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Dimension

Dimensions are parallel worlds within a Minecraft world characterized by a way of generation, biomes and structures, and other things unique to one dimension. Each dimension is its own separate 3D space, not affecting other dimensions. Players can explore and discover various dimensions in Minecraft, typically through the use of portals. Content creators can also make custom dimensions to explore in Minecraft.

The daylight cycle and weather may work differently or not exist in different dimensions, as well as respawn points (such as beds and respawn anchors).

The Overworld is the primary dimension in Minecraft. It has a wide variety of unique biomes to explore, and is easily the most diverse of the dimensions. Players typically spend most of their time in this dimension.

This article is about the explorable dimensions accessible within the game. For the definition of dimensions in data packs, see Dimension definition. For other uses, see Dimension (disambiguation).
The three dimensions in the game (left to right): The Nether, The End, and the Overworld

Dimensions are parallel worlds within a Minecraft world characterized by a way of generation, biomes and structures, and other things unique to one dimension. Each dimension is its own separate 3D space, not affecting other dimensions. Players can explore and discover various dimensions in Minecraft, typically through the use of portals. Content creators can also make custom dimensions to explore in Minecraft.

The daylight cycle and weather may work differently or not exist in different dimensions, as well as respawn points (such as beds and respawn anchors).

Overworld

Main article: Overworld
Different grassland biomes and water bodies in the Overworld

The Overworld is the primary dimension in Minecraft. It has a wide variety of unique biomes to explore, and is easily the most diverse of the dimensions. Players typically spend most of their time in this dimension.

Unique features of the Overworld include:

The Nether

Main article: The Nether
A crimson forest and warped forest seperated by the lava sea in the Nether

The Nether is a hot dimension where lava flows equivalent to water's flow characteristics. It is so hot that water evaporates and wet sponges dry out the instant they are placed. The ground mainly consists of netherrack, but soul sand covers the surface of soul sand valleys, and the basalt deltas consist of basalt and blackstone. A player can go to the Nether by entering a Nether portal in the Overworld. In most biomes, hostile mobs spawn and attack players, although in the warped forest only endermen spawn who don't attack players unless provoked.

Unique features of the Nether include:

The End

Main article: The End
The central island in the End

The End is a space-like dimension with floating End stone islands, accessible with an End portal in a stronghold. In its center, there is a large lone island on which the ender dragon fight takes place; the outer islands are about a thousand blocks of void away from it. The End is a barren environment, but it is the place where some of the most unique and useful items in the game can be obtained, such as the elytra or shulker boxes.

Unique features of the End include:

Custom dimensions

An example of a custom dimension with modified colors and calcite instead of stone
This section describes an experimental feature in Bedrock Edition.
 
This feature is not enabled in-game by default and requires enabling the "Beta APIs" setting in the "Experiments" section in Bedrock Edition.
Main article: Custom dimension

Using data packs, it is possible to create custom dimensions and dimension types that have different biomes, world generation and properties from the regular dimensions.‌[Java Edition only]

Using add-ons, it is possible to create custom dimensions however, currently it is only possible to control scripts and there is no world generation. Each custom dimension is similar to an Overworld void world generation, with same height limit.

Unimplemented dimensions

A view of the unimplemented Sky Dimension

Sky Dimension

Main article: Sky Dimension

The sky dimension was a scrapped dimension that would have contained floating land masses and was planned to be added in the Adventure Update. Eventually, the code for the sky dimension was repurposed for The End instead.[1]

Dream Dimension

In a Twitch livestream, the developers briefly mentioned the idea of a "dream dimension" that would be exclusive to Pocket Edition.[2]

Joke dimensions

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In multiple April Fools updates, new joke dimensions have been added for those updates only.

Infinite dimensions

One of the joke dimensions found in 20w14∞
Main article: 20w14∞

In the joke snapshot 20w14∞, about 2.1474 billion (2^31) dimensions were added. These only existed in 20w14∞ and these changes were not kept in later snapshots. There were also several easter egg dimensions, each having their own unique feature, including the ant dimension, the sponge dimension, the library dimension, the bridges dimension, the isolation dimension, the slime dimension, and the skygrid dimension. The other dimensions were completely random.

The Moon

A lunar base in the moon dimension
Main article: The Moon

In 23w13a_or_b, there is a dimension called the Moon. The Moon dimension is primarily made of cheese and features a mob called the moon cow. The Moon also features lunar bases which expand into a tree-like structure when activated.

Potato Dimension

The arboretum biome in the Potato dimension

In 24w14potato, the Potato dimension was added. It is similar to the unused Sky dimension, and features many potato-themed mobs, blocks, structures, and a boss.

History

This section is a work in progress.
 
Please help expand and improve it. The talk page may contain suggestions.

Java Edition

Java Edition pre-Classic
Cave game tech testAdded the Overworld.
Java Edition Indev
20100212-1210Added the daylight cycle to the Overworld.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.2.0Added the Nether.
Java Edition
1.0.0Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4Added the End.

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition Alpha
Pre-releaseAdded the Overworld.
v0.12.1build 1Added the Nether.
Pocket Edition
1.0.0alpha 0.17.0.1Added the End.
Bedrock Edition
?The Overworld's build limit can now be modified through minecraft:dimension entries in add-ons. Custom dimensions cannot be added through this method.
26.20
Experiment
Beta APIs
Preview 26.20.26Custom dimensions can now be created through a new scripting registry. Currently, the build limits for registered dimensions is -512 to 512.
26.30
Experiment
Beta APIs
Preview 26.30.27Custom dimensions no longer have a height of -512 to 512, but rather the standard height of the Overworld, being from -64 to 320.
26.30Preview 26.30.29Custom dimensions through scripting have moved to stable.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
TU1CU11.001.001.00Patch 11.0.1Added the Overworld and the Nether.
TU9Added the End.

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0Added the Overworld and the Nether.
1.7.10Added the End.

April Fools dimensions

Java Edition
20w14∞Added infinite dimensions.
23w13a or bAdded the Moon.
24w14potatoAdded the Poisonous Potato Dimension.

Issues

Issues relating to "Dimension" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

References

  1. "@JPwanabe It has been rebranded to be The End realm"@jeb_ (Jens Bergensten) on X (formerly Twitter), October 12, 2011
  2. "Minecraft: Pocket Edition & Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Q&A" – Minecraft on Twitch, October 7, 2015