Minecraft turns 10: The five most epic builds in the game's history

This article is part of Yahoo's 'On This Day' series

In the 10 years since it launched, Minecraft has become the second-best-selling videogame of all time, having sold 238 million copies.

The best-selling, Tetris, has sold up to 500 million copies (although this is controversial, due to the large number of free-to-play versions and versions outside of copyright).

What is certain is that the block-building game is now an entertainment juggernaut virtually without comparison, with 140 million monthly active users as of 2021.

Its creator, Markus ‘Notch’ Persson is a billionaire, after Microsoft bought the game for $2.5bn.

It’s all a long distance from when the Java edition of Minecraft launched on 18 November 2011, when it was a cult hit with just four million players.

As of 2021, it’s penetrated culture to the extent that there are Minecraft toys, novels, pyjamas, and even an interactive TV series.

READ MORE FROM 'ON THIS DAY'

On This Day: How Super Mario was originally meant to be Popeye

How Tolkien's time in the WW1 trenches inspired 'The Hobbit'

Mortal Kombat: The controversial beat-em-up which changed gaming forever

The game is used by children like ‘digital Lego’, building islands, palaces and floating cities, and battling zombies and dragons.

Persson, who Microsoft dissociated itself from after comments over feminism, has said that 'Minecraft is to a large degree about having unique experiences that nobody else has had. The levels are randomly generated, and you can build anything you want to build yourself.’

Here are some of the most epic builds you can see in Minecraft today.

WesterosCraft

It was inevitable that fans of the TV and book hit Game of Thrones would recreate the game’s setting Westeros.

It’s huge, with an area of hundreds of square miles recreated, and many of the show landmarks very recognisable within.

Starship Enterprise

Another early highlight in Minecraft was the guy who created a model of the Starship Enterprise… in 1:1 scale, using around four million blocks.

Creator Josh Walker said, ‘I think also it's the fact it's just the frame of the ship that sparks the imagination. It would probably have just been another Enterprise model if I skinned it.’

Minas Tirith Minecraft Middle-Earth

This epic model of the city in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings has been painstakingly reconstructed in Minecraft.

It’s absolutely huge, and has been under construction for decades - one of many Tolkien landmarks brought to life by fans.

ElysiumFire – Cyberpunk

Inspired by the game Cyberpunk 2077, this monstrous map is so demanding its makers proudly warn that it can crash PCs.

The city took 15 people two years to build.

Adamantis

This Minecraft build became legendary in the early days of Minecraft - it’s built from more than sixty million blocks.

Created by Jamdelaney1, it’s an expansive fantasy city which took its creator three months to build.

Watch: Take a bite of this Minecraft cake!