| Chapters | NeoForge | 1.21.1 – 26.1.2 | Client and server | 2026-08-02 |
| Further Difficulty Config | NeoForge | 1.21.1 – 26.1 | Client and server | 2026-04-20 |
Questions
Does Simple Stages need to be installed on the server?
Does Simple Stages work with Fabric or Forge?
Will a locked machine recipe still process an ingredient?
In the catalog
Simple Stages is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,689 Management mods for NeoForge. 13,894 mods support Minecraft 26.2.
More from Winnetrie
Similar mods
What the author says
Simple Stages is a lightweight progression mod that lets modpack creators and server admins lock content behind player stages — entirely from an in-game GUI. No datapacks. No manual JSON editing. Just create your progression and start playing.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/simple-stages
- Owner
- Winnetrie
- Published
- 2026-07-01
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-08-13
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15