A charity has given Minecraft players the chance to relive a historical moment in the Civil War by recreating the Battle of Vicksburg brick by brick. Years after release, Mojang's sandbox title is still one of the most played games of 2022, with its greatest strength being its longevity and affording fans unlimited creative potential. As millions of people continue to play across the globe, there is always some display of building prowess that really shows off the ingenuity of the community at large.
The crux of Minecraft is creating impressive structures, including ones that come from other franchises or even the real world. There are an infinite number of ways to go about playing the game, and while the majority of these projects are for fun or even some internet clout, it's possible to use the powerful building mechanics and the Minecraft's popularity to spread educational messages.
That's exactly what the American Battlefield Trust has done, a charitable organization that's dedicated to preserving the American Civil War, specifically the battlefields. As spotted by GamesRadar, the charity has managed to build a reconstruction of the Battle of Vicksburg in Minecraft. The battle itself took place between May 18 and July 4, 1863, and this project brings the battlefield and surrounding area to the blocky game. According to the Battle of Vicksburg website, the map contains mini-games as well as event recreations. It even has fully voiced NPCs, including Abraham Lincoln, all of which are wrapped up in a historically accurate build.
There are a number of ways the open-world title can be used for educational purposes. For example, earlier this year, Minecraft was used to teach children about climate change. Built in conjunction with the UK Environment Agency, "Rivercraft" teaches about floods by getting players to build defenses in-game, as well as providing opportunities to learn about flood prevention. In this respect, Minecraft is more than just a massive and colorful world of exploration and expression. It's also a tool that can be used to instruct on important issues, and the American Battlefield Trust is doing just that by bringing history to life.
Selling hundreds of millions of copies over the course of a decade or so, it's no wonder Minecraft has become one of the highest-grossing video games of all time. It's given so many people a lot of joy over the years, and with there even being ways to utilize the game for education, it really shows there is more to the sandbox title than meets the eye.
Minecraft is available on Mobile, PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Source: GamesRadar, Battle of Vicksburg