Minecraft’s Tetris Add-On Makes a Clear Case for Other Crossovers

In early June, to celebrate Tetris’ 40th Anniversary, the Tetris Add-on was implemented into Minecraft. Once purchased and downloaded from the Minecraft Marketplace, players can bring blocky fun of Tetris to the blocky world of Minecraft for the first time, officially. With the add-on, players could craft Tetrimino Generators to enlarge Mino Shards into the classic straight, zigzag, L-shaped Tetris blocks that will fall near the Generator.

Not only can players see Tetris blocks falling from the sky, they may encounter killer cubes called Tetrimonsters that can be tamed and even be used as mounts. These Tetris blocks can be used to build Tetris-themed structures or be crafted into Tetris block tools such as a Mino Pickaxe. With the wacky, nostalgic fun of the Tetris Add-on, Mojang and other marketplace creators should work on making other crossovers with similar pixelated features.

Classic Pixel Games in Minecraft

Back in the 1970s and 80s, video games were just starting to become popular through primarily arcade cabinets, computer games, and a few early consoles. Limited by technology’s power at the time, all games were pixelated back then, but those pixels birthed some of the most iconic games that Minecraft could crossover with to make spectacular add-ons. One of the longest lasting video game franchises Mojang could merge with is The Oregon Trail. First developed in 1971, The Oregon Trail was a primarily text-based strategy and role-playing game having players struggle to keep a 19th Century pioneer family alive as they travel westward in the U.S. along the Oregon Trail.

In The Oregon Trail, players would find enjoyment from not only learning about 19th century life but by trying to survive the longest compared to their friends. In a potential MinecraftOregon Trail add-on, players could be able to build wagons and hitch donkeys, cows, or horses to them as they get quests to travel west. Along the way, villages can serve as towns where players can purchase food, water, and weapons but will be forced to follow linear routes. Players could further risk death by becoming infected if unable to heal or be dragged away when attempting to ford a river. This add-on could use a new texture pack to make Minecraft better mirror North America, such as making cows look like bison.

Galaga in Minecraft

Another classic pixel game that Minecraft could crossover with is Galaga. First made in 1981, Galaga is a fixed space shooter wherein the player’s starfighter must destroy the titular alien Galaga ships. Similar to the Tetris Add-On, this hypothetical Galaga add-on could have random Galaga ships fall from the sky like Tetris blocks. Players could be able to craft a starfighter or new alien-themed tools to combat the Galaga. This could even introduce new space-themed blocks for players to build unique fighters or space bases. The Galaga could also fall from their ships and become a new kind of mob for players to fight in close quarter combat.

An
Oregon Trail
-themed world was added to
Minecraft: Education Edition
wherein students could learn about the Fine Arts and Humanities as they played in a blocky 19th century world.

A Shovelrous Minecraft Add-On

For more modern players, Mojang and Yacht Club Games could cooperate to create a Shovel Knight add-on to Minecraft. First released in 2014, Shovel Knight is a 2D side-scrolling platformer where players embody the Shovel Knight as he travels great distances and defeats monstrous foes with his trusty shovel to rescue Shield Knight. This add-on could finally make Minecraft’s shovel a formidable weapon and introduce a few enchantments to make the shovel act more similar to Shovel Knight’s signature weapon. These enchantments could allow players to use shovels to jump off of enemies or simply increase the shovels’ damage output.

This add-on could further introduce more RPG elements in villages, such as being able to speak to villagers or other mobs about certain quests, similar to how Shovel Knight could interact with Chester or the fish-like Troupple King. New Shovel Knight-themed armors could be introduced with this add-on as well, including the Stalwart Plate or the Dynamo Mail. In terms of mobs, some of Shovel Knight’s most iconic bosses, including Plague Knight, or simple enemies such as Propeller Rats or sword-wielding Boneclangs, could be added throughout the world to give Minecraft more of a Shovel Knight-esque challenge.