Minecraft has been around for well over a decade and is firmly embedded in gaming culture. Over time, though, a number of mechanics have gathered dust. New features do arrive, but many older systems have fallen by the wayside or get little attention. That’s a shame, because there’s plenty of potential to make the game even better and refresh existing mechanics. Many of these features have been in since the Alpha and were never really brought up to modern standards. Let’s take a closer look at what could be done!
Minecraft minecarts and rail system: faster transport and more possibilities
The “Mine” in Minecraft gained relevance again with the big Caves & Cliffs update, but underground work could still use a lot more love. That includes the minecart, a nearly forgotten means of transport that has been in the game since June 2010 and has barely changed since. Yes, there are different rails and minecarts, but they don’t take you much further. Minecarts are no longer a truly fast way to travel, especially in the age of elytra. They feel more like a forgotten relic of days gone by.
Possible improvements:
- Trains or a train system for faster transport (a better powered minecart)
- Ability to link carts together
- Cheaper recipe for rails (too much iron)
- Generally faster carts
- Improved item transport
Minecraft food and crops: more variety in fields and better mechanics
Farming has been in the game since Infdev in 2010, yet nearly 15 years later it still works the same. Water hydrates four blocks, you till the soil and wait. Back then there was only wheat, and functionally nothing has changed. Sure, potatoes and melons arrived, but that doesn’t alter much.
On top of that, the entire hunger system needs a rethink. Right now it’s far too easy to carry a stack of 64 golden carrots and never worry about hunger. Mods like Pam’s HarvestCraft or Farmer’s Delight show how a deeper system and more variety could work. Minecraft isn’t Stardew Valley, of course, but an upgrade here would be great.
Possible improvements:
- Make food non‑stackable or less stackable (similar to Alpha/Beta)
- More crops (tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, etc.) and recipes (sandwiches, stews, etc.)
- Reworked hunger system (e.g. require a more varied diet)
- Integrate aspects like fertiliser or biomes into farming
- Make Survival generally harder
- Alternative growing methods and mechanics (e.g. vineyards, rice paddies)
Minecraft End dimension: new biomes, mobs and structures
Many players suspect a major update to the End is on the horizon. Since its introduction with the full release in 2011, not much has changed. Yes, since 1.9 we have the outer End islands, cities and Shulkers, but the End still feels lifeless and bleak. That does fit the mood, but the dimension could still use a fresh coat of paint.
The biggest issue is that many players don’t see much point in going there. Quite a few have never defeated the Ender Dragon. And once you’ve got elytra and enough Shulker Boxes, you hardly ever need to go back. It’s a pity that the third dimension is so neglected. Hopefully it will get the same kind of upgrade the Nether received in 1.16, which breathed new life into it.
Possible improvements:
- Make the End truly endgame
- More terrain variety through biomes
- Vary island heights, perhaps even vertical islands
- Incentives to revisit and explore the End
- Make Strongholds more exciting
- New bosses beyond the Ender Dragon
Minecraft Fletching Table: missing functionality and much‑needed features
Hard to believe the Fletching Table was added in 1.14 (2019). It’s not as old as some features, but it still has no direct functionality. It works as a workstation for Villagers to unlock certain trades, but players themselves can’t interact with it. It’s the only block of its kind. Fans have been speculating for years about what it could do.
Possible improvements:
- Integrate arrow crafting into the block
- Rework tipped arrows
- New mechanics for the bow (potentially replacing some enchantments)
- Craft bows from other materials (Blaze Rod or Breeze Rod)
- New types of arrows with different properties
Minecraft combat system: fewer differences between Java and Bedrock, better balance
Combat in Minecraft remains a hotly debated topic. The changes introduced with 1.9 are an improvement on what came before, but still not perfect. There are also big discrepancies between Java and Bedrock, among the most significant differences between the two editions.
There have been attempts to overhaul the system. The Combat Test snapshots from 2019 and 2020 addressed these issues, but were never officially implemented. Since then, not much has changed. New weapons like the mace or a spear are great additions, but they don’t fix the underlying problems.
Possible improvements:
- Rework cooldowns, reach and attack patterns of all weapons
- Adjust health of all mobs
- Align systems related to hunger
- Handle weapon upgrades differently (as an alternative to enchantments)
Minecraft enchanting: more individuality, less randomness
Lastly, enchanting is another system that has seen little change since its introduction in 1.0 (2011). Levels and the use of lapis lazuli were adjusted and new enchantments have been added, but the fundamentals remain the same.
Enchanting feels both too hard and too easy, depending on how you look at it. The randomness and anvil tweaks (the “Too Expensive” warning) are problematic. On the other hand, Villager trade abuse and Mending make things too easy. Overall, the system is poorly balanced and not especially intuitive.
Possible improvements:
- Implement Mending differently and tone it down
- Tie enchantments to gemstones or valuable items
- Rework Librarian Villagers and make them less powerful
- Align XP usage across enchanting
- Remove randomness
Conclusion: updating old Minecraft systems is worth it
Over the years, Minecraft has accumulated mechanics that no longer fit neatly into the current gameplay loop. From minecarts to farming and the enchanting system, there’s plenty that could use an upgrade. For some aspects, like the combat system, there have even been attempts at change—none of which made it into the game.
Why not jump back in and rent one of our Minecraft servers? You can see for yourself which systems could be improved—and you’ll be ready to go when the next update arrives.
