Hardcore Hearts

Hardcore Hearts is a Minecraft Java Edition datapack that adds a permanent consequence to dying. Instead of simply respawning at full health as normal, each death costs you one heart and your maximum health is reduced for the rest of the game.

You start with the standard 10 hearts. Die once, you come back with 9. Die again, 8. The stakes escalate naturally as your health bar shrinks, until you're on your last heart and one bad moment ends your run entirely. At 10 deaths, you're locked into spectator mode watching the world and other players knowing you can never play again.