Luanti (Formerly Minetest)

I agree, I'm not a big fan of modern Minecraft. I tried it out again the other day. First world I created spawned me in the middle of the ocean. I swam in one direction for 5 minutes without hitting land. So, I started another world. This plopped me in the middle of the Mesa biome, a biome with NO TREES. Again, I walked for a while to try to find a biome where I could start crafting tools, and didn't reach the end of the Mesa. They clearly don't consider the implications on gameplay when they add new things, just whatever seems cool. I can't think of another reason as to why they would design it in a way that traps you in resourceless biomes at the beginning.

Just a recommendation, but you should try out Better than Adventure!

It's basically an "alternate timeline" Minecraft that attempts to answer the question: What if Minecraft was developed to enrich its sandbox elements rather than turning into an adventure game?

It. Is. Awesome. I find it hard to play official releases now. BtA! is based on Minecraft Beta 1.7.3, the update just before the Adventure Update (which added hunger, sprint, XP, Villages, Endermen, etc.) The project's goal is to work toward a game that's as feature-complete as modern Minecraft, but every new feature connects back to and builds onto the sandbox and previous features. So, it doesn't yet have sprint or villages, but it does have:

-Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

-256 block world height and larger biomes

-New World Types

-Revamped armor system with resistances to different damage types per set, mix and match for success.

-New Steel resource that's used to craft tools that are stronger, but slower, than Diamond.

-Block called a Trommel that can sift through junk gravel and dirt blocks to yield better resources

-A Guidebook that reveals recipes as you discover components

-Optional icons on signs, for easy labeling -Basket block for automatic item collection (think hopper+chest in one)

-Randomized Mob Skins (ie brown cows, white cows, muddy pigs, zombies with different shirts)

-Mud blocks, which dry in heat but fall like sand when wet.

-Fireflies

-Lanterns (with color variants)

-Wolves fetch items

-Drawable Flags (total design customization)

-Labyrinths to explore

-Snowman hostile mob

-Ice Skates

-Rope

-New Flowers

-Mesh blocks which work as solid surfaces but allow items to pass through

-Ability to carry containers that are full

There's a lot more, like weather effects and painted wooden planks, but I think I've raved about BtA! enough already. If you're fatigued by modern Minecraft, play it. You'll rediscover why you fell in love with Minecraft in the first place.