Crafting is the most integral part of Minecraft. Want an axe? Craft it. Want a torch? Craft it. Want to build a scale replica of the Empire State Building? You guessed it. Everyone other than the newest Minecraft player will be familiar with basic crafting recipes, and know them like the back of their hand. Now, there's a way to test your knowledge, with a cute fan-made game called CraftingLoop, which gives you random items to craft. From there, you have just five seconds to place the correct materials in the correct configuration in order to pass onto the next round. It's simple, but it's really fun.
No matter whether you're a new Minecraft player or someone who's hunting for the best Minecraft seeds in order to curate your perfect experience, this minigame is a breath of fresh air. It's a simple way to test your knowledge of the survival game without the pressure of being on a live server. There's just that five-second countdown to contend with. Simple.
CraftingLoop utilizes that same Windows 98-era aesthetic as Minecraft's crafting table, meaning it will be a familiar interface for players. From there, you need quick reactions and great knowledge in order to rush through as many levels as you can.
Unfortunately, as a sleep-deprived dad in his 30s, I no longer have either of those things. But that doesn't stop me from playing round after round, hoping to beat my personal best. I've no idea how the person at the top of the leaderboard managed to craft 240 recipes in a row and, to be honest, I'm not sure I want to know.
The five-second timer is stressful and seems to go faster the further you get. There are also rumours that Herobrine may appear if you get far enough, although I haven't seen him yet (and hope I never do).
If you're interested in the amazing capabilities of fans, check out some of the best Minecraft mods to be blown away by players' creativity and skill expression. Make sure you've got the best Minecraft settings before you install any, though, to ensure you're running at peak performance.
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