Aurora
ShaderA shader with ultra-sharp shadows.
Why gradeB
How grades workStrengths
Points lost
- First release only 8 months ago−3 points
- Releases in only 2 of the last 24 months−2 points
- Under 5 million downloads−1 point
All 10 criteria
Maintenance
2 points lost25 / 27Last releaseHow long ago the newest file came out, or an existing file was marked as working on a new Minecraft version.The author marked an existing file as working on Minecraft 26.3, which came out on 15 Sep 2026 12 / 12Supports popular versionsWhether the project has a file for a Minecraft version that 15% or more of the popular mods updated in the last 6 months also support. A version many modpacks use, like 1.20.1 or 1.21.1, also counts after a release in the last 12 months.26.3 (latest) 9 / 9Regular releasesIn how many of the last 24 months a new file came out. Full points at 3 months.Releases in 2 of the last 24 months 4 / 6Stability
Full points10 / 10Removed from modpacksHow many modpacks removed it in a later version of the pack. We can only see this in modpacks with two or more versions. A pack that swaps it for another edition of the same project, or that is rebuilt from scratch, does not count.None of the 10 modpacks with two or more versions removed it 5 / 5Quick fixesHow often a release needed a quick fix: a new release within 3 days to fix a problem in it.Not measured yet.Known conflictsHow many projects say they do not work with it, compared with how widely it is used. Packs, small projects, forks, ports, add-ons, alternatives and old versions do not count.None 5 / 5Transparency
Does not apply. A shader's files can be read in the download. CurseForge links are not in our data.Source codeWhether the project page links to its source code, so anyone can read what it does.Does not apply.Place to report problemsWhether the project page links to a place where players can report problems: an issue tracker or a Discord server.Does not apply.Popularity
1 point lost3 / 4DownloadsDownloads on Modrinth and CurseForge. Full points from 5 million.114,815 3 / 4Track record
3 points lost5 / 8AgeHow long the project has existed. It counts less when no new file came out recently.8 months, 2 releases 5 / 8
43.3 of the 49 points that apply = 88 out of 100. The points above are rounded to whole numbers.
Images
About
Aurora is a shader focused on refining Minecraft’s lighting and visual atmosphere, with high-resolution, sharply defined shadows and performance-conscious rendering. Its overworld skies include ray-marched cumulus clouds that respond to weather, soft cloud shadows, and a procedural night sky with vertical curtains of light. Water features animated waves, angle-dependent screen-space reflections, refraction, and depth-based colour absorption, while rain can make exposed ground glossy and form reflective puddles. The Nether receives warm lava lighting and a shifting, recessed-looking portal effect; the End has purple ambient light and a procedural void sky. Additional effects include directional ambient lighting, sun glints, contact shadows, bloom, sharpening, colour grading, and optional depth of field, which is off by default. The in-game shader menu provides 72 options across six screens, and individual effects can be switched off to adjust the look or performance.
Written from CurseForge . How we write it
In-game changes
Changes how the game looks: 39 shader programs, for the Overworld, the Nether and the End. Draws its own shadows, water, sky, clouds and weather.
Settings in English.
Details
- Creator
- xsoras
- License
- Not known
- Downloads
- 115K
- Created
- 21 Feb 2026
- Official page
- CurseForge
Security
No harmful code found
We checked what is inside its files, without opening them in the game.
Why we show this: a shader cannot run programs, but its file can hide one. Our checks look for known signs of harm. They cannot prove that a file is harmless. In the grade: malware means no grade.
How we checked
- FilesWe download the files from Modrinth or CurseForge and look at what is inside them and what their code can do, without running them. Fixed rules tell what is harmful.1 latest file, for a recent version. Recent versions: those released in the last 2 years, plus 1.20.1 and 1.21.1, among the most played in modpacks. See each file in Releases
Privacy
Sends nothing
A shader has no code that can connect to the internet, so it cannot send anything about you.
AI
No sign so far that AI was used to make it
We looked for AI tools in its description, files and images and found none.
We have not read its changelogs yet.
Why we show this: some players and servers avoid projects made with AI. Not in the grade: using AI does not tell whether a project works well or is kept up to date.
How we checked
- Author on ModrinthThe disclosure form on Modrinth. Since 13 Aug 2026, Modrinth's rules require it when a substantial part of the code is AI output, when an asset is mainly AI output, or when the project or its page relies on generative AI.Not on Modrinth.
- Description and changelogsThe description, project page and newest changelogs: sentences saying an AI tool was used, and text pasted from an AI chat.Nothing found in the descriptionChangelogs not read yet
- Its filesFiles that AI coding tools leave behind (like AGENTS.md), and the texts inside the files you download.Nothing found
- Images in its filesHidden data in the images of the files you download, where AI image tools write their name and settings.Nothing found
Compatibility
See all 2 filesPoint at or tap a version to see it.
Modpacks using this project
Modpacks that include Aurora in at least one of their versions, most downloaded first.
Epic Shaders - All The Shaders574K downloadslast version with it 19 Oct 2026
Shaders Shaders Shaders!83K downloadslast version with it 18 Jun 2026
Immersive Shaders41K downloadslast version with it 17 Sep 2026
I Love Shaders4.7K downloadslast version with it 28 Jul 2026
Kosmosschrott Aeronautics677 downloadslast version with it 6 Jul 2026
Simply ALL the Shaders557 downloadslast version with it 6 Oct 2026
HurkkuX - UNFR313 downloadslast version with it 19 Sep 2026
Over Yander266 downloadslast version with it 17 Jun 2026
Starfall Odyssey [Janx Team]189 downloadslast version with it 19 Aug 2026
Shaders Revamp166 downloadslast version with it 25 Apr 2026Latest files
The newest file for each Minecraft version and loader. The files for recent versions come first. Recent versions: those released in the last 2 years, plus 1.20.1 and 1.21.1, among the most played in modpacks.