Highlights

  • Minecraft's 1.21 update adds new features like Trial Chambers, but a questing system could enhance player experience even further.
  • Minecraft currently relies on achievements, but a questing system would provide more guidance and rewards for players.
  • The introduction of quests could be done through Villagers and would encourage players to explore, progress, and complete tasks in the game.

With the range of all-new Minecraft features that focus on combat and multiplayer gameplay for its upcoming 1.21 update, there is a case to be made for Mojang to introduce an official quest system to push things even further and enhance the player's experience. Even beyond the game's most recent updates, which appeared to center around world generation, biomes, and mobs, the last time Mojang made any changes to Minecraft's combat was its 1.9 update in 2016. As a result, there has otherwise been little to incentivize players to play together with friends and spend more time in the game aside from exploring each update's new content.

Minecraft's 1.21 update has therefore already tapped into an opportunity to bring players together with more for them to do after revealing new features like the Trial Chamber structures. But the Trial Chambers' raid-like gameplay might not be enough on its own, especially if these structures are as uncommon as other structures like Woodland Mansions or Ocean Monuments. A new questing system that can give players tasks or missions to complete for a variety of rewards could be introduced as part of the broader 1.21 update, something which would ultimately encourage players to join others as they complete larger and more challenge quests together.

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Minecraft Is Overdue for a Questing System

Minecraft Achievements

Over the years and many updates, Minecraft has cultivated a large list of achievements or advancements that guide and chart a player's progress through the game. However, there are only so many achievements to earn with little added benefit to the player, so the feeling of completion and reward from these is limited. It's arguably no surprise then that others have called for Minecraft to introduce RPG-style quests as a way of guiding players instead of relying on superficial achievements, even going so far as to create mods for the game like FTB Quests that add their own unofficial questing systems.

Minecraft's 1.21 Update Could Benefit From Quests

It's possible that Mojang has avoided making such a system an official part of Minecraft as the game is more or less a creative sandbox and not an RPG or narrative-driven. But as Minecraft's world continues to be expanded with recent updates, teasing buried history and lore through archeology, it seems that the game is beginning to take on more traditional approaches to exploration and gameplay. If so, then a questing system could be just one small step of many toward this goal, and it would work well alongside the other changes and features coming to Minecraft's 1.21 update.

Just as has been demonstrated through mods, quests could be added to Minecraft through its Villagers. Despite receiving an overhaul in Minecraft's 1.14 update, more can be done with Villagers as Mojang continues to test updates to Villager trades in an effort to improve players' gameplay experiences. These changes could be pushed further by introducing a questing system accessed via a new type of Villager, as this would encourage players to seek out villages, establish bases nearby, explore the area, and steadily progress through the game all while completing quests.

The 1.21 update offers more potential for Minecraft's own quest system thanks to its Trial Chambers. While the introduction of new Trial Spawners already encourages players to take on these Chambers as a group for better rewards, interconnected quests could offer additional incentives for solo or multiplayer raids. These could even utilize new items such as 1.21's Trial Key where quests require obtaining these keys or provide a guide for how they can be used. From there, the system could eventually expand to specific structures like Ancient or End Cities, Nether Fortresses, and Bastion Remnants.