With more than 15 years under its belt, Minecraft has seen plenty of changes. From small tweaks to massive updates, the game is barely recognisable compared to its early alpha days. Sure, the core concept is the same, but many new features have been added through updates. But which of these updates really pushed the game forward? Which left a lasting impression or even saved the game from fading away? We take a closer look in our Top 10!
No. 10: Minecraft Alpha 1.2 Halloween Update with the Nether and Biomes
One of the first big updates at the time, which gave us many features still familiar today. Not every idea from the Halloween Update made it in, but it was impressive nonetheless!
- The Nether as a new dimension, with Ghasts and Zombie Pigmen,
Glowstone and Jack o’Lanterns as new light sources. - Fish and fishing as a new mechanic.
- New world generation with the first biomes.
No. 9: Minecraft Beta 1.7 Pistons and Shears for Redstone
From today’s perspective, the final beta version may seem modest, but the two items added fundamentally changed Minecraft.
- With pistons, Redstone became far more versatile, which still matters hugely today.
- Shears let you harvest wool from sheep and collect leaves.
No. 8: Minecraft 1.3 Jungle, Emeralds and Villager Trading
Version 1.3 is often underestimated, yet it brought in several changes that are now standard. It also introduced key features such as trading with villagers.
- Introduction of separate wood types, with slabs and stairs.
Logs can now be placed rotated. - Slabs and stairs can be placed upside down.
- Emerald ore generates, enabling trading with villagers.
- Book and Quill for notes.
- Ender Chest for a universal storage.
- Jungle with ocelots and temples. There are also pyramids in the desert.
No. 7: Minecraft 1.9 Combat Update with Shields, Elytra and the End
The still controversial combat system update in 1.9 is now almost 10 years old and changed Minecraft in a big way. New weapons, different mechanics and important features were added to the game.
- Off-hand slot usable, for shields or torches.
- Expansion of the End, with End Cities and new loot.
- Tipped arrows for more bow options.
- Shields for defence.
- Elytra as a new and vital means of transport.
- New mechanics for the Ender Dragon, which can now be
resummoned. - A complete overhaul of the combat system.
No. 6: Minecraft 1.5 Redstone Update with Hoppers and Quartz
Redstone is a key part of Minecraft for many players, and version 1.5 in 2013 delivered one of its most important expansions. This update packed a punch and was one of the last major changes to the Nether.
- Quartz ore was added to the Nether and is important for both builders and Redstone enthusiasts.
- Introduction of hoppers to collect and move items.
- Redstone comparator for complex circuits.
- Also added: dropper, activator rail, daylight sensor
and redstone block.
No. 5: Minecraft 1.14 Village & Pillage Trading, Workstations and Raids
A complete overhaul of villager trading arrived in 2019 with this update, a major milestone for many players. It also brought new workstations, bamboo and a host of stone variants.
- Bamboo as a new resource for scaffolding. Plus the bamboo jungle with pandas.
- New stairs and slabs for many stones, including
diorite, andesite, granite, sandstone, quartz and nether brick. - Workstations for villagers, such as the stonecutter, the barrel, and two new furnaces.
- Campfires for new ways to cook food.
- Raids as an attack on a village.
- Cats as a separate mob, distinct from ocelots.
- Foxes as a new animal in the taiga.
- Wandering Trader with new offers from faraway biomes.
- Replacement of the old textures (Programmer Art) with a new style.
No. 4: Minecraft 1.7 Update that Changed the World Biomes, Flowers and Glass
Over the years, Minecraft’s terrain generation has been revamped a few times, but this update likely brought the biggest changes until Caves & Cliffs. New biomes, new blocks and a varied world that no longer consists of endless oceans.
- New biomes, including the Badlands, Savannas, Dark Oak Forests and Flower Forests. With them came new natural blocks such as acacia and dark oak, as well as podzol and red sand. Continents are no longer separate, either.
- A range of new fish. Plus the Lure and Luck of the Sea enchantments.
- Lots of new flowers that can be crafted into dyes.
- Stained glass for more building options.
No. 3: Minecraft 1.13 Update Aquatic Oceans, Swimming and Tridents
Without the Update Aquatic, Minecraft likely wouldn’t be as relevant as it is today. After years of quiet and weaker updates, something big finally changed again. It introduced an entirely new underwater world and, perhaps even more importantly, a new wave of hype for Minecraft.
- New water behaviour with fences, slabs and stairs.
- Swimming was properly implemented.
- New ocean biomes with more variety, including coral reefs,
shipwrecks and ocean ruins. - Conduit for underwater work.
- Kelp and seagrass as new marine resources.
- Trident as a new weapon, with unique enchantments.
- New mobs including dolphins, turtles, phantoms and the
drowned.
No. 2: Minecraft 1.0 Adventure Update Enchanting, Potions and the End
This update could easily take first place, because without the official release in November 2011, Minecraft might not exist as it does today. The shift from beta to full release made Minecraft the game we know now.
- Enchanting to add new abilities to tools.
- Brewing potions as an alternative to food-based buffs.
- Hunger system and more food.
- Fortresses in the Nether, plus Blazes as new foes.
- The End, with strongholds and the Ender Dragon.
- Ravines and mineshafts for better cave exploration.
- New biomes and generation that lasted until 1.7, including many well-known biomes such as deserts, taigas, extreme mountains and mushroom islands.
No. 1: Minecraft 1.16 Nether Update Biomes, Netherite and Piglins
We begin with the Nether, we end with the Nether. It took over ten years for Minecraft’s hellish dimension to receive a meaningful update. It’s one of the last truly large updates, free of controversy and packed with features.
- New biomes in the Nether, including two forests, the Nether Wastes and the Basalt Deltas — and with them, plenty of new building blocks.
- Blue fire with lanterns, campfires and torches.
- Respawn Anchor and Lodestone for better Nether navigation.
- Bartering with Piglins using gold.
- Netherite as a new upgrade beyond diamond for armour, tools
and weapons. - New mobs: Striders, Hoglins and Piglins.
Conclusion: The most important Minecraft updates at a glance
Minecraft’s constant updates keep the game fresh and relevant, but some versions matter far more than others. A look at the best updates shows just how much Minecraft can offer — and that progress is sometimes necessary. Recent drops arrive more often but bring less content. Still, who knows when the next big update will land?
This list is, of course, just our opinion — feel free to share your own
order or dive back into older versions.
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