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Overworld

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The forest and a mountain range as seen in the Overworld.

The Overworld is the dimension in which all players begin their Minecraft world.

Creation[]

The Overworld is the only dimension created when the player creates a new world. The other dimensions—The Nether and The End—aren't created until a player enters the corresponding dimension for the first time.

Seeds[]

Main article: Seed

A new world in Minecraft is generated through the use of a randomly generated seed, which is an integer used as a starting point for the world generation formula. The player can specify a seed or allow the game to generate one randomly. If given a non-integer input (such as the word "Glacier"), the game converts it into a corresponding integer (such as 1772835215).

A given seed generates almost exactly the same world every time, provided the same edition, game version, and world type are used. Although the exact spawn point varies, the coordinates of all terrain features are the same. All seeds within the 32-bit integer limit in Java and Bedrock editions may also generate worlds with the same terrain shape and biome map, but the placement of terrain features, structures, and carver caves may differ.

Environment[]

The Overworld is an incredibly complex environment with a wide variety of features.

Biomes[]

A river biome running through a badlands biome. A ruined portal can also be seen in the distance.

Main article: Biome

The Overworld is divided into biomes of various types. A biome's type determines the basic characteristics of the terrain within it, such as the blocks composing the surface or the plants that thrive in it. The biome type also determines which mobs can spawn within it and affects how environmental behaviors such as weather are expressed within it.

Natural structures[]

A village, one of many naturally generated structures in the Overworld.

Main article: Generated structures

The Overworld is composed of a large number of terrain patterns, called generated structures, whose arrangement varies widely from one seed to another. The exact structures are unique to each world, while the types of structures that can be generated at a given place are determined by the biome type. Structures are meant to represent real-world equivalents such as mountains, caves, and lakes. "Impossible" (in the real world) formations, such as floating islands, can also be found throughout the Overworld.

Along with terrain features, natural structures include naturally-generated buildings, such as villages, dungeons, mineshafts, and ruined portals.

Daylight cycle[]

A view of the day-night cycle.

Main article: Daylight cycle

The Overworld is the only dimension with a daylight cycle and the only one where the environment reflects the passage of time. In contrast to time zones in the real world, Overworld time is universal; it is always the same time for every player in the dimension regardless of how far apart they might be, even in an "infinite" world.

During the daytime, the sun acts as a powerful light source, with a light level of 15, the maximum. Sunlight is strong enough to grow plants and affect the way mobs spawn, among other interesting effects. During the nighttime, the moon is the only natural light source. However, moonlight is comparatively dim; the light level falls to a minimum of 4, allowing hostile mobs to spawn. Other than during thunderstorms, nighttime is the only time players may sleep in a bed.

The daylight cycle can effectively be measured using a clock, which allows players to determine the approximate Minecraft time anywhere in the Overworld. Time can also be changed or stopped with the use of the /time command.

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, just as it does in the real world. Observing its motion is a simple method of telling direction without a compass.

Mobs[]

Main article: Mob

The Overworld is home to a wide variety of mobs. Mobs vary greatly in behavior and the level of danger they present to the player. Different mobs spawn at different times and places depending on the light level and the biome, among other factors. On occasion, a mob can move between the Overworld and another dimension, such as The Nether, by using a portal, but this is uncommon. Boss mobs like the ender dragon and the wither cannot enter portals.

Animals[]

Monsters[]

Other[]

Generation[]

As with all other dimensions in the game, the Overworld can generate infinitely. However, there are some limitations, as detailed below. Like the other dimensions, it is divided into 16×384×16 block sections called chunks.

The Overworld encompasses a three-dimensional volume that extends vertically from the Void up to the build limit (y=−64..320), and horizontally for a virtually infinite distance in each direction. This volume is filled (virtually speaking) with air, terrain, and structures. Technically, the terrain is formed by generating multiple noise maps to produce differing elevations, general land shapes, and complex mountain and cave systems.

Limitations[]

Visual cutoff point of an old Minecraft map (Left is normal Minecraft generation, the right is after limitation.)

Main article: World boundary

While the world is virtually infinite, the number of blocks a player may physically reach is limited with where the limits are depending on the edition of the game and the world type being played.

