Over the years, Minecraft players have taken the time to recreate faithful and sometimes even to-scale versions of real-world locations, from worldwide landmarks to full cities. They’re a great way to give other players the opportunity to explore the world without ever leaving Minecraft. Here are some of the best recreations made to date.
Minecraft includes hundreds of blocks that lend themselves well to large-scale building projects, and more are consistently being added thanks to Mojang Studios’ large updates to the game. The most recent of these, Caves & Cliffs Part 1, added new materials such as amethyst and copper, both of which could feasibly be used in real-world building projects within Minecraft.
Some real-world Minecraft locations are still works in progress, while others were fully completed in previous versions of the game. All can be downloaded and explored fully, though, so Minecraft players should take the opportunity to view the work up-close and in detail.
Real-World Minecraft Locations – Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, which can be downloaded on Planet Minecraft like the other maps featured here, is a scale replication of the city that started in 2013 and was last updated just this August. Each building – there are hundreds of them, including subway stations – includes a realistically designed lobby and functioning elevator. Many famous buildings across the Minecraft map are also fully furnished.
Real-World Minecraft Locations – The Titanic
While it may not be as large as some of Minecraft’s biggest city builds, the 1:1 scale version of the Titanic as designed by Minecraft player Deadkoalas is still an impressive project to explore. Every single room is labeled and furnished, with many featuring real-world names from the actual Titanic. The map is 100% completed, as well, meaning players can venture across the entire ship.
Real-World Minecraft Locations – London City
Though it was first published in 2020 and is still a work in progress, the London City Minecraft map is already around 60 kilometers squared and encapsulates not just the London city center, but many surrounding boroughs and other areas as well. The project aims for accuracy, using an open-source tool and aircraft lidar data to accurately recreate the city and its surroundings entirely within Minecraft.
Real-World Minecraft Locations – Al Khazneh at Petra
The desert is arguably one of the best biomes for creating unique architectural designs in Minecraft, and this recreation of the Al Khazneh at Petra in Jordan argues the point strongly. First uploaded in 2013, it consists of around 63.7 million blocks according to its creator, Minecraft player mrc93. Like the Titanic build, this design is fully completed.
Real-World Minecraft Locations – The Loop, Chicago
First published in 2016 and just updated in the spring of 2021, the Minecraft recreation of The Loop in Chicago is nearly 95% complete and fully available to explore. It contains a thirty-five block expanse, complete with a transit system, and attempts to maintain accuracy down to the location of signage and sewer drain caps. Although the map boasts no real interior design, it’s still an impressive digital version of a real-world location that’s worth checking out.
