Summary
- Minecraft players should always have useful items on them when they explore, including a stack or two of wooden planks and coal.
- Minecraft players should always screenshot their starting coordinates and the coordinates of any significant areas on their journeys so that they can find their way back.
- Having a clear goal in mind while exploring in Minecraft is essential, and players always need to know when to quit.
Minecraft's next two updates will be adding a huge array of new odds and ends for players to explore. Those looking to find everything 1.20.5 and 1.21 have to offer should make sure they're using all the techniques Minecraft players have long honed.
The two updates on the slate for 2024 will be giving players much to find. 1.20.5 will be bringing not only the armadillo, but new variants of Minecraft's wolf. These 8 new types of canine will each be exclusive to a different biome, so players who want one of each will have to travel around. Moreover, 1.21 will be introducing the trial chamber, stocked full of new loot—including the powerful mace and the breeze's wind charges. This is all without mentioning what other recent updates have added, such as ancient cities and archeological dig sites.
How Minecraft 1.21's New Mace Enchantments Compare to Other Weapon Enchants
The 1.21 update for Minecraft is set to introduce the Mace weapon, whose unique utility is clearly reflected in its new possible enchantments.
How To Optimize Exploration In Minecraft
Stock Up On Supplies And Some Unconventional Assets
One of the biggest woes a Minecraft player can encounter whilst exploring is running out of supplies. This might not seem like much of an issue during the day, but when night falls—or when a cave is dared—some essentials can run low, especially food. The best thing to do is to set up a farm early on in a Minecraft world, though having a pair of villagers near base (a farmer to buy food from, and another villager to sell materials found in surplus to) can be a great help. In addition to ways to pick up extra food while out, such as a fishing rod and/or flint and steel, a prepared player should keep two stacks of wooden planks and a stack of coal on them when going exploring.
At least 20 obsidian is also important for those traveling long distances. This will allow a player to use Minecraft's Nether for faster travel, where one block traveled is equal to eight in the overworld; using this technique will make the journey back home more deadly, but also much quicker. For those of fine taste with high-level equipment, a silk-touch diamond pickaxe and ender chest is a great way to send valuables home immediately and access extra storage—something that also combines well with shulker boxes. Grabbing some totems of undying also doesn't hurt for dangerous expeditions.
Keep Track Of Where The World Has Been Explored
For those wanting to play the same world for years, keeping track of coordinates is a must. Players should screenshot the coordinates of cool landmarks and rare structures, as well as the maximum distance they travel from their base in a journey. Doing this will ensure that a player knows not only where key locales are, but also which chunks have been loaded in already, letting them know how much farther out they have to go to find new Minecraft content.
Have A Goal And Know When To Quit
Greed is the deadliest sin a player can commit when exploring, as getting too hungry for loot can lead to big risks—which can become a big issue for those traveling far from home. Even if a player brings a bed, a wrong move in one of Minecraft's caves can send hard-earned gains into a lava bath. Low gear durability, running low on food, and/or a freshly-consumed totem of undying are all good signs that it's time to head home.
Another good way for a player to avoid getting cocky is to explore with a set goal in mind. This can be finding a specific structure, a quantity of resources, or a rare item—such as Minecraft's recently-added upgrade template, one of the few unique items needed for gear progression in the game. Occasionally, risks may need to be taken, but precautions (like beds, totems of undying, and ender chests) should always be used when available.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
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!
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical or Horizontal
- Platform(s)
- 3DS, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
- How Long To Beat
- 129 Hours
- File Size Xbox Series
- 1.42 GB (August 2024)
- Metascore
- 93
