Minecraft Version History
From Classic experiments to the latest Mounts of Mayhem—here’s a fun, scannable timeline with the big features everyone remembers.
Classic & Alpha 2009–2010
2009–2010- Classic creative mode with infinite blocks; early multiplayer
- Alpha introduces Survival: health, hostile mobs, day/night cycle
- Crafting system takes shape; furnaces, tools, armor
- Halloween Update adds the Nether (Alpha 1.2.0)
Beta 2010–2011
2010–2011- Biomes and weather (rain/snow)
- Beds to set spawn; hunger meter and sprinting (Beta 1.8)
- Pistons, maps, wolves, and new blocks
- Strongholds and villages begin appearing in the world
Release 1.0 2011
2011- The End dimension and Ender Dragon boss
- Brewing and potions; enchanting and experience
- Strongholds expanded; the game gains a win-state
- Nether fortresses and blaze rods matter for progression
Pretty Scary Update 1.4 2012
2012- Wither boss and beacons; new mob types (witches, bats)
- Carrots/potatoes, anvils, item frames, flower pots
- Command block introduced for mapmakers and servers
- Decorative heads, nether stars, and potion tweaks
Redstone Update 1.5 2013
2013- Hopper, dropper, comparator, daylight sensor, trapped chest
- Redstone block and nether quartz (quartz blocks)
- Activator rails, weighted pressure plates
- Redstone mechanics overhaul for reliability
Horse Update 1.6 2013
2013- Horses, donkeys, mules, leads, hay bales, name tags
- Hardened clay (terracotta), carpets, coal blocks
- Resource packs replace texture packs
- New launcher and performance improvements
Update That Changed The World 1.7 2013
2013- New biomes (savanna, mesa, roofed forest, etc.)
- World gen overhaul; amplified world type
- Stained glass, packed ice, red sand; new flowers
- Fishing overhaul with treasure/junk/enchanted loot
The Bountiful Update 1.8 2014
2014- Ocean monuments with guardians and elder guardians; prismarine blocks
- New stones: granite, diorite, and andesite
- Slime blocks; rabbits, endermites, and armor stands
- Banners, spectator mode, and lapis-based enchanting tweaks
Combat Update 1.9 2016
2016- Elytra wings and End Cities with shulkers (shulker shells)
- Shields and attack cooldowns; off-hand slot introduced
- Dragon can be respawned; new End gateway portals
- Lingering potions and tipped arrows expand combat
Exploration 1.11 2016
2016- Woodland mansions; evokers, vindicators, and vexes
- Totem of Undying; cartographers and explorer maps
- Llamas and the lead/leash caravan life
- Shulker boxes enable true portable storage
World of Color 1.12 2017
2017- Concrete and concrete powder; glazed terracotta patterns
- Parrots and the new advancements system
- Recipe book UI for crafting
- Color update across many blocks and items
Update Aquatic 1.13 2018
2018- Swimming, water visibility, and movement overhaul
- Coral reefs, seagrass/kelp, sea pickles, turtles
- Dolphins, drowned, and shipwrecks with treasure
- Tridents (loyalty/riptide/channeling) and conduits
Village & Pillage 1.14 2019
2019- Villager job sites and revamped trading; raid mechanics
- Pillagers, ravagers, crossbows, and patrols
- Bamboo, pandas, scaffolding, and new building blocks
- Campfires, lanterns, composter, smoker, blast furnace
Buzzy Bees 1.15 2019
2019- Bees, bee nests/hives; honey and honeycomb
- Honey blocks enable new redstone/parkour mechanics
- Honey bottles and waxed behavior for copper prep
- Performance and lots of bug fixes
Nether Update 1.16 2020
2020- Crimson & warped forests, basalt deltas, soul sand valley
- Piglins, hoglins, zoglins, striders, and bastion remnants
- Ancient debris and Netherite gear progression
- Target block, lodestone, and blue fire (soul fire)
Caves & Cliffs 1.17–1.18 2021
2021- Part I: copper, amethyst geodes, spyglass, lightning rod
- Axolotls, goats, glow squid; new building blocks
- Part II: dramatic new cave systems and mountain ranges
- Increased world height and deeper deepslate layers
The Wild Update 1.19 2022
2022- Deep Dark biome and Ancient Cities; the Warden
- Sculk ecosystem (shrieker, catalyst, sensor)
- Allay arrives via mob vote; music disc 5 and echoes
- Mangrove swamps, mud, frogs/tadpoles, boats with chests
Trails & Tales 1.20 2023
2023- Archaeology: brush, suspicious sand/gravel, pottery sherds
- Camels and the bamboo wood set (with rafts)
- Chiseled bookshelves and hanging signs
- Armor trims, sniffer, and cherry grove biome
Tricky Trials 1.21 2024
2024- Trial Chambers with procedurally generated combat rooms
- Breeze mob, mace weapon, and vaults with trial keys
- Trial spawner mechanics shake up dungeon pacing
- Crafter block and crafting quality-of-life
Mounts of Mayhem 1.21.5 2025
2025- Nautilus mount: rideable underwater; build from its back; customizable armor
- Breath of the Nautilus effect pauses breath meter for deep-sea exploration
- Tiered Spear weapon with jab/charge attacks; damage scales with speed/mount
- Underwater exploration and maneuverability improvements
Note: Dates and summaries are condensed for readability. For precise patch notes, see Mojang’s official changelogs.
Popular questions
Which update added elytra?
Elytra were added in Combat Update 1.9.
What update added Netherite?
Netherite arrived in Nether Update 1.16.
When did bees come to Minecraft?
Bees were introduced in Buzzy Bees 1.15.
Which update overhauled oceans?
The oceans were revamped in Update Aquatic 1.13.
What update added Trial Chambers?
Trial Chambers are part of Tricky Trials 1.21.
Which update added horses?
Horses were added in Horse Update 1.6.
Which update added shulker boxes?
Shulker boxes were introduced in Exploration 1.11.