How Well Has Each Minecraft Update Aged?

Judging these updates by how much they've aged is difficult for a very simple reason: all the updates have different ages. 1.2 has had a LOT more ageing to do than the far more recent 1.13. Six years' difference in fact. Because of this, I have to be fair and take into account the actual age of the update. 

If the majority of the features quickly lost their relevance once the novelty wore off, I will say the update has not aged well. The same can be said if their features seem dated, or have since been rendered obsolete by later updates.

And it's also worth mentioning: I first started playing when 1.3 was the latest update - so for 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, I will have to judge these updates based on how much I use their features.

I will not be looking at any update that is less than three years old, as they have not done enough ageing. Therefore, I will only be discussing updates up until 1.12.

1.1 - Age: Over 9 years

This was a very small update, mostly bugfixes. However, I have to say, this small update actually holds up extremely well today. Superflat and Spawn Eggs are very frequently used by a large majority of the community. Spawn Eggs are definitely one of the most useful features to have been added. Since there are only a few features here and most of them are still widely used, I'd say this update has aged excellently.

1.2 - Update Age: Over 9 years

This update has aged well too - adding Jungles and Iron Golems mainly. Jungles are still an important biome in Minecraft, and Iron Golems have become an incredibly well-respected feature. Definitely still holds up today.

1.3 - Update Age: Over 8.7 years

Villager trading and Emeralds. What concept has aged better than this!?! Although the temples are dated now, villager trading and emeralds introduced in 1.3 are some of the most useful features in the game even today.

1.4 - The Pretty Scary Update. Age: 8.5 years

I have to be honest. Other than the command block, I feel this update has not aged well. The Java Edition Wither fight is REALLY showing its age now (not that it was ever a very good fight to begin with). The main features, including the Wither Skeletons, the Wither itself and beacons, have hardly changed since they were added. And to be honest, it's not really that good. Beacons need a MASSIVE buff (the CONDUIT is better!), the Wither fight needs to be Bedrock-ified, and the Wither Skeleton grinding is not fun and needs to be changed. Witches are a thing too, I guess. And Bats... ugh.

This update, absolutely amazing for its time, has aged terribly.

1.5 - The Redstone Update. Age: 8 years

Amongst its niche, this update has aged reasonably well. Redstone blocks and redstone comparators are still widely used, as are some of the other features such as scoreboards. However, it's worth noting that this update was released when adventure maps were still HUGE, where they are less so now. In that respect, this update does show its age, but in terms of its actual features, I'd say they still hold up today to a degree.

1.6 - The Horse Update. Age: 7.7 years

Whereas a lot of aspects of the update - such as Name Tags, stained clay, and the new launcher are still widely used - the actual use of horses has aged less well. They are still probably the best mode of transport early-game and for mountainous terrain, but their lack of forest mobility and swimming ability has led to horse travel not being as used as it possibly could've been. That being said, as the complexity of horses were YEARS ahead of their time, I must say the horses don't feel at all dated.

1.7 - The Terrain Update. ahem. Age: 7.5 years

This update still holds up today absolutely brilliantly in almost every way. Almost every part of this update is still relevant today. Since this update has literally changed the overworld, as well as adding two new types of wood, it would be hard for this update NOT to stand out. The biomes do not feel at all dated, and over time have only gotten better as they've slowly but surely received new exclusive features. For example, the badlands becoming gold havens, the roofed forest getting the Woodland Mansion, new mobs like llamas for some of the new biomes, etc. This update provided a perfect base for new content to be added to. There is a reason many consider this to be one of the best legacy updates. Amplified has become a bit forgotten over time, but that's really it.

1.8 - The Bountiful Update. Age: 6.5 years

Honestly, a lot of the features of this update are pretty dated now. Especially Ocean Monuments. Some of the map-maker features have held up such as slime blocks, but most of the features of this update are forgotten. From the ocean monuments need an upgrade, to features you totally forgot about such as Endermites and sponges. Rabbits are cool but largely inconsequential (as are the potions they yield), and I find myself rarely using the armor stand. However, other features like banners still hold up today, so this update isn't completely inconsequential. It's also the update that first gave fences and doors for each wood type.

1.9 - The Combat Update. Age: 5 years

This update is perhaps one of the most memorable updates there ever was. But not in a good way. This update has been cemented in infamy in the half-decade since its release. Not only did this update take a YEAR AND A HALF to be developed, but it also added the highly controversial combat mechanics Java still has to this day. For undesirable reasons, this update is still highly remembered. But it's certainly not all bad - this update added shields, which are still commonly used. This update also added the best item in the game - the Elytra. AND it updated the Ender Dragon fight itself. 

Certainly, nobody has forgotten this update. However, I must say, even after the huge revamp to the Ender Dragon fight, it's starting to feel a bit dated again. It needs another change as it's become a very boring fight.

1.10 - The Frostburn Update. Age: 4.7 years

There is one feature that still holds up today: Magma blocks. Just about everything else in this update has been long-forgotten.

1.11 - The Exploration Update. Age: 4.3 years

This is an interesting one. The main feature of this update, the Woodland Mansion, has aged terribly. A combination of the rarity of the mansion and the fact 1.14 has rendered them totally obsolete has led to the Woodland Mansion in dire need of an update. Llama caravans, although a good idea, also had poor execution and I've never used or seen anyone ever actually use this feature. It's mostly entirely forgotten. Also curses. Uhh yeah they exist. Negative enchantments - two were added and then the whole concept was forgotten entirely.

But on the flipside, this update has some of the most useful and relevant features that still hold up today. The totem of undying is perhaps the second best and most useful item in Minecraft, beaten only by the Elytra. The totem has become almost ubiquitous in Minecraft playthroughs that have advanced to the late game - especially in hardcore. You never see someone without a totem in hand! Shulker Boxes also deserve a mention - as they have also become some of the most revered late-game items that are still used a LOT. Also, this is the update that first introduced the concept of Illagers, which formed the entire basis of the spinoff game Minecraft Dungeons. 

This update is a huge mixed bag. Half of its features are essentially totally forgotten, whereas the other half have actually shaped Minecraft gameplay forever.

1.12 - The World of Colour Update. Age: 3.6 years

This is the most modern update I am going to be reviewing, being just over three and a half years old. And honestly, especially given the recency of this update compared to others, this one has not aged well. The parrots have largely become forgotten. Nobody really uses concrete or glazed terracotta. The coloured beds have obviously been great for Bed Wars minigames, but really as far as the features go, this update has been largely forgotten. But there is no denying this update did great things for accessibility too, giving a narrator and a crafting recipe book. These obviously still hold up today, but the colourful features have been forgotten to the point I think of 1.12 as "The Accessibility Update" before the colour gimmick.

All-in-all, it is clear that some things in the game need an update, but it's amazing how many features even from nearly 10 years ago do in fact still hold up today.