“Minecraft” was first released about 12 years ago. Since then, there have been 18 updates, but some of the “Minecraft” community have complained the updates have been getting worse due to their lack of large changes.
I have been playing “Minecraft” since I could hold an iPad. So, I ranked the five most recent Minecraft updates to appreciate the hard work that the developers have done over the years, despite rising complaints from fans.
- The Buzzy Bees Update (version 1.15)
Buzzy Bees is easily the worst update on this list. This update added bees, bee-related items such as honey, and, unfortunately, hardly anything else. The bees do nothing besides fly around and pollinate flowers, and honey is practically useless outside of using it in redstone machines.
Though the bees are a cute addition to make forests less dull, version 1.15 was overall bare and uninteresting.
- The Wild Update (version 1.19)
Similarly to Buzzy Bees, the Wild Update did not change much of “Minecraft’s” gameplay. However, the update added two new biomes, a new structure and various mobs. One of the new mobs was the Warden, a blind beast that emerges from the Deep Dark biome and hunts using its incredible hearing abilities. The Deep Dark is infested with various plants that assist the Warden and, combined with the monster’s extreme strength, it makes the Warden the strongest mob in the game.
Besides the Warden and the Deep Dark, the additions in version 1.19 weren’t monumental as they were just decorative and fun challenges.
- The Nether Update (version 1.16)
As the name suggests, version 1.16 updated the Nether dimension: a fiery and lava-rich world that was previously barren and consisted of only a structure, a biome and five mobs. This update added another structure, four biomes, four mobs and various new blocks to mine. With these additions came a new ore, netherrite, which overthrew diamond’s nine year streak as the strongest ore. Though I was hesitant to transfer what armor and tools I use, having a better ore than diamond turned out to be beneficial due to the increased difficulty that comes with these new updates.
In short, the Nether Update added a lot to “Minecraft,” but it didn’t change the gameplay in a fundamental way like the top two on this list.
- The Village and Pillage Update (version 1.14)
Village and Pillage is one of my favorite updates, though it’s the oldest update on this list. The update revamped villages by adding new jobs, structures, a new event and a complete change to the trading system. The old trading system seemed more like scams than trades, where one could exchange 16 rare gems for only four pieces of bread. The new trading system is extremely useful, and with the right methods, the player can even become the scammer instead.
I found the features in Village and Pillage useful because I usually play long-term worlds with lots of villager interaction and trading. Even so, players who enjoy quicker paced speed-running can utilize the easier trading system to obtain items needed to beat the game.
This update transformed villages from a quick-stop looting structure to a location where players can build their bases nearby for easy access. Still, it didn’t change “Minecraft” as significantly as the update on the top of the list.
- The Caves and Cliffs Updates (versions 1.17 and 1.18)
The best recent update is the two-part Caves and Cliffs update, which overhauled the entire world’s underground. This update was split into two parts due to the amount of change that “Minecraft” underwent. Version 1.17 added new cave types, mobs, blocks and increased the build height range. Version 1.18 had the most drastic change, as it was a total revamp of the world’s generation. The caves changed from small dug-out tunnels to massive caverns with plenty of space for monsters and ores.
“Mine” is the first word in “Minecraft,” so the update that completely changed mining is rightfully in first place.
