Stockholm, Sweden – Despite a decade of crafting, mining, and countless tutorial videos, a shocking new report has confirmed what many veteran players have long suspected: 90% of Minecraft players still can’t build a decent house.
The study, conducted by the Swedish Research Institute of Digital Creativity (SRIDC), involved a detailed analysis of over 10,000 Minecraft worlds submitted by players from around the globe. The results were, in the words of the lead researcher, “both astonishing and deeply concerning.”
“The Average Player is Still Living in a Mud Hut”
The study’s findings reveal that most players, even after years of experience, are still living in boxy, windowless structures that barely qualify as homes. According to Dr. Lars Brickman, lead researcher at SRIDC, the problem isn’t a lack of creativity—it’s a lack of basic architectural sense.
“We found that the vast majority of Minecraft players build homes that look like they were designed by a toddler using Lego blocks,” said Dr. Brickman. “We’re talking dirt huts, cobblestone cubes, and wooden shacks with mismatched roofs. Some players are even living in literal holes in the ground. It’s as if they’ve learned nothing in ten years.”
The report highlights some of the most common building offenses:
- The Classic Dirt Shack: A small cube made entirely of dirt, often constructed in a panic on the first night of gameplay and never improved upon.
- Cobblestone Cubes: Ugly, featureless stone boxes with no windows or doors—just a single hole punched in for “security.”
- Treehouses Gone Wrong: Structures built in the treetops that defy both logic and gravity, frequently collapsing after one too many vines are cut.
- “Everything But the Kitchen Sink” Builds: Houses made from a chaotic mixture of every material the player could find, resulting in what experts call “Minecraft Monstrosities.”
“I’ve Been Playing for Years, and I Still Live in a Hole”
The report has sparked controversy and self-reflection within the Minecraft community. Many players have admitted to struggling with even the most basic of house designs, despite hundreds of hours spent in the game.
“I’ve been playing Minecraft since 2011,” said one disgruntled player who wished to remain anonymous. “And my house is still a dirt cube with a torch on top. Every time I try to build something better, I either get blown up by a Creeper or get distracted by mining. It’s not my fault, okay?”
Other players shared similar sentiments. “My friends build castles and mansions, and I’m still stuck in a lopsided wooden hut with a roof made of dirt,” confessed another player. “I guess I just… never learned how to build properly.”
The YouTube Tutorial Paradox
One of the most baffling findings of the report is that even players who frequently watch Minecraft building tutorials on YouTube are not immune to terrible house designs. Despite access to endless “How to Build a Mansion” videos, the study found that most players abandon these ambitious projects halfway through, leaving behind bizarre half-built structures and confusing labyrinths of stairs and ladders.
“It’s like a bad real estate development project,” said Dr. Brickman. “They start with grand visions of creating a medieval fortress, but by the time they’ve built two walls, they get bored and end up living in a stone cube again.”
The researchers dubbed this phenomenon the “YouTube Tutorial Paradox,” where players’ aspirations exceed their patience, resulting in half-baked builds that would make even the most lenient Minecraft architect wince.
Architectural Tragedies and Horror Stories
The study also included a gallery of some of the worst builds submitted by players, ranging from the tragic to the downright hilarious:
- A “floating mansion” that was just a single plank of wood hanging in mid-air.
- A “modern house” built entirely out of dirt, featuring a lava moat that burned it down within minutes.
- A “sky base” that was only accessible by jumping repeatedly and hoping not to fall.
A Call to Action: The Need for Basic Building Education
Dr. Brickman and his team believe the findings highlight a desperate need for improved in-game education. “We’re not saying every player needs to become an architectural genius,” said Brickman. “But we’d like to see players graduate from living in holes and mud huts to at least something with four walls and a roof.”
To help improve the situation, the researchers have proposed the addition of a “Minecraft Building Academy” within the game, where players can take virtual classes on topics like “Roofs: Why You Need Them” and “How to Build Windows Without Making Them Look Like Eyeholes.”
Mojang Responds: “We Believe in Creative Freedom”
In response to the study, Mojang, the developers of Minecraft, released a statement acknowledging the findings but stressing that the game is about creative freedom, not architectural perfection.
“We’re proud that Minecraft is a game where you can build anything—from a humble dirt shack to a sprawling castle,” the statement read. “While some players may still live in basic structures, we celebrate every block placed as an expression of creativity. Besides, sometimes a cozy dirt house is all you really need to survive a Creeper explosion.”
The Road Ahead: Will Players Ever Build a Decent House?
As Minecraft celebrates its 10th anniversary, the question remains: will the majority of players ever move beyond their ugly cobblestone cubes and into something more sophisticated? Or will the next decade see even more “Dirt Shack Empires” rise across the Minecraft landscape?
For now, it seems that the struggle to build a decent house in Minecraft will continue. So, the next time you see a player living in a lopsided dirt hovel with no roof and a single torch, remember—they’re not alone. They’re just part of the 90%.
