Summary
Minecraftjust hit its 15th anniversary, marking a decade and a half of memories built from digital blocks. To celebrate the occasion, Mojang has teamed up with Oreville Studios to produce a freeMinecraftmap, filled with a cavalcade of nostalgic setpieces.
15 Year Journeyisn’t the only freeMinecraftmap made availablefor this anniversary. Given that 2024 is also the tenth anniversary of Java realms, that side of the game also received a free map. Over 100 map makers came together to bring the concept to life, one that celebrates the unbridled creativity of players. On the other hand, 15 Year Journey draws a far tighter focus on the history ofMinecraft, going over the game’s many updates and how they’ve changed the game.
Every Reference In Minecraft’s 15th Anniversary Map
Minecraft’s15th anniversary is well representedby 15 Year Journey and its collectathon structure. Players are encouraged to explore its museum setting via a stickerbook; each exhibit hides a smorgasbord of sticker collectables to find, pointing fans toward thorough exploration. However, the map doesn’t require a fine-toothed comb to find every reference. In fact, the map doesn’t really require an eagle-eyed inspection, with many Easter eggs pointed out blatantly. Despite this, there are some fun treats for the most perceptive among gamers.
Update Walkthrough
Many parts ofMinecraft’s 15th anniversary museumare labeled after some of the game’s updates. The most explicit here are the two sections that share the names of updates, those being Buzzy Bees and Caves and Cliffs. In addition, the Aquarium serves to show off the Aquatic Update while Exploration highlights Trails and Tales. Part of Dimensions pretty clearly demonstrates the features of The Nether Update—containing a mini-game section set to Pigstep. The mini-game sections in general serve as a great way to show off some iconic features, like strider riding or stronghold exploration.
Alpha Minecraft
More pressingly for fans not in the know about classicMinecrafttrivia is the Alpha section. This part of the map pays homage to the old days ofMinecraft, displaying old block textures and properties. The information found here, such as the origins of the creeper as a botched pig or the inconsistent properties of sponge, once littered official trivia books and unofficial magazines—but new fans are sure to get a kick out of these details. Other exhibits shown off here include the origins of humans, who can be spawned in with a lever in a way similar to their original spawn conditions.
Without a doubt, the best part of this segment is the part where players can zap themselves into AlphaMinecraft. After beholding a computer screen with the classic dirt-background Java menu on it, the player enters a borderline-neon world of dirt, stone, and dotted-out trees. The colors are extraordinarily bright and the fog is thick, something that is sure to spark sweet nostalgia for veteran players. The gameplay of this section revolves around the player switching back-and-forth between the modern game and its Alpha, demonstratingjust how muchMinecrafthas changedin 15 years. The best reference here, though, is what the player can see if they turn around upon spawning in the Alpha world; the unassuming hill sitting behind the player is the spitting image of the very landscape seen in the original Herobrine screenshot.
Miscellaneous References
There are a couple smaller Easter eggs for hardcore fans to enjoy, such as a sticker version ofMinecraft’s Xbox 360 case. Moreover, some actions that can be taken on the map hide clever references. One of the map’s paintings can be entered, a clear reference to the glitch that lets players walk through paintings. A deeper cut can be found with the elytra ring minigame, which could possibly be a callback to the Glide minigame of legacy console editions.
Minecraft
WHERE TO PLAY
Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours. But if the thought of exploring a vast new world all on your own feels overwhelming, then fear not!Minecraft has no set goal and can be played however you’d like! This is why it’s sometimes called a “sandbox game” – there are lots of things for you to do, and lots of ways that you can play. If you like being creative, then you can use the blocks to build things from your imagination. If you’re feeling brave, you can explore the world and face daring challenges. Blocks can be broken, crafted, placed to reshape the landscape, or used to build fantastical creations.Creatures can be battled or befriended, depending on how you play. The world of Minecraft allows for epic adventures, quiet meditations, and everything in between. You can even share your creations with other players, or play in community worlds!
