Nether Islands
The Nether has always been a hostile place, but what if it floated? Nether Islands is an add-on that overrides the Nether's generation and strips away the bedrock roof, leaving you with a scattered archipelago of floating islands suspended over an open void. Originally created as a request for the Comfy Winter and Better MC Skyblock modpacks, this mod reshapes the entire dimension into a skyblock-style playground that works just as well in any custom pack.
What Nether Islands Changes
At its core, Nether Islands replaces the standard Nether noise generator with a floating islands preset. Instead of a solid floor of netherrack stretching to the horizon, you get isolated landmasses separated by empty space. The bedrock roof is removed entirely, which means you can build upward freely, launch elytra flights across the void, or simply enjoy the view. The mod was designed with skyblock progression in mind, so resource gathering becomes a genuine challenge rather than a walk across the plains.
The generation looks especially striking when paired with biome mods such as Oh the Biomes You'll Go, which fills those floating chunks with varied terrain and foliage. If you are planning a fresh skyblock run, this is one of the most visually distinct ways to experience the dimension.
Supported Versions and Loaders
Nether Islands was built for Forge and covers Minecraft 1.16 through 1.19. The 1.19 release is the most limited of the bunch: floating island generation is hard-coded there, so configuration options are minimal. For Minecraft 1.20 and 1.21, the project has moved to a datapack format, which is the recommended route for modern versions. If you are running an older modpack on 1.16, 1.17, or 1.18, the Forge mod remains the way to go.
Configuration Options
You can fine-tune the mod by editing the file at config/netherislands.json. The available settings include:
- enabled — the global on/off switch. Default: true.
- replacement — the noise generator settings used to replace the Nether's original one. Default: minecraft:floating_islands.
- noise_override — whether the mod overrides noise settings. Default: true.
- dimension_override — whether the mod overrides dimension settings. Default: false.
- minY — the minimum Y-level of the dimension. Default: 0.
- height — the world height. Default: 256.
- seaLevel — the lava level. Setting this at or below minY removes all lava. Default: 0.
- bedrockFloorPosition — the Y-level of the bedrock floor. Setting it below minY removes the layer entirely. Default: -10.
These options let you decide how brutal your skyblock experience should be. Removing the lava sea and the bedrock floor creates a true endless void, while keeping a low lava level preserves a safety net for early-game survival.
How to Install Nether Islands
Installation follows the usual Forge routine. First, confirm you are running a compatible Forge version for your chosen Minecraft release. Next, place the downloaded mod file into your mods folder alongside your other Forge mods. Launch the game once so the config file generates, then close it and adjust netherislands.json to your liking. For 1.20 and 1.21, use the datapack instead: drop it into the datapacks folder of your world and run the reload command.
If you would rather skip manual file management, the foxygame.net launcher handles the whole process for you. Its add-on catalog includes Nether Islands by name, so a single click installs the correct build for your selected Minecraft version and keeps it updated automatically whenever the author pushes changes.
Known Incompatibilities
Incendium is a confirmed conflict. When both are active, the entire generation gets overridden and the bedrock layer returns, defeating the purpose of the mod. If you run into other issues, the author accepts reports through GitHub and their Discord server.
Final Thoughts
Nether Islands is a small mod with a big impact. It transforms a dimension players usually rush through into a genuine survival challenge, and the configuration file gives you enough control to tune the difficulty. Whether you are chasing a hardcore skyblock run or just want a Nether that looks unlike anything you have seen before, this add-on delivers. Grab it for your version, tweak the config, and see how long you last above the void.