How to Install and Use The Lost Cities Mod in Minecraft

Overview

Minecraft worlds are already packed with caves, villages, structures, mobs, and loot, but normal terrain can start to feel predictable after enough playthroughs. The Lost Cities changes that by adding huge abandoned cityscapes to world generation, ranging from scattered ruins to dense urban zones that can cover massive areas.

Instead of dropping one or two small structures into the map, this mod reshapes exploration around towers, roads, debris, underground tracks, spawners, and loot rooms. It also includes several generation options, so you can decide whether the world feels like occasional ruins or a full collapsed metropolis. Setting it up takes a few extra steps, especially on servers, so this guide walks through the full process.

What The Lost Cities Adds

The Lost Cities is a Minecraft Forge mod by McJty on CurseForge. It has existed since 2017 and supports multiple Minecraft versions, including older releases like 1.10.2 and newer builds depending on the file you choose. Once installed, players can spawn in or discover deserted cities filled with damaged buildings, hostile mobs, hidden spawners, loot chests, and transit tunnels. Basically, it gives Minecraft an urban decay problem, but in a useful way.

Downloading The Lost Cities

• Open The Lost Cities page on CurseForge.
• Select the Files tab to view available downloads.

• Find the file that matches your Minecraft and Forge version.
• Click Download on the right side of that file.

• Save the `.jar` somewhere easy to find, since it will be used for both client and server installation.

Installing The Mod on Your Client

Before joining a modded server or creating a Lost Cities world locally, install Forge for the same Minecraft version as the mod.

• Open the Minecraft Launcher and go to Installations.
• Find your Forge profile, hover over it, then click the folder icon.

• In the opened Minecraft directory, find or create the `mods` folder.
• Place the downloaded The Lost Cities `.jar` file inside that folder.

• Return to the launcher and start Minecraft with the Forge profile.

Installing The Mod on a Server

For multiplayer, the server must run the same Forge version and must also have the mod installed.

• Open your server panel and stop the server.
• Check the server version or your panel's version dropdown and make sure it is using the correct Forge build.

• Open your server files through FTP or the file manager.
• Find or create the `mods` folder, then open it.

• Upload The Lost Cities `.jar` file to the `mods` folder.
• Wait until the upload reaches 100%, then return to the main server page.

Configuring World Generation

Installing the mod is only half the job. The server also needs a world configured to generate Lost Cities terrain. The exact method depends on the Minecraft version you are using.

Minecraft 1.12.2 and Earlier

Older versions use a level type setting to enable the modded world generation.

• Stop the server from your server panel.
• Open the configuration or server settings page.
• Find the Level Type field.

• Enter `lostcities` for the normal Lost Cities world type.
• Use `lostcities_bop` instead if Biomes O' Plenty is installed and you want compatibility.
• Save the setting, then change to a new world name.
• Restart the server so it can generate a fresh Lost Cities world.

Minecraft 1.14.4 and Later

Newer versions usually require the world to be created in singleplayer first, then uploaded to the server.

Create the World

• From the Minecraft main menu, create a new singleplayer world.
• Pick the world type you want, then choose Cities in the customization menu.

• Select a profile template or adjust the city settings manually.

• Click Done, finish creating the world, then let it generate.
• Open the Minecraft Launcher folder again and go into the `saves` folder.

Upload the World

After creating the world locally, upload that world folder to the server.

• Locate the singleplayer world folder and compress it into a `.zip` file using 7-Zip, WinRAR, or a similar tool.

• Connect to the server with an external FTP client or your preferred file manager.
• Upload the zipped world file and wait for it to finish.

• Open the server file manager, select the uploaded `.zip`, then choose Unzip.

• When extraction is complete, return to the main server page.
• Change the active world name to match the uploaded world folder.

• Restart the server to load the Lost Cities map.

Exploring the Cities

Once the world loads, you should start finding large city areas with towers, roads, ruined interiors, and open spaces. The exact size and spacing depends on the profile or settings used during world creation.

Streets and Open Areas

Cities are not just solid walls of buildings. Many areas include walkways, roads, plazas, broken paths, and outdoor sections. Some are mostly intact, while others are blocked by plants, rubble, or other debris. Daytime travel is usually manageable, but nighttime turns the same streets into a much worse idea.

Hostile Buildings

Many abandoned buildings include mob spawners, so danger is not limited to normal night spawns. Some spawners can be tucked into floors or awkward corners, which makes careless looting expensive. Bring torches, blocks, food, and gear before treating every room like a free storage unit.

Subway Tunnels

The underground rail system can connect different parts of a city or even nearby cities. Tracks are often powered by default, making them useful for fast travel if you can secure the route. The problem is that the tunnels are usually dark, and dark tunnels in Minecraft are rarely famous for hospitality.

Loot Chests

Buildings often contain loot chests with mixed rewards. Some may be empty or only hold basic supplies, while others can provide tools, resources, or stronger finds early in a playthrough. Since cities are common across the generated world, they can become a reliable alternative to mining, as long as you survive the trip.

Final Notes

The Lost Cities works well for players who want survival to feel more structured, dangerous, and exploration-focused. Its procedural cities add a strong post-collapse feel without forcing a full modpack, and the configuration profiles let you control how dominant those cities become.

It also pairs naturally with other survival, technology, weapon, or zombie-themed mods. Whether you want scattered ruins or a world swallowed by abandoned skyscrapers, the key steps are the same: install matching Forge versions, add the mod to both client and server, configure the world correctly, then restart with a fresh map.

Helpful Links

• The Lost Cities CurseForge page
• Forge client installation guide