What is Roguelike Adventures and Dungeons?
Roguelike Adventures and Dungeons (RAD) is an exploration-first RPG modpack series by dreams01: you level up skills, raid dungeons, travel through extra dimensions and fight bosses while mobs scale with you. The author stresses it is "not designed as a kitchen-sink modpack" – there's only light technology and a bit of magic; the focus is adventure and loot.
There are three parts, and each one is a separate pack on its own Minecraft version:
| RAD | RAD2 | RAD3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft | 1.12.2 | 1.16.5 | 1.20.1 |
| Loader | Forge 14.23.5.2864 | Forge 36.2.39 | Forge 47.4.23 |
| Latest version | 1.56 (May 2026) | 1.18 (October 2026) | 0.25 beta (October 2026) |
| Mods (manifest) | 249 | 291 | ~400 |
| Quests | ~2,600 in 39 chapters | 2,144 in 32 chapters | 32 chapters |
| CurseForge downloads | 7.6 million | 4.8 million | 140,000+ |
| Status | stable, still updated | stable, main line | beta |
| Recommended server RAM | 6 GB | 10 GB | 10 GB |
On Spot.gg the series has already run on more than 800 servers – RAD2 alone on over 770. We boot a test server on every new pack version before offering it; RAD 1.56, RAD2 1.18 and RAD3 0.24 passed.
Which RAD should you play: RAD, RAD2 or RAD3?
For most groups RAD2 is the best choice today – it's the stable, actively updated main line with the most content polish; RAD3 is the future but still in beta. The longer answer:
- RAD2 (1.16.5) – the safest pick for a server. Version 1.18 came out on 1 October 2026, quests are complete and its 290+ mods are well balanced. It's the most launched RAD on Spot.gg by far.
- RAD3 (1.20.1) – the newest part, released on CurseForge as a beta (0.2x versions). It brings modern mods (Passive Skill Trees, L_Ender's Cataclysm, Bosses of Mass Destruction, Tectonic terrain), but expect changes between versions that can affect existing worlds.
- RAD (1.12.2) – the original, still updated (1.56 in May 2026). Choose it if you want the classic 1.12 dimensions such as the Betweenlands, the Aether, Erebus and Thaumcraft magic. It's also the lightest on RAM.
The three packs are not upgrades of each other: a RAD2 world can't be moved to RAD3. Pick one at the start.
What's in RAD2?
RAD2 is about 290 mods built around 12+ dimensions, dungeons, dragons, quests and scaling difficulty. From the pack's files (version 1.18):
- Dimensions: The Twilight Forest, Blue Skies (Everbright and Everdawn), The Undergarden, Atum 2, The Bumblezone, Tropicraft, Dimensional Dungeons and a separate Mining Dimension, plus overhauled Nether and End (Infernal Expansion, BetterEnd, The Outer End).
- Dungeons and structures: Dungeon Crawl with custom RAD themes, When Dungeons Arise, YUNG's dungeons, mineshafts and strongholds, Valhelsia Structures, Repurposed Structures and Stoneholm villages.
- Bosses and mobs: Twilight Forest bosses, Ice and Fire dragons, Mowzie's Mobs, Alex's Mobs, elite Champions, Progressive Bosses and Meet Your Fight.
- Magic and gear: Ars Nouveau, Spartan Weaponry, relics, artifacts, Enigmatic Legacy and Apotheosis.
- Quests: 2,144 quests in 32 chapters, grouped into Exploration, Technology, Sorcery and Confrontation, with a coin shop ("$ - COIN SHOP - $") where quest coins buy rewards.
When you die, Corail Tombstone stores your items in a grave at the place of death, so you can go back for them.
How do Expert and Master mode work in RAD2?
RAD2 starts in Normal mode, switches to Expert after you kill the Wither or first enter the End, and to Master after you kill the Ender Dragon. This comes from Majrusz's Progressive Difficulty – the triggers in the pack's config are:
| Stage | How it starts | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | from the start | standard RAD2 difficulty |
| Expert | killing the Wither or entering the End for the first time | stronger mobs, more special abilities and elite spawns |
| Master | killing the Ender Dragon | the hardest values for every feature |
On top of that, Champions adds elite mobs with affixes, and Progressive Bosses makes the Wither and the Ender Dragon stronger with each kill. Plan the Wither fight: it's the point where the whole server gets harder.
What skill levels does gear need in RAD2?
RAD2 locks better weapons and armor behind Project MMO skill levels – a diamond sword needs Combat 45, a netherite one Combat 60. Project MMO gives you skills that level up as you play (combat, mining, endurance, agility and more), up to level 200. Requirements from the pack's config:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Iron sword | Combat 25 |
| Diamond sword | Combat 45 |
| Netherite sword | Combat 60 |
| Iron chestplate | Endurance 15 |
| Diamond chestplate | Endurance 45 |
| Netherite chestplate | Endurance 60 |
| Diamond pickaxe | Gathering 40 |
| Netherite pickaxe | Gathering 60 |
| Elytra | Agility 30 |
Weapon, armor and tool requirements are enforced, so you can't just craft diamond gear on day one and skip the early game. The "Specialization" quest chapter explains the system.
What's different in RAD (1.12.2) and RAD3 (1.20.1)?
