6 excellent Minecraft maps better than the game itself

Minecraft is presently one of the gaming world’s greatest obsessions. Since this retro survival game’s conception about two and a half years ago it has grown to attract as many as 45 million users on all of its gaming platforms, and it has won multiple awards such the Innovation Award, Best Downloadable Game award and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize. Minecraft is a testament of what can be achieved in game design when imagination is entered into the equation, regardless of its quality. So here’s a look at six maps that will increase your Minecraft addiction even further.

Denmark

This is probably one of the most amazing Minecraft feats I’ve heard of. The Danish government has constructed a 1:1 scale Minecraft map of the entirety of Denmark. Yes, that’s right — an entire country on a realistic scale can now be explored and altered in the Minecraft dimension (unsurprisingly its file size is larger than a terabyte). The map was created by members of the Danish Geographical Agency, Thorbjørn Nielsen and Simon Kokkendorf, and is intended as an educational tool for Danish Kids to explore and learn about Denmark.

Minecraft’s Edge

This map is perfect for fans of the virtual parkour hit, Mirror’s Edge. This map places you at the top of a building and challenges you to navigate through the maze of obstacles. It is rather difficult to achieve and each time you die you will be respawned right back at the starting point, resulting in some extremely frustrating moments. But the effort put into to map will keep you calm as the world is brilliantly contructed, especially when viewed through the Minecraft HD pack.

Kingdom of the Sky

The Kingdom of the Sky is massively popular and is one of the most beautiful maps out there. It has a distinct medieval flavour that reminds me of Skyrim (if it was made in the Eighties). Although it isn’t necessary, there is an interesting narrative you are able to experience in this map through the medium of YouTube, where the creator will narrate the story for you. The map also holds many secrets that could help you along your way so exploring is encouraged, especially as this is seen as one of the harder maps and is filled with exceptionally dangerous mobs.

Star Wars Adventure Map

One of film’s greatest sagas has been introduced to Minecraft and the result is spectacular. This 30-minute adventure might not precisely project the Star Wars saga but it does a bloody good job of it. The atmosphere and energy of the game environment is captivating, filled with epic landscapes and various Star Wars structures. Whether you’re a fan of Star Wars or Minecraft (chances are that you love both) this map is definitely worth your attention.

Herobrine’s Map

This map accentuates the creepiness that Minecraft can reach and pulls it off rather well. It is the work of the renowned Minecraft map designer, Hypixel. You will face many custom enemies and a healthy amount of bosses. There are dozens of items waiting to be discovered, secret rooms to be found and even shops to visit. It is one of the most popular Minecraft maps and when you get the chance to play it, you will understand exactly why.

The Orphanage

There’s a lot of terrible Minecraft maps out there that promise a spooky and terrifying experience. But we bet that none of them can compete with levels of pants-wetting that The Orphanage by REMO delivers. There’s a decent story, excellent ambient sound, chilling narration (all written) and great textures which all add up to a unique, if short-lived experience. It shows though how Minecraft can emulate practically any genre, if given enough effort by the map maker.