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Minecraft has always been something of an enigma in the world of gaming. Despite falling out of the limelight around 2013, the game has since been given a new lease on life, attracting both new and old players with a variety of adjustments, additions, and absolutely massive content patches.
If you’re an older, returning player like me—that hasn’t touched the game in years, it’s pretty easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff that they’ve added. But even with all the new additions, it’s the same game—you mine and craft.
Building that first base is an important step in the process of making the world your own. But some people (myself included) have issues visualizing what they want, making it helpful to have an aide of some sort, if not a flat-out tutorial.
They might not be the biggest, or the coolest Minecraft builds, but these videos cover a few ideas to help you get started on your survival base.
Do you have an awesome Minecraft base design? Have you put together a tutorial on how to build it, or a YouTube video that shows it off? Send us a link to it in the comment section below and we’ll consider featuring it in this post! Also, please consider subscribing to these YouTuber’s channels as they have put in some real effort in bringing you these tutorials.
1. Ultimate Survival Base
First up is the so-called “Ultimate Survival Base” by disruptive builds. While it may seem a tad large at first, the simple but all-inclusive layout makes it perfect for the early game, when you’re just getting off your feet, and easy to expand on later. There’s also a “Great Library” version of this base, which can be found here.
2. Large Underground Base
Next up is a circular, semi-underground base by YouTuber moby-dick, who was even thoughtful enough to include the number of materials required. This one takes some time (and some excavation), but takes advantage of Minecraft’s verticality to really get the most out of whatever space you choose to build in.
3. Modern Secret Base
Next up is a modern underground secret base, designed by WiederDude. I’m usually not really a fan of modern-styled houses (especially in Minecraft), but I’ve always loved the color scheme provided by nether quartz and other, darker colors. I’m also terrible at redstone, so it’s a good thing that the hiding mechanism itself is rather simple.
4. Another Ultimate Survival Base Idea
Similar to the circular base before, here’s another one by Reimiho. Rather than spending time excavating a large portion of land, this build takes even further advantage of the game’s verticality, and focuses on using materials that are easy to obtain, while remaining compact. Leaving the ground floor as-is also allows for easy access to farmland, making for an easy source of food early on.
5. Secret Underground Base
Going back to hidden underground designs is another build by disruptive builds. Unlike previously mentioned builds, this one will take up a lot of resources and time. In exchange, you’ll have a nifty hiding mechanism, as well as everything you need—ranging from animal pens to an auto-smelting center.
6. Cottagecore Survival Base
Up next is an elven, cottagecore style base by PlatinumThief. While it’s the smallest build shown so far, it’s also the least resource intensive, making it ideal for players just starting out. PlatinumThief’s use of different stone types gives it a rustic aesthetic, and there’s a farm built onto the side of this Minecraft house as well.
7. Ultimate Survival Tower Base
ItsMarloe’s tower base takes the verticality of previous builds and cranks it up to ten. While it’s larger—making it more resource and time intensive—it makes up for it with easy access to a nether portal, an enchanting room, and farmland surrounding the base of the tower.
8. Large Oak Survival Base
Coming in as the largest base so far, Juns Mab Architecture Tutorial shows off their survival base built almost entirely out of oak logs. As large as it seems, the 4 corner copy-and-paste design makes it easy to set up, and the bamboo forest in the center really gives it a more natural feel than other, more modern designs.
9. Underground Survival Bunker
Featuring the most in-depth guide so far, Spudetti’s Underground Bunker tutorial is more than an hour long, but is well worth the watch. While it’s not hidden like previous ones, this build offers a large living area, complete with a crafting area and a large crop farming space.
10. Awesome Survival Base
While this is a 2-part mini series, fWhip’s design has a little bit of everything. A large castle-style living area with a massive farmland surrounding it, and a small coastal village. While this build is certainly on the bigger side, it’s well worth the investment, and is easily expanded upon.
11. Desert Underground Base
The only biome-specific base on this list, ToxicKailey’s desert base has some really incredible design elements. Built around an oasis-style center, this base has a desert-temple village feel, complete with vicious guards and a small marketplace. Thankfully, despite its size, the base is built mainly out of sandstone—something easily obtained in a desert setting.
12. Efficient Survival Base
In my opinion the most efficient base on this list, IrieGenie’s base keeps all the necessities within close proximity to each other. While the house portion of the base is built on a raised platform, this setup takes full advantage of the real estate below, offering a substantial farming area and an easily accessible smelting and crafting area.
13. The PERFECT Minecraft Base
Rather than size, ShulkerCraft’s base focuses on automating as many tasks as possible. While initially small, being built in a mountain makes this base easily expandable and customizable, and has an auto-dispensing system, allowing the player to completely focus on whatever task may be in front of them.
14. Smaller Survival Base
Sending off the circular base format is Balzy’s own take on such a base. Rather than stone or wood, this base has mainly glass walls, allowing the player to admire whatever they may build in the surrounding area. The farm area has been placed on top, keeping it away from any pesky mobs that may try and trample it.
15. Mountain Survival Base
TheMythicalSausage takes full advantage of the mountain-type base, building both in excavated portions of the mountain, as well as manually created platforms and crevices. The end result is a blending of the natural mountain face with man-made structures, giving it a charming, mountain city style appearance.
