Basalt Launcher
Basalt Launcher is a free, open-source Minecraft launcher written in Rust for Linux, Windows, and macOS.
What Basalt Launcher is
Basalt Launcher is a free, open-source Minecraft launcher written in Rust for Linux, Windows, and macOS. It keeps saves, mods, resource packs, shaders, settings, and launch options separate for each instance. Users can install and switch among Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge, and Forge, browse Modrinth and CurseForge with compatibility filtering, dependency resolution, changelogs, and update checks, and create instances from Modrinth modpacks. It supports multiple Microsoft accounts with device-code sign-in and silent token refresh, as well as importing, previewing, saving, and applying skins and managing capes. Java tools can find compatible runtimes from the system and common version managers, with global and per-instance overrides. The launcher monitors downloads and installs, can cancel active tasks and recover interrupted operations, and provides separate launcher and game logs plus a preview of final launch arguments. GitHub Releases list Windows EXE and MSI, macOS DMG, and Linux AppImage and Debian package installers. The project notes that beta testing coverage varies by platform. Release builds include a CurseForge key; source builds require users to provide one, and CurseForge must manually approve API key applications. Basalt is not an official Minecraft product and is not associated with Mojang or Microsoft.
Good
- Keeps game files and settings separate by instance
- Supports four mod loaders
- Offers Java runtime detection and overrides
- Runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS
Watch out
- Beta testing coverage varies by platform
- Source builds require a CurseForge key
- CurseForge API key applications require manual approval
Who it suits
It suits Minecraft players who want separate game setups, mod-loader options, and mod browsing in a desktop launcher. Users building from source should note the additional CurseForge key requirement.
Verdict
Basalt groups instance management, mod-loader support, content browsing, and diagnostics in a free, open-source launcher. Its beta coverage differs by platform, and source builders need to account for CurseForge key setup.
Plans and prices
From Basalt Launcher's own pricing page, checked 12 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Basalt Launcher | Free | Open-source Minecraft launcher · Linux, Windows, macOS |
The facts
Each one read from Basalt Launcher's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accounts and cosmetics
- It supports multiple Microsoft accounts with device-code sign-in and silent token refresh, and lets users import, preview, save, and apply skins and manage capes.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Built-in modpack catalog
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Content integrations
- It can browse Modrinth and CurseForge with compatibility filtering, dependency resolution, changelogs, and update checks.checked 12 Oct 2026
- CurseForge setup
- The README says release builds ship with a CurseForge key, while source builds require a key set at build time or entered under Settings → Integrations.checked 11 Oct 2026
- CurseForge setup limit
- Release builds include a CurseForge key, while source builds require users to provide their own key; CurseForge must manually approve API key applications.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Diagnostics
- The launcher separates its logs from game output, allows changing log levels, and can preview final launch arguments.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Downloads and diagnostics
- Users can monitor downloads and installs, cancel active tasks, recover interrupted operations, view separate launcher and game logs, and preview final launch arguments.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Game files
- Basalt says it downloads game files from Mojang's servers and never redistributes them, and states it is not an official Minecraft product or associated with Mojang or Microsoft.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Installers
- The project lists Windows EXE and MSI, macOS DMG, and Linux AppImage and Debian package installers.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Install formats
- GitHub Releases provide Windows .exe and .msi installers, a macOS .dmg, and Linux AppImage and Debian packages; Arch and Nix installation options are also documented.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Instance management
- It keeps saves, mods, resource packs, shaders, settings, and launch options separate for each instance.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Java runtime management
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Java runtimes
- It detects compatible Java runtimes from the system and common version managers, with global and per-instance overrides.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Minecraft affiliation
- The project states it is not an official Minecraft product and is not approved by or associated with Mojang or Microsoft.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Mod loaders
- It supports installing and switching between Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge, and Forge.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Mod loader support
- multiplechecked 22 Sep 2026
- Modpack import
- catalogchecked 22 Sep 2026
- Modpacks
- It can create an instance directly from a Modrinth modpack.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Product
- Basalt is an open-source Minecraft launcher written in Rust.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Basalt is an open-source Minecraft launcher with an artwork-led interface and tools for managing instances, loaders, content, accounts, and launch settings.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Security guidance
- The README tells users not to commit an API key or include one in a bug report.checked 12 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Desktop platforms
- Basalt describes itself as cross-platform software for Linux, Windows, and macOS, and notes that testing coverage varies between platforms during the beta.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Platforms and beta
- Basalt supports Linux, Windows, and macOS, and the project says testing coverage varies between platforms during the beta.checked 12 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- The maker's GitHub profile describes MegalithOfficial as working on machine learning systems and identifies its owner as a backend developer; it gives no headquarters or founding date.checked 12 Oct 2026
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