In Java Edition, the map contains a world border located by default at X/Z coordinates ±29,999,984. The world border is an animated wall of blue stripes. Standing near the border results in a red vignette appearing around the screen. Most entities are unable to pass the border, except by teleporting. Players who breach the border receive constant damage unless they are in creative or spectator mode. The player can teleport past the world border and continue as far as X/Z ±29,999,999, where there is an invisible wall. However, the player can travel a few chunks further by riding horses, pigs, and minecarts through it.[verify]

In Bedrock Edition, Infinite-type worlds have no fixed horizontal limits, but either generation stops or normal game behavior begins to break down at extreme distances; the exact details depend on the platform. However, experiments suggest that players can generally reach at least X/Z ±30,000,000 before such problems occur.

Terrain features[]

A picture of a windswept hills biome.

Main article: Terrain features

The Overworld contains numerous terrain features, at a wide variety of scales.

Blocks[]

Naturally generated[]

"Naturally generated" includes blocks that are created through the world seed.

Naturally created[]

Naturally created means a combination of events that cause a new block to be placed by natural causes, not the player. Some of these blocks may also be created as part of world generation.

Structures[]

Same as naturally generated, but these blocks are created only with the "Generate Structures" option enabled.

Technical information[]

ID[]

NameIdentifier(JE)Numeric ID
Overworldoverworld0

Folder[]

In Java Edition, information on the Overworld is stored in the region folder of the .minecraft/saves/worldname directory, with "worldname" being the name of your world.

Deleting the region folder resets the Overworld so that all player-made changes and buildings in that dimension are undone.

Achievements[]

Main article: Achievements

Some achievements and advancements can only be obtained in the overworld, as their conditions cannot be replicated in the Nether or the End at all.

Icon Achievement In-game description Actual requirements (if different) Gamerscore earned Trophy type (PS4)
PS4 Other platforms
Adventuring TimeDiscover 17 biomes.Visit any 17 biomes. Does not have to be in a single world.40GSilver
Treasure HunterAcquire a map from a cartographer villager, then enter the revealed structureVisit the structure indicated while the purchased map is in your main hand (hotbar).40GSilver
Let It Go!Using the Frost Walker boots, walk on at least 1 block on frozen water on a deep ocean—20GBronze
Atlantis?Find an underwater ruin—20GSilver
Sail the 7 SeasVisit all ocean biomesVisit all ocean biomes except the deep warm ocean/legacy frozen ocean (as they are unused)40GGold
Ahoy!Find a shipwreck—20GSilver
Me Gold!Dig up a buried treasureOpen a buried treasure chest30GSilver
EcholocationFeed a dolphin fish to have it lead you to treasureFeed a dolphin raw cod and have it lure you to treasure.20GSilver

Advancements[]

Main article: Advancements
Icon Advancement In-game description Parent Actual requirements (if different) Resource location
Advancement-plain-raw.pngEye Spy
Follow an Ender Eye We Need to Go DeeperEnter a stronghold.story/follow_ender_eye
Advancement-fancy-raw.pngSubspace Bubble
Use the Nether to travel 7 km in the Overworld NetherUse the Nether to travel between 2 points in the Overworld with a minimum horizontal euclidean distance of 7000 blocks between each other, which is 875 blocks in the Nether.nether/fast_travel
Advancement-fancy-raw.pngUneasy Alliance
Rescue a Ghast from the Nether, bring it safely home to the Overworld... and then kill it Return to SenderKill a ghast while in the Overworld.nether/uneasy_alliance
Advancement-plain-raw.pngFeels Like Home
Take a Strider for a loooong ride on a lava lake in the Overworld This Boat Has LegsWhile riding a strider, travel fifty blocks in lava in the Overworld.nether/ride_strider_in_overworld_lava
Advancement-plain-raw.pngSurge Protector
Protect a villager from an undesired shock without starting a fire AdventureBe within 30 blocks of a lightning strike that doesn't set any blocks on fire, while an unharmed villager is within or up to six blocks above a 30×30×30 volume centered on the lightning strike.adventure/lightning_rod_with_villager_no_fire
Advancement-plain-raw.pngCaves & Cliffs
Free fall from the top of the world (build limit) to the bottom of the world and survive AdventureFalls from at least y=319 to at most y=-59 with a vertical distance of greater than 379 blocks.adventure/fall_from_world_height
Advancement-plain-raw.pngSweet Dreams
Sleep in a bed to change your respawn point AdventureLie down in a bed. The advancement is granted as soon as the player is in the bed, even if the player does not successfully sleep.adventure/sleep_in_bed
Advancement-plain-raw.pngStar Trader
Trade with a Villager at the build height limit What a Deal!Stand on any block that is higher than 318 and trade with Villager or Wandering Traderadventure/trade_at_world_height
Advancement-fancy-raw.pngAdventuring Time
Discover every biome Sweet DreamsVisit all of these 50 (52‌[upcoming: JE 1.19]) biomes:
The advancement is only for Overworld biomes. Other biomes, if any, may also be visited, but are ignored for this advancement.		adventure/adventuring_time
Advancement-plain-raw.pngSound of Music
Make the Meadows come alive with the sound of music from a Jukebox Sweet DreamsWhile in a meadow biome, place down a jukebox and use a music disc on it.adventure/play_jukebox_in_meadows
Advancement-plain-raw.pngVery Very Frightening
Strike a Villager with lightning A Throwaway JokeHit a villager with lightning created by a trident with the Channeling enchantment.adventure/very_very_frightening

