Snowstorm

Overview

Snowstorm is a Minecraft Bedrock particle editor and generator, offered as a web app and a Visual Studio Code extension. It best suits creators making particle effects for resource packs who want presets to get started. It is a focused tool with a free version, alongside a separate microproxy network service.

Key features

Snowstorm creates and edits particle files for Minecraft Bedrock resource packs and experiences. Its Quick Setup tab offers preset motions and appearances, giving creators a starting point for an effect. The scope is deliberately narrow: there are no custom entity tools or scripting support, so creators building broader add-ons will need other tools alongside it.

The web editor is available at snowstorm.app, and a Visual Studio Code extension supports editing particle files within that editor. The extension requires files to be named *.particle.json, which matters when adding Snowstorm to a project with existing file conventions. The project is GPL-3.0 licensed, and its web app can be hosted locally using a local server. Snowstorm is an independent project, not a Mojang or Microsoft product.

Snowstorm also describes a decentralized microproxy network for privacy and censorship circumvention. People can contribute their connection as volunteer peers or use the client to route traffic across the system. Traffic passes through ephemeral peers; Snowstorm says encryption and trust mechanisms keep censorship-circumvention peers, which act only as first hops, from observing user traffic. Users can choose regions and peers by reputation and performance, and the service’s quality depends on the peers they connect through as well as their local network. Automatic updates are enabled by default, and Snowstorm recommends using the latest client version.

Pricing

The particle editor has a free plan at no cost, and Snowstorm says a free version will always be available to those in need. That makes it a straightforward fit for creators who need particle editing without a subscription. The project also offers paid subscriptions for people seeking maximum performance and features, with custom pricing.

The microproxy network’s subscription plans are separate from the editor’s free version. Snowstorm describes them as a way to support the network and access maximum performance and features, but does not give plan names or prices. Network performance is peer-dependent, so the subscription pitch does not remove the stated variability in service quality.

Platforms

The particle editor is available on the web and as a Visual Studio Code extension. The listed platform range also includes Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows, though the editing options described are the web app and extension. Choose the web app for browser-based access or the extension to work with particle files in Visual Studio Code.

Who it's for

Snowstorm is a good match for Minecraft Bedrock creators whose immediate need is making particle effects for resource packs. Quick Setup gives newcomers preset motions and appearances to work from, while the web app and VS Code extension offer two ways to edit. It is a weaker fit for creators who need entity tools or scripting in the same editor, or for anyone looking for a complete add-on development environment.

The separate network use case is for people seeking censorship circumvention or willing to contribute bandwidth as volunteer peers. Its decentralized design and peer selection offer control over routing choices, but users who need consistent performance should account for the network’s dependence on peer quality and local conditions.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free particle editing covers the core Bedrock particle workflow without a subscription.
• Pros: Quick Setup presets offer a practical starting point for particle motions and appearances.
• Pros: A web app and VS Code extension suit browser use and file editing within a coding environment.
• Cons: The extension requires the *.particle.json naming convention, which can require changes to existing files.
• Cons: No custom entity tools or scripting support limits its usefulness for broader add-on work.
• Cons: Microproxy service quality varies with peer choice and the user’s local network.

Alternatives

For a broader Minecraft add-on editing shortlist, start with Minecraft Add-on Editors.

• Blockbench is a free option across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. Choose it when you want a separate free tool for a different project workflow.
• Minecraft Launcher is free to download on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows, while access to games requires ownership or a time-limited demo. Pick it when you need the launcher rather than a particle editor.
• Visual Studio Code is a free editor for Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. Choose it as a general coding editor; Snowstorm’s extension is the more direct option when the task is Bedrock particle files.
• JsonForge is a free, open-source web and Electron app under the MIT license. Consider it when you want a general JSON editing option.
• mcblend is a free Blender add-on for Linux, macOS, and Windows, distributed through GitHub releases. Choose it when a Blender add-on is the format you want to use.
• Bedrocken is a free VS Code extension for Linux, macOS, and Windows that requires VS Code ^1.87.0. Pick it when you want another extension-based option for that editor.
• Blockception Minecraft Bedrock Development is a free VS Code extension for Minecraft Bedrock Add-ons and Minecraft Education Edition. Choose it when you need an extension described for those broader development areas.
• bridge. is another free option, available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.

Verdict

Choose Snowstorm if you make Minecraft Bedrock particle effects and want a free editor with Quick Setup presets and both web and VS Code access. Its specialization keeps the particle workflow focused, but the filename requirement and lack of entity tools or scripting may make it a poor fit for larger add-on projects. The separate microproxy network may appeal to censorship-circumvention users, though its performance depends on peers and local network conditions.