Very Many Players review
A server-focused Fabric mod with broad networking and chunk-performance optimizations.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Very Many Players (VMP) is an open-source Fabric mod for Minecraft Java Edition environments with high player counts. Its primary focus is server performance, while some game-logic improvements also apply to clients. The mod targets several pressure points in multiplayer operation, including nearby packet sending, player lookups, entity tracking, collision iteration, chunk loading, command execution, networking, render-distance control, and logging.
Its standout strength is breadth within server networking and simulation. Area-map optimizations support nearby packet sending and player lookups, while caching covers entity trackers, fluid-state lookups, ingredient matching, and biome lookups. VMP also provides asynchronous initial chunk loading during player login, asynchronous execution for selected player-issued commands, packet-level rate limiting for chunk sending, and per-player packet-level render distance. Packet prioritization is designed for more responsive TCP connections, and split networking event loops target some bot attacks. AsyncAppender logging keeps logging I/O off the main thread.
The project is free and open source, with no paid tiers to compare. It supports Fabric and lists Minecraft versions 1.18.1, 1.19, 1.19.2, and 26.1.1. Lithium and Raknetify integrations extend its fit within compatible server setups, while the absence of a Sodium dependency keeps Sodium from being a stated requirement. Choose VMP when high-player-count server networking and broad optimization coverage are priorities. Choose another option when a Fabric-based environment is unsuitable, when client-focused improvements matter more than server performance, or when early-development software that may break is not acceptable.
Very Many Players pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Optimizes packet sending, entity tracking, chunk loading, and networking
- Adds per-player packet-level render distance and optional rate limiting
- Integrates with Lithium and Raknetify without a Sodium dependency
- Where it doesn't
- Fabric mod support limits it to Fabric-based environments
- The project is early-development software and may break
- Its scope centers on server performance rather than general client features
Very Many Players fact sheet, pricing and score →
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