History[]

Java Edition pre-Classic
Cave game tech testThe map is originally finite, with randomly-generated terrain.
rd-132211The map terrain is changed to be completely flat.
rd-160052The terrain is now composed of hills and valleys.
Java Edition Classic
0.0.12aTerrain changed to shallow hills.
The Minecraft world is now surrounded by an ocean with a floor of bedrock.
Pressing N generates a new level.
August 25, 2009New generator showed off with terrain given more cliffs, longer and narrower caves.
Java Edition Indev
20100212-1Added the daylight cycle.
Java Edition Infdev
20100227-1First test of infinite world generation, using the same terrain generator as in Indev.
20100327New terrain generator, removing flowers and caves temporarily.
Height limit increased to 128.[is this the correct version?] Previously the build limit was 64[verify] (32 blocks above sea level and 32 below).
20100611Changed terrain generator.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.2.3The F3 key toggles a debug console that shows the player's exact coordinates.
Java Edition Beta
1.3Player's can now specify a world's name and seed.
1.5Added weather.
1.7An 'f' value was added to the debug console, indicating the direction the player is facing.
1.8Pre-releaseNew terrain generator.
The Far Lands were removed.
Java Edition
1.2.112w07aThe build limit has been increased from 128 to 256
1.7.213w36aCave Generation was tweaked, making caves less dense and interconnected.[1]
New biomes were added and some old biomes were changed.
1.814w17aAdded a world border, which appears one chunk before the world boundary, and can be penetrated.
1.1318w08aAdded the warm ocean, lukewarm ocean, cold ocean, deep lukewarm ocean, deep cold ocean, and deep frozen ocean biomes.
Frozen oceans now generate again and have been given a new look.
18w15aOcean variants now have their own water colors.
1.18Experimental Snapshot 1Terrain now generates using the multi-noise biome source type.
Terrain generation is now independent from biomes, with biomes adapting to whatever terrain they happen to generate throughout.
Terrain is now smoother and more extreme.
The build limit has been increased by 64 blocks above and 64 blocks below, now reaching from -64 to 320.
Added 3 Noise caves: Cheese, spaghetti and noodle.
The values C, E, T, H, and W have been added to the Debug Console under the Multinoise line, representing the biome's continentialness, erosion, temperature, humidity, and weirdness, respectively.
The Terrain line has been added to the Debug Console, which lists values related to terrain generation.
Experimental Snapshot 2Clouds now spawn at y=192, rather than y=128.
Biome generation has been tweaked.
Old Mountains are now labeled as Extreme Hills, and Gravelly Mountains are now Gravelly Hills.

Issues[]

Issues relating to "Overworld" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • The maximum number of blocks that can be generated in the Overworld is approximately 921.6 quadrillion (9.216×1017) blocks, assuming a distance of 30,000,000 blocks in either direction.
    • The total area is about 8 times the surface of the Earth, or approximately the surface area of the planet Neptune.
    • This means that storing a filled world, with no entities or block entities, would require 3.6864 quintillion (3.6864×1018) bits (409 petabytes) for the block data alone, based on the fact that each standard block is assigned 4 bits of information.
    • By manually modifying the game, it is possible to generate the world up to 2,147,483,647 blocks (the 32-bit integer limit) in either direction.
  • A 1:1 (1 block = 1 meter) scale map of the Earth, built-in Minecraft, would be 510.9 trillion (5.109×1014) blocks in size.
    • Assuming the map is one block deep and uses 1 byte per block, its size would be approximately 475,800 GB (464.7 TB).
    • A Moon-sized map would be made of 37.95 trillion (3.795×1013) blocks. Its data size would be 35,340 GB (34.52 TB).

See also[]

References[]

  1. ↑ http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/1981051-it-seems-that-the-underground-is-no-longer-swiss-cheese-anymore/page__hl__cave%20generation%20swiss%20cheese

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