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Rethinking Voxels
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Rethinking Voxels

Java shader pack listed for Minecraft 1.20–1.21. File opened and checked on 26 Sep 2026; downloads from the MC Java Mods app on Android.

by gri573 · on Modrinth

[WIP] A gameplay shaderpack based on complementary reimagined that has coloured block light with sharp shadows

Which build do you need?

This mod ships a separate file for every mod loader and every version of the game. Pick both, then download — the wrong build installs fine and then does nothing in the game.

Mod loader

Minecraft version

⬇ Download for 1.21.1–1.21.10 · Iris⬇ Download for 1.20.6–1.21 · Iris⬇ Download for 1.20.5 · Iris⬇ Download for 1.20.4 · Iris⬇ Download for 1.20.2–1.20.3 · Iris⬇ Download for 1.20.1 · Iris⬇ Download for 1.19.4–1.20 · Iris⬇ Download for 1.19.3 · Iris⬇ Download for 1.19.2 · Iris⬇ Download for 1.19.2–1.19.4 · OptiFine
I don't know my version or loader
Open the Minecraft launcher and look at the profile you play on — it names both, like fabric-loader-1.21.4. The version also shows in the bottom-right corner of the game's main menu.
No loader in the profile name? Then it's plain Minecraft, and these mods won't run — you need Fabric or NeoForge installed first.
Rethinking Voxels — screenshot 1Rethinking Voxels — screenshot 2Rethinking Voxels — screenshot 3Rethinking Voxels — screenshot 4Rethinking Voxels — screenshot 5Rethinking Voxels — screenshot 6Rethinking Voxels — screenshot 7

Rethinking Voxels

This shader is an edit of Complementary Reimagined that aims to be decently fast (when compared to path tracing shaders) while having block lights cast sharp shadows.

Notes

The lighting system is not perfect. Occasional sudden brightness changes are a side-effect of the way it works and cannot be completely removed without hurting performance or removing sharp shadows from light sources. To do the latter, disable Per-Pixel Lighting in the Rethinking Voxels Settings.

This shader is developed on Iris, using an AMD graphics card on linux, and it is also tested on an NVidia graphics card on linux. While it usually works on other platforms, bugs that appear only there are not caught by my testing and hence they take longer to fix. To use this shader pack, the Iris shader loader is required. Beta 18d and older versions also work on OptiFine.

Contact

If you need support, please join the shaderLabs discord server, where this shader has a channel (#rethinking-voxels-gri573).

Partnership

I have entered a partnership with Ember, a Minecraft server hosting provider. This is because Ember hosts the complementary SMP server and has provided a better hosting experience / customer support than the previous hosting service, and because they reached out asking about it. If you need to host a Minecraft server and wish to support Rethinking Voxels' development at the same time, do check them out! Using the promotional code RETHINKING in a first-time purchase will redirect 70% of the first month's fee to me as well as give you a 10% discount.

banner with text: Ember host - use code RETHINKING for 10% off

Media

Video by youtube user iambeen that showcases rethinking voxels beta 18d (with custom settings), compared to the original reimagined:

Quick facts

Install steps are the general flow for this file type — see the MC Java Mods guides for the full walkthrough.

File checked by MCModsHub

These come from our own check of the pack file, not from the source page.

📺 Java videos for Rethinking Voxels watch on YouTube ↗

Minecraft Shaders: Solas or Rethinking Voxels ↔️ #shortsYouTubeMinecraft Shaders: Solas or Rethinking Voxels ↔️ #shortsVexelVilleMinecraft Shaders: Rethinking Voxels or Photon? #shortsYouTubeMinecraft Shaders: Rethinking Voxels or Photon? #shortsVexelVilleRTX 5090 | Minecraft 4K: Rethinking VoxelsYouTubeRTX 5090 | Minecraft 4K: Rethinking VoxelsThe FPS TesterHow To Download & Install Rethinking Voxels Shaders 26.2 for MinecraftYouTubeHow To Download & Install Rethinking Voxels Shaders 26.2 for MinecraftLush CraftRethinking VOXELS Shaders will make your Minecraft like Real LifeYouTubeRethinking VOXELS Shaders will make your Minecraft like Real LifeModCraftMasters
🎬Made a video about Rethinking Voxels? Feature it #1 here for free — put the mcmodshub.com link near the top of your description, or in a pinned comment.→

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