Minecraft is a game that allows players to construct a wide variety of art pieces, structures and other creative installments. One fan recently unveiled a massive cathedral two years in the making and the results are a testament to what dedication and architectural knowledge can result in.
Minecraft is a highly popular and long-running game built around the simple concept of allowing players to place and break blocks in a world built of voxels. The game has since spawned several subcommunities that focus on combat, exploration, trading and other ventures, as well as spinoffs set in its universe.
The build, posted by u/Darth_Revan_, shows not only skill in architectural design but also attention to fine details defining 12th-16th century European architecture. The cathedral prominently features structural support in the form of many arc-boutant supports. They extend out to the side just as they would on a real Gothic cathedral, lending a realistic element to the build as if the arc-boutant are holding up the massive stone walls.
The cathedral also prominently features the large windows that arc-boutant were initially developed to support, and tall spires with intricate designs on the sides. Despite the difficulty of creating circles in Minecraft, even the circular window at the front is convincingly constructed with several layers of stone supporting the glass. Many of the other windows on the cathedral are arched or rounded in a similar manner.
The attention to detail makes the build appear as if it could be a replica of an actual Gothic cathedral. Gothic-inspired architectural design is prominently featured in recent games, with Bloodborne a shining example of Gothic themes, exposing the intriguing designs of several thousand years ago to a new audience. Even the scale appears accurate and the design represents the major architectural focuses of the period, with arches lining the walls and the large windows implying a well-lit interior.
Since its inception, Minecraft has allowed players of all skill levels and time allocations to build on PCs, consoles, handhelds, and phones, with all modern versions able to seamlessly crossplay with other systems. Any amount of time spent in it, from minutes to hours, can still yield progress even if it must be compressed between work and other obligations. The annual Minecraft Live livestream coming soon will hopefully give insight into upcoming updates that will expand the creative possibilities even further.
The Minecraft community's creations are undoubtedly a major driving force behind the enduring popularity of the game. With the modding community adding outlandish ideas like Mario's move set from Super Mario 64, clearly the fans have no intention of leaving the game behind anytime soon.
Minecraft is available now for Android, iOS, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Windows Phone, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.