Minecraft has been around for over a decade and is firmly rooted in gaming culture. Along the way, a number of mechanics have piled up that have slowly grown stale over the years. New features still arrive regularly, but many older systems are neglected or barely noticed anymore. That’s a shame, because there’s still a lot of potential to make the game even better and refresh existing mechanics. Many of these features have been in the game since the alpha and were never adapted to modern standards. So let’s take a closer look at what could be possible!
Minecraft minecarts and rail system: faster transport and more possibilities
The “mine” in Minecraft regained some relevance with the big Caves & Cliffs update, but underground work could still use a lot more updates. That includes the minecart, an almost forgotten means of transport that’s been in the game since June 2010 and has barely changed since. Sure, there are different rails and carts, but they don’t take you much further. Minecarts just aren’t a fast way to travel anymore, especially in the age of elytra. They feel like a forgotten relic from the early days.
Possible improvements:
- Trains or a train system for faster transport (a better powered minecart)
- Ability to link wagons together
- Cheaper recipe for rails (too much iron)
- Generally faster minecarts
- Improved item transport
Minecraft food and crops: more variety in fields and better mechanics
Farming crops has been in the game since the Infdev version in 2010, yet nearly 15 years later it works exactly the same. Water hydrates four blocks, you till the soil, and you wait. There used to be only wheat, but functionally nothing has changed. Yes, there are new foods like potatoes or melons, but that makes little difference.
On top of that, the entire hunger system needs an overhaul. Right now it’s far too easy to grab a stack of 64 golden carrots and never worry about hunger. Mods like Pam’s HarvestCraft or Farmer’s Delight are great examples of improved systems and broader variety. Of course, Minecraft isn’t Stardew Valley, but an upgrade would be very welcome.
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 fertilizer or biomes into farming
- Make survival generally harder
- Alternative farming methods and mechanics (e.g., vineyards, rice)
Minecraft End dimension: new biomes, enemies, and structures
Many players currently speculate that a major End update could be on the horizon. There hasn’t been much change here since it was introduced with the full release in 2011. Yes, since 1.9 we have the outer End islands, End Cities, and shulkers, but the End still feels lifeless and bleak. That’s partly the atmosphere, but the dimension could still use a fresh coat of paint.
The biggest issue with the End is that many players simply don’t find it worthwhile. Some have never beaten the Ender Dragon. And once you have enough elytra and shulker boxes, you basically never need to go back. It’s a shame that the third dimension gets so little attention. Hopefully it will get an upgrade similar to the Nether in 1.16, which breathed new life into that dimension.
Possible improvements:
- Make the End truly endgame
- More variety in terrain through biomes
- Put islands at different heights, maybe even vertical islands
- Incentives to visit and explore the End multiple times
- Make strongholds more engaging
- Bosses beyond the Ender Dragon
Minecraft fletching table: missing functionality and much-needed features
Hard to believe, but the fletching table was added in 1.14 in 2019. It’s not as old as the other features, yet the block still has no direct functionality. It can serve as a villager workstation to unlock certain trades, but players themselves can’t interact with it. That makes it 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 bow mechanics (possibly 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, more balance
Combat in Minecraft remains a hotly debated topic. The changes introduced in 1.9 are better than before, but still not fully polished. There are also major discrepancies between Java and Bedrock, one of the biggest differences between the two editions.
There have been attempts to rework the system. The Combat Test snapshots from 2019 and 2020 address exactly these issues but were never officially implemented. Not much has happened since. New weapons like the mace or spear are great additions, but they don’t fix the fundamentally problematic systems.
Possible improvements:
- Rework cooldown, reach, and attack patterns for all weapons
- Adjust mob health
- Align systems related to hunger
- Handle weapon upgrades differently (alternatives to enchantments)
Minecraft enchantments: more individuality, less randomness
Finally, let’s look at enchantments, another system that has barely changed since its introduction in 1.0 in 2011. Levels and the use of Lapis Lazuli were adjusted and new enchantments were added, but the core is still the same.
Enchanting is both too hard and too easy, depending on your perspective. The main issues are the randomness and anvil adjustments (the “Too Expensive” cap). It’s too easy, however, to abuse villager trades and Mending. Overall, the system is poorly balanced and not particularly intuitive.
Possible improvements:
- Implement Mending differently and make it weaker
- Tie enchantments to gems or valuable items
- Rework librarian villagers and make them less powerful
- Align the use of XP across enchantments
- Remove randomness
Conclusion: updates for old Minecraft systems are worth it
Over the years, Minecraft has accumulated mechanics that don’t really fit today’s gameplay loop anymore. From minecarts to farming or the enchanting system, plenty could use an upgrade. There have even been attempts to change certain aspects—like the combat system—but they were never officially adopted.
Why not play some Minecraft yourself and rent one of our Minecraft servers? You can see firsthand which systems might be improved and be ready the moment a new update drops.
