Citadel (NeoForge)
If you have ever installed a creature-focused mod and been told it needs Citadel, you have already met one of the most important backend libraries in Minecraft modding. Citadel (NeoForge) is a modern port of that framework, rebuilt to run cleanly on NeoForge so that large-scale mob mods can keep working on current Minecraft versions.
What Citadel (NeoForge) Actually Does
Citadel is not a content mod. It adds no creatures, no blocks, and no items of its own. Instead, it is a shared library that other mods hook into. Think of it as the engine room below deck: you never see it, but nothing moves without it.
The library provides a set of core systems that creature mods rely on:
- Advanced entity animation systems, including multi-part and hierarchical models
- Custom model handling for complex, non-vanilla mob shapes
- Data-driven behavior helpers that let mods define mob logic through config files
- Network syncing utilities so animations and states stay consistent between client and server
- Common creature framework logic shared across many different mods
Because so many mods depend on these systems, Citadel (NeoForge) for Minecraft acts as a single point of compatibility. Update the library once, and every dependent mod benefits.
Why a NeoForge Port Exists
The original Citadel was built for Forge and became the backbone of countless creature mods over the years. When NeoForge split off and evolved into its own ecosystem, a large number of those mods were left without a working dependency. This port exists to close that gap.
The porting work involves more than a simple recompile. The codebase has been updated for modern Minecraft versions, Forge-specific systems have been adapted to their NeoForge equivalents, and original behavior has been preserved wherever possible. The stated goal is stability, performance, and long-term sustainability rather than reinvention.
Credit for the core framework design belongs entirely to the original developer. This project is a parity and modernization effort, not a fork with a new direction.
Supported Versions and Loader
Citadel (NeoForge) targets modern NeoForge environments. The current stable Minecraft versions are listed in the files tab of the project page, and you should always match the file version to your game version before installing. Mixing a library built for one Minecraft release with a different game version is the most common cause of crashes and missing animations.
For players who would rather skip manual file management, the foxygame.net launcher handles Citadel (NeoForge) as part of its curated add-on catalog, pulling the correct build for your installed Minecraft version and keeping it updated automatically.
How to Install Citadel (NeoForge)
Installation follows the standard library mod process, and it takes only a few minutes.
- Confirm that you are running NeoForge, not legacy Forge. This build will not load on Forge.
- Check the Minecraft version of the mod you are trying to satisfy, then download Citadel (NeoForge) for that same version.
- Place the downloaded file into your mods folder alongside the mod that requires it.
- Launch the game and verify that both mods appear in the mod list without errors.
Do not install this mod on its own expecting new gameplay. It is a dependency, and it only becomes useful when another mod calls on it. If a mod's description says it needs Citadel (NeoForge), install this version and you are set.
Modpack and Developer Notes
Citadel (NeoForge) is free to include in both public and private modpacks without asking for permission, which makes it an easy addition to any creature-heavy pack. For developers, the project exists specifically to make porting Citadel-dependent mods to NeoForge possible without rewriting core systems from scratch.
The library ships with no standalone assets or gameplay content beyond what it needs to function, keeping overhead minimal and integration clean.
Final Thoughts
Citadel (NeoForge) is invisible when it works and frustrating when it is missing. If you are building a modpack around creature mods on modern Minecraft, or you are a developer bringing an older mod forward, this library is the piece that makes the rest of the puzzle fit. Match your versions, install it as a dependency, and let the mods above it do the visible work.