Everything But... A Kitchen Sink Modpack With a Brilliant Twist
When a veteran modpack creator decides to build something purely for enjoyment rather than hardcore survival, the result deserves attention. Everything But... is exactly that kind of pack. Designed by Jaded, the name behind some of the most notoriously challenging Minecraft experiences, this pack takes a sharp turn toward creative freedom while keeping one clever mechanic that changes everything.
What Is Everything But... All About
Kitchen sink packs have been a staple of modded Minecraft for years. The idea is simple: throw in a massive collection of mods, tweak a few things for compatibility, and let players loose to build whatever they imagine. Most kitchen sink packs suffer from redundancy though. You might find five different ways to double your ores, three types of copper spawning in the world, and multiple machines that do essentially the same thing. Everything But... deliberately avoids this trap. The mod list was hand-picked to offer the widest possible range of activities without drowning players in duplicate content.
Unlike Jaded's previous packs, this one is not hardcore. There are no brutal hunger mechanics, no punishing death loops, and no absurd resource scarcity. Vanilla tools function perfectly fine alongside Tinkers Construct gear. Machine power requirements and outputs received minor adjustments to maintain reasonable balance, but nothing that will leave you tearing your hair out. This is a pack meant to be enjoyed at your own pace.
The Research System That Changes Crafting Forever
Here is where the signature Jaded twist appears. When you first spawn into a new world, your crafting knowledge is extremely limited. You know only a handful of basic items. Everything else must be discovered through practice. The more you craft a particular item, the more recipes you unlock. This progression system, powered by RecipeResearch, transforms the early game into a genuine journey of discovery.
Failed attempts at crafting produce failed items rather than nothing at all, so experimentation carries a tangible cost. You cannot simply look up a recipe in NotEnoughItems and craft it immediately. You must earn that knowledge. The system also allows you to copy your learned recipes into research notes and share them with friends on a server, creating a collaborative atmosphere where players can specialize in different tech trees and trade discoveries. Research boosters scattered throughout the world provide another avenue for unlocking knowledge, rewarding exploration alongside crafting diligence.
Magic and Technology in Perfect Harmony
The mod selection spans both magical and technological domains with impressive depth. Thaumcraft anchors the magic side, supported by an extensive family of addons including Thaumic Tinkerer, Thaumic Horizons, Forbidden Magic, Automagy, and Witching Gadgets. Blood Magic and Botania offer alternative magical paths with their own unique mechanics. Witchery brings its dark arts to the mix, while Tainted Magic and Warp Theory add dangerous dimensions to thaumaturgical research.
On the technology front, Thermal Expansion and its companion mods provide the backbone of industrial progression. Immersive Engineering adds multiblock machines with stunning visual appeal. Applied Energistics 2 handles storage and automation with its digital network system. RFTools, Advanced Generators, and Simply Jetpacks round out the tech offerings. The integration between these mods feels natural rather than forced, allowing players to blend magic and machinery in creative ways.
Quality of Life Without Compromise
Several mods ensure the experience remains smooth and enjoyable. Inventory Tweaks keeps your bags organized. WAILA provides the essential block information overlay. Morpheus enables server-wide sleep voting. VeinMiner saves hours of tedious block-breaking. These conveniences do not trivialize the core gameplay but remove friction that would otherwise distract from the fun.
For players looking to install this pack quickly, the foxygame.net launcher offers a streamlined solution where you can browse and download modpacks directly from the menu without hunting through scattered websites. Its modern interface makes managing multiple modded instances refreshingly simple, and the built-in mod library keeps everything organized in one place.
Exploration and World Generation
The Twilight Forest provides a dedicated dimension for adventure, complete with boss progression and unique treasures. Natura expands the overworld with new tree types, berries, and cloud blocks. Pam's HarvestCraft floods the landscape with fruit trees, gardens, and an overwhelming variety of crops that make food preparation a genuinely engaging system. Mo' Creatures populates the world with diverse wildlife, from tiny insects to massive big cats.
Storage Drawers and Jabba offer flexible storage solutions that scale from early game to end game. Project Red brings compact redstone logic and integrated circuitry. Ender Storage provides cross-dimensional item and fluid transport. These mods work together without stepping on each other's toes, preserving the pack's philosophy of minimal redundancy.
Progression That Rewards Persistence
The research mechanic fundamentally alters how you approach progression. Instead of rushing toward Applied Energistics or high-tier Thermal Expansion machines, you must gradually unlock recipes through consistent crafting. This naturally paces your advancement and encourages you to engage with mods you might otherwise skip. Early game becomes a period of genuine experimentation rather than a checklist of steps to complete before reaching the mid-game.
Magic mods benefit particularly from this system. Thaumcraft's research mini-game already requires scanning and discovery, but RecipeResearch adds another layer where even basic magical components must be learned through practice. The synergy between these systems creates a cohesive experience where knowledge itself becomes a resource.
Multiplayer Considerations
Everything But... shines in multiplayer environments. The ability to copy and share research notes means players can divide responsibilities and trade discoveries. One player might focus on unlocking Thermal Expansion machinery while another delves into Blood Magic rituals. Research boosters found during exploration become valuable commodities. This collaborative aspect transforms the pack from a solo journey into a community effort without forcing players into specific roles.
Server performance remains stable thanks to the pack's curated mod list. Redundant mods that would bloat world generation or tick times were intentionally excluded. The result is a pack that runs smoothly even with multiple players building complex automation setups.
Final Thoughts on a Refined Experience
Everything But... succeeds by knowing what to leave out. The pack delivers a comprehensive modded experience without the overwhelming bloat that plagues many kitchen sink packs. The research system adds meaningful progression without becoming a grind. Magic and technology coexist naturally, and the balance tweaks keep things fair without stifling creativity.
Whether you prefer building elaborate Thaumcraft setups, designing Thermal Expansion processing lines, or simply exploring the Twilight Forest, this pack provides the tools without forcing a particular playstyle. The research mechanic ensures that whatever path you choose, you will feel a genuine sense of discovery along the way. For players seeking a well-rounded modpack that respects their time and intelligence, Everything But... delivers exactly what its name promises: everything but the unnecessary duplication.