RAD 1 is the classic 1.12.2 adventure with the most dimensions; RAD3 is a rebuilt 1.20.1 pack with stronger survival tweaks.
RAD (1.12.2) – about 250 mods and roughly 2,600 quests in 39 chapters. Dimensions include The Twilight Forest, The Betweenlands, The Aether (Aether Continuation), Atum 2, Tropicraft, Cavern II, The Beneath, The Erebus, The Midnight, Lands of Icaria and Dimensional Doors mazes. Magic comes from Thaumcraft, Electroblob's Wizardry and Vampirism; skills from Level Up! Reloaded. The author recommends 4 GB for the client and pre-generating the world when you create it.
RAD3 (1.20.1, beta) – around 400 mods on the client. Key systems: Passive Skill Trees, scaling mobs with traits and levels (L2Hostility, Enhanced AI), bosses from L_Ender's Cataclysm, Bosses of Mass Destruction and Apotheosis, and dimensions such as the Aether, the Undergarden, Lands of Icaria and the Bumblezone. Per the author, dimensions unlock one after another, natural regeneration is off (you get regenerating absorption hearts instead), max health depends on your XP level, waystones are harder to craft and the strongest items sit behind bosses. There's also an optional hard mode (Celestial Artifacts).
How much RAM does RAD need?
Allocate 4–6 GB to the game on your PC; give a RAD2 or RAD3 server 10 GB, and a RAD 1.12.2 server 6 GB.
| Pack | PC (launcher) | Server, 1–4 players | Server, 5+ players |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAD (1.12.2) | 4 GB | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| RAD2 (1.16.5) | 6 GB | 8 GB | 10 GB |
| RAD3 (1.20.1) | 6–8 GB | 10 GB | 12 GB |
The author's own hosting advice is "at least 6 GB" for a server. RAD worlds are full of structures and dimensions, so exploring groups need more memory than players who stay near base.
How do you make a Roguelike Adventures and Dungeons server?
Pick the RAD pack you want, start a server with it and have everyone install the same version in the CurseForge App. On Spot.gg:
- Create an account and confirm your email – no card required.
- Open the pack page – RAD2, RAD or RAD3 – and click "Activate with this modpack". We install Forge, the mods, the config and the right Java version.
- Set the RAM – modpack servers start at 6 GB (from $7.55 / month after the free trial). You can change it later.
- Click "How to connect?" in the panel to see the exact pack version and the address to share.
- Friends install that version in the CurseForge App and join via "Multiplayer" → "Add Server". Turn on the "Whitelist" for a private world.
The first 24 hours are free, so you can test the pack with your group before paying anything.
Updating: when dreams01 releases a new version (for example RAD2 1.17 → 1.18), go to "Information" → "Modify" → "Update" in the panel. The world stays; the pack's mods and config are replaced, and on a paid server a backup is taken first. Every player then updates to the same version. Don't use this to switch between RAD, RAD2 and RAD3 – they're different Minecraft versions.
What are the most common RAD server problems?
Most issues are version mismatches, too little RAM or client-only settings.
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Can't join, mod mismatch error | player has a different pack version | install the version shown in "How to connect?" |
| Server loads for a long time, then stops | not enough RAM | raise RAM to 10 GB (RAD2/RAD3) |
| Lag when exploring new areas | chunk generation with many structures | add RAM, lower view distance, explore in smaller groups |
| Mobs suddenly much stronger | Expert/Master mode started after the Wither or the Ender Dragon | expected – upgrade gear before those fights |
| Can't equip a diamond sword | Project MMO requirement (Combat 45) | level Combat first |
| World broken after switching RAD2 → RAD3 | different Minecraft versions | start a new world for the other pack |
If the server won't start, the "Errors" tab and "Ask the assistant" button in the panel help – the AI assistant reads the logs and explains the fix. Looking for something harder? Read our RLCraft guide or browse the best Minecraft modpacks.
FAQ
What is the difference between RAD and RAD2?
RAD runs on Minecraft 1.12.2 and RAD2 on 1.16.5. RAD2 is the official spiritual successor with different mods (Twilight Forest, Blue Skies, Undergarden, Project MMO, Majrusz's Progressive Difficulty), while RAD keeps classic 1.12 dimensions like the Betweenlands and the Aether.
Which Roguelike Adventures and Dungeons is the latest?
RAD3 for Minecraft 1.20.1 is the newest part, but it is still a beta (0.2x versions). RAD2 1.18 is the newest stable release.
How many quests does RAD2 have?
The quest book in RAD2 1.18 has 2,144 quests in 32 chapters, including a coin shop where quest rewards can be spent.
How do you unlock Expert mode in RAD2?
Expert mode starts after you kill the Wither or enter the End for the first time. Master mode starts after you kill the Ender Dragon.
How much RAM does a RAD2 server need?
8 GB is enough for a few players and 10 GB is recommended for a group. On Spot.gg modpack servers start at 6 GB and you can add RAM at any time.
Can I play RAD2 multiplayer for free?
On Spot.gg the first 24 hours of a RAD server are free with no card. If the group likes it, extend the server and keep the same world.
Is Roguelike Adventures and Dungeons on Bedrock?
No. All three RAD packs are Forge modpacks for Minecraft Java Edition.
