There are a nearly endless number of ways to build in Minecraft, and it seems that more are always being added thanks to Mojang Studios' consistent updates to the game. Still, players may be lacking in inspiration when it comes to designs, especially longtime fans who have already created just about everything they can imagine. To that end, it might be worth turning to other popular franchises to find inspiration, and The Lord of the Rings is a great place to start.
The medieval fantasy elements in Lord of the Rings work well with Minecraft, which utilizes weapons such as swords and bows and arrows in combat and even features an end goal of fighting a dragon. So, it makes sense that players may be inspired to build their own Middle-Earth creations.
Given the nature of the series, though, builds directly lifted from The Lord of the Rings might seem a little ambitious, at least for those not playing on Creative mode. In that regard, some of these designs may be better off used as an inspirational starting point rather than a template. Here are some impressive Lord of the Rings and Hobbit-inspired builds, lifted straight out of Middle-Earth to provide some creative new Minecraft ideas.
Minecraft's Hobbit Holes Are Compact Homes And Bases
For those playing on single player, or otherwise not looking for a build that takes up a lot of space, hobbit houses are a great place to start. They can easily be built into the side of any hillside in Minecraft and can be adjusted to fit into practically any biome. This base was created by YouTuber Zaypixel, and uses natural decorations such as leaves and rose bushes to help it blend in better with the scenery around it. Wood from the recently-added Nether biomes adds an additional splash of color to this quaint base, which looks as though it was pulled right out of The Lord of the Rings.
Minecraft Villages Can Be Designed Around LOTR's Minas Tirith
Minas Tirith is one of the more iconic pieces of architecture in The Lord of the Rings, which makes it a strong contender for a city design within Minecraft as well. While it might be a bit more expansive than many players are looking for, it can at least provide a place to start thinking of creative new ways to design cities. This render by Cornbass on Reddit shows off just how impressive such a build can be.
Creating Erebor, The Lonely Mountain From The Hobbit, In Minecraft
Mountains are about to get even bigger thanks to the upcoming release of Caves & Cliffs Part 2, which will increase the maximum world height in Minecraft up to over 300 blocks. That said, it's the perfect time to start planning what to do with the new and improved mountains that will soon be found in the game. Erebor, from The Hobbit, is an imposing place to turn to for inspiration given how extensively it can be decorated both inside and outside. This Minecraft build by TrixyBlox on YouTube is just one example of how to get started.