What CustomNPCs-Unofficial works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge |
| Minecraft versions | 1.19.2, 1.20.1, 1.20.2, 1.20.4, 1.21, 1.21.1 |
| Environment | Client, Server |
CustomNPCs-Unofficial is a Fabric, Forge and NeoForge mod that lets you spawn, script and dress custom NPCs to build adventures, quests and shops in Minecraft Java. It is a community continuation of Noppes' original Custom NPCs mod, ported and maintained with the original creator's permission for versions the source project never reached. Fabric and NeoForge builds currently reach 1.21.1, and both the client and the server need the mod installed.
A continuation of the original Custom NPCs mod
Noppes built the original CustomNPCs mod for Minecraft Java, adding tools to create NPCs and edit their health, strength, weapon, skin and AI, plus a scripting API for quests and dialogue. That project's newest builds top out at 1.16.5, with a separate 1.12.2 line, and it has seen no active development since. CustomNPCs-Unofficial, maintained by Goodbird, carries the same NPC tools forward with the original creator's permission, documented in the project's own gallery, rather than claiming to be the original mod.
Loader and version support
Loader support is uneven. Fabric's latest confirmed build reaches Minecraft 1.21.1, published in January 2026, and NeoForge's latest confirmed build also reaches 1.21.1. Forge's most recently published file is a 1.20.1 build from February 2026, but that is not Forge's real ceiling: an earlier Forge release already reached 1.20.4, and no Forge build has gone past it.
- Fabric: up to Minecraft 1.21.1, requires Fabric API as a dependency
- NeoForge: up to Minecraft 1.21.1, no declared dependency
- Forge: up to Minecraft 1.20.4, no declared dependency
- Client and server: both marked required, so singleplayer and hosted servers need the same version
Installing CustomNPCs-Unofficial
Download the build that matches your loader and Minecraft version from the Modrinth project page, then drop the jar into your mods folder like any other mod. Fabric players need Fabric API installed first; if you have not set up a loader yet, installing Forge or NeoForge is worth doing before adding this mod. Because Modrinth marks both the client and server side as required, a dedicated server needs the matching version installed alongside the client.
This is not the same project as FancyNpcs, a separate server-side plugin for Paper and Spigot that spawns NPCs without any client mod. Choose CustomNPCs-Unofficial for a modded client and server, or FancyNpcs when you want NPCs on an unmodified server.
Questions about CustomNPCs-Unofficial.
5 questions
Is there a version of Custom NPCs for 1.20 or 1.21?
Yes. Noppes' original CustomNPCs mod stopped at 1.16.5, with a separate 1.12.2 build, and has had no active development since. CustomNPCs-Unofficial is a community continuation built with the original creator's permission, running on 1.19.2 through 1.21.1 depending on loader, and it keeps the same NPC creation and scripting tools working on current Minecraft Java releases.
Does CustomNPCs-Unofficial work with Fabric, Forge and NeoForge?
All three, but not to the same version. Fabric and NeoForge builds both reach Minecraft 1.21.1. Forge's last confirmed build tops out at 1.20.4, so Forge players on 1.21.x need to wait for an update or switch loaders.
Does CustomNPCs-Unofficial need Fabric API?
Only on Fabric. The Fabric build lists Fabric API as a required dependency, so install it first or the mod will not load. The Forge and NeoForge builds do not declare a required library mod.
Is CustomNPCs-Unofficial the same as the original Custom NPCs mod?
No. It is an unofficial port by a different developer, Goodbird, published with the original creator Noppes' permission. The core NPC creation and scripting tools carry over, but it is a separate project maintained independently of the original CurseForge listing.
Do I need CustomNPCs-Unofficial on the server too?
Yes. Modrinth lists both the client and server side as required, so a singleplayer world and any server hosting the mod both need the same version installed to create and see the custom NPCs.
