Minecraft's anniversary map is a huge interactive museum

The first version of Minecraft appeared 10 years ago this Friday, which is a truly terrifying thought. Microsoft and Mojang are marking the occasion with, among other things, a fancy new map that's free for all players to download. It's a theme park and museum, put together by the builders at BlockWorks to take you on a trip through the game's history.

Walking through static exhibits wouldn't be very Minecraft, so this museum is interactive, complete with rides, puzzles and Easter eggs. It's also absolutely huge. There are buildings dedicated to displaying every block and creature in the game, gargantuan architectural wonders, giant circuit boards, biodomes and a minecart ride through a decade of milestones. There's a lot to see.

Mojang has teased some Easter eggs, though I confess I haven't been looking too hard. I've just been wandering around aimlessly, nodding thoughtfully at pretty exhibits and snapping away. 

I haven't played in years, but after popping in for a nostalgic saunter, I've found myself eager to stay. I've missed a lot of updates, but a quick browse on Reddit revealed plenty of impressive creations and sources of inspiration. I spent a whole year building a retro sci-fi 'City of Tomorrow' once and I've got the itch again.

A pair of big announcements are also coming on May 17, but all we know about them is that they'll be better than huggable Creepers. What could possible be better than that?  

You can download the map for Java here and for Bedrock on the Minecraft Marketplace. There's also an anniversary sale going on in the shop, reducing the base game by 50 percent and the top ten items by 10 percent. Minecraft merchandise has been discounted, too. If you're jumping back into the game in 2019, head over to our handy Minecraft update log to see what else is new.