Minecraft Biome Tier List (2024)

One of Minecraft's biggest strengths is its sprawling kaleidoscope of biomes, presenting a biodiversity that's practically unrivaled in the realm of procedurally-generated sandboxes. However, there are some that fans prefer over others—and some that stand head and shoulders above Minecraft's other biomes.

Biomes can't be as easily ranked as elements like Minecraft's enchantments, which house many options that are objectively better than others. Rather, this tier list will rank biomes on what resources they offer, the challenges they pose, and the general fun of living and dwelling there. Aesthetics will also play a lot into that latter part, meaning that there will inevitably be a great deal of subjectivity. However, these landscapes can still broadly be categorized.

S-Tier - Simple, Safe, and Reliable Biomes

• Plains

• Swamp

• Flower Forest

• Forest

Sometimes, simple is better—and that's definitely the case for Minecraft's best biomes. This relaxing selection is great for those just starting out, with the plains being especially great for this thanks to the villages that spawn within them. Forests and flower forests are both pretty and great sources of wood and food, while swamps make this spot thanks to the extra content found within them. Not only do witch huts add to their already excellent ambiance, but they provide a far more reliable source of slime compared to Minecraft's rarer slime chunks.

A-Tier - Top-Notch Biomes with Minor Inconveniences and Small Benefits

• Taiga

• Snowy Taiga

• Oceans

• Savanna

• Desert

• Snowy Plains

• Lush Caves

• Windswept

• Crimson Forest

• Peaks

• Snowy Peaks

• Deep Dark

• Warped Forest

• Frozen River

• End Islands

The offerings in A-Tier aren't far behind S in many cases, with every biome listed above bringing fun and valuables to the table. Snowy plains can be irritating with snow piles and strays, but their lack of zombie spawns make them great for those invested in Minecraft's villagers. Peaks and windswept biomes offer specialized ore generation and great views, while taiga biomes serve as a whimsical alternative to other forests. Frozen rivers can be used as high-speed boat circuits, the deep dark and end islands offer excellent loot and unique gameplay, and the Nether's forests offer some unique ecosystems.

B-Tier - Visually Satisfying Biomes That Lack Depth

• Mangrove Swamp

• Jungle

• Badlands

• The End

• Nether Wastes

• Cherry Grove

• Mushroom Fields

• River

• Dark Forest

• Ice Spikes

B-Tier biomes are either held back in a minor way, or just nice-looking areas with little substance beyond aesthetics. The latter is the case for the ice spikes, cherry grove, and badlands (though that last one is a solid find for gold hunters). Minecraft's mushroom fields aren't as valuable as they once were, with their infinite food source not being as useful in modern times, but finding one is still a huge reward in-and-of itself. Mangrove swamps have most of the benefits of regular swamps, but their trees can be a tad frustrating to harvest.

C-Tier - Minecraft Biomes That Are Visually Lacking or Challenging to Live In

• Beach

• Dripstone Caves

• Soul Sand Valley

These three biomes range from unexceptional to overly punishing, with beaches and dripstone caves being indicative of the former; luckily, both biomes are pleasing sights even if they lack strong mechanics. Soul sand valleys also have a great vibe, sporting wastelands of leviathan carcasses, but its mix of ghasts, skeletons, and soul sand make it one of the less desirable Nether biomes.

D-Tier - Minecraft's Only 'Bad' Biome

• Basalt Delta

The basalt delta is perhaps the only bad biome in the game, and even then it has upsides with great sound design and a steady supply of blackstone. Regardless, it is not only filled with magma cubes (which are almost as deadly as ghasts), but it is designed to their strengths with frequent pillars and pockets of lava and magma. Moreover, it's the only Nether biome that doesn't spawn the Nether's bastions.

Minecraft

System

Mobile , Nintendo , PC , PlayStation , Xbox

Platform(s)

PS4 , PS3 , PS Vita , Xbox One , Xbox 360 , Switch , 3DS , PC , Android , iOS , Nintendo Wii U

Released

November 18, 2011

Developer(s)

Mojang

Publisher(s)

Mojang

Genre(s)

Sandbox , Survival

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence

How Long To Beat

N/A

X|S Enhanced

No

File Size Xbox Series

1 GB (May 2024)

Metascore

93

Split Screen Orientation

Vertical or Horizontal

Number of Players

1-4