World-GAN: a Generative Model for Minecraft Worlds
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Abstract (arXiv)
This work introduces World-GAN, the first method to perform data-driven Procedural Content Generation via Machine Learning in Minecraft from a single example. Based on a 3D Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) architecture, we are able to create arbitrarily sized world snippets from a given sample. We evaluate our approach on creations from the community as well as structures generated with the Minecraft World Generator. Our method is motivated by the dense representations used in Natural Language Processing (NLP) introduced with word2vec [1]. The proposed block2vec representations make World-GAN independent from the number of different blocks, which can vary a lot in Minecraft, and enable the generation of larger levels. Finally, we demonstrate that changing this new representation space allows us to change the generated style of an already trained generator. World-GAN enables its users to generate Minecraft worlds based on parts of their creations.
Key facts. Cited by 14 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 20 of its 32 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 18 Jun 2021.
Builds on
20 of 32 references.
References · 20
- 2018BERT: Pre-training of Deep Bidirectional Transformers for Language Understandingcited by 40,204
- 2013Efficient Estimation of Word Representations in Vector Spacecited by 4,346
- 2017Improved Training of Wasserstein GANscited by 2,223
- 2019SinGAN: Learning a Generative Model from a Single Natural Imagecited by 348
- 2017Procedural Content Generation via Machine Learning (PCGML)cited by 136
- 2020PCGRL: Procedural Content Generation via Reinforcement Learningcited by 90
- 2018Evolving Mario Levels in the Latent Space of a Deep Convolutional Generative Adversarial Networkcited by 76
- 2021Growing 3D Artefacts and Functional Machines with Neural Cellular Automatacited by 38
- 2021Minimum-Distortion Embeddingcited by 26
- 2020EvoCraft: A New Challenge for Open-Endednesscited by 23
- 2018Generative Design in Minecraft (GDMC), Settlement Generation Competitioncited by 22
- 2020TOAD-GAN: Coherent Style Level Generation from a Single Examplecited by 22
8 more
- 2019Tile Pattern KL-Divergence for Analysing and Evolving Game Levelscited by 16
- 2018DOOM Level Generation using Generative Adversarial Networkscited by 15
- 2019Organic Building Generation in Minecraftcited by 10
- 2021The AI Settlement Generation Challenge in Minecraft: First Year Reportcited by 9
- 2019Generative Design in Minecraft: Chronicle Challengecited by 8
- 2020Generative Adversarial Network Rooms in Generative Graph Grammar Dungeons for The Legend of Zeldacited by 8
- 2020Entity Embedding as Game Representationcited by 8
- 2020Capturing Local and Global Patterns in Procedural Content Generation via Machine Learningcited by 4
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Citing papers per year: 2022: 1; 2023: 4; 2024: 4; 2025: 4; 2026: 1.
14 papers.
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- 2025WorldEval: World Model as Real-World Robot Policies Evaluatorcited by 64
- 2023Creative Agents: Empowering Agents with Imagination for Creative Taskscited by 24
- 2024DreamCraft: Text-Guided Generation of Functional 3D Environments in Minecraftcited by 17
- 2022Open-Ended Evolution for Minecraft Building Generationcited by 9
- 2024Measuring Diversity of Game Scenarioscited by 5
- 2023Evolving Flying Machines in Minecraft Using Quality Diversitycited by 4
- 2023Balancing of competitive two-player Game Levels with Reinforcement Learningcited by 4
- 20243D Building Generation in Minecraft via Large Language Modelscited by 3
- 2025Edge General Intelligence Through World Models and Agentic AI: Fundamentals, Solutions, and Challengescited by 3
- 2023Generating Redstone Style Cities in Minecraftcited by 2
- 2025Scaffold Diffusion: Sparse Multi-Category Voxel Structure Generation with Discrete Diffusioncited by 2
- 2024Markov Senior -- Learning Markov Junior Grammars to Generate User-specified Contentcited by 0
- 2026Dream-Cubed: Controllable Generative Modeling in Minecraft by Training on Billions of Cubes22 Apr 2026
- 2025Scaffold Diffusion: Sparse Multi-Category Voxel Structure Generation with Discrete Diffusion26 Aug 2025
- 2025Edge General Intelligence Through World Models and Agentic AI: Fundamentals, Solutions, and Challenges13 Aug 2025
- 2025Text-to-Level Diffusion Models With Various Text Encoders for Super Mario Bros30 Jun 2025
- 2025WorldEval: World Model as Real-World Robot Policies Evaluator25 May 2025
- 2024Markov Senior -- Learning Markov Junior Grammars to Generate User-specified Content12 Aug 2024
- 20243D Building Generation in Minecraft via Large Language Models13 Jun 2024
- 2024DreamCraft: Text-Guided Generation of Functional 3D Environments in Minecraft23 Apr 2024
- 2024Measuring Diversity of Game Scenarios15 Apr 2024
- 2023Creative Agents: Empowering Agents with Imagination for Creative Tasks5 Dec 2023
- 2023Generating Redstone Style Cities in Minecraft19 Jul 2023
- 2023Balancing of competitive two-player Game Levels with Reinforcement Learning7 Jun 2023
2 more
- 2024DreamCraft: Text-Guided Generation of Functional 3D Environments in Minecraftcited by 17
- 2022Open-Ended Evolution for Minecraft Building Generationcited by 9
- 2024Measuring Diversity of Game Scenarioscited by 5
- 2023Evolving Flying Machines in Minecraft Using Quality Diversitycited by 4
- 2023Balancing of competitive two-player Game Levels with Reinforcement Learningcited by 4
- 20243D Building Generation in Minecraft via Large Language Modelscited by 3
- 2023Generating Redstone Style Cities in Minecraftcited by 2
- 2024Markov Senior -- Learning Markov Junior Grammars to Generate User-specified Contentcited by 0
- 2026Dream-Cubed: Controllable Generative Modeling in Minecraft by Training on Billions of Cubescited by 0
- 2026Dream-Cubed: Controllable Generative Modeling in Minecraft by Training on Billions of Cubes22 Apr 2026
- 2024Markov Senior -- Learning Markov Junior Grammars to Generate User-specified Content12 Aug 2024
- 20243D Building Generation in Minecraft via Large Language Models13 Jun 2024
- 2024DreamCraft: Text-Guided Generation of Functional 3D Environments in Minecraft23 Apr 2024
- 2024Measuring Diversity of Game Scenarios15 Apr 2024
- 2023Generating Redstone Style Cities in Minecraft19 Jul 2023
- 2023Balancing of competitive two-player Game Levels with Reinforcement Learning7 Jun 2023
- 2023Evolving Flying Machines in Minecraft Using Quality Diversity1 Feb 2023
- 2022Open-Ended Evolution for Minecraft Building Generation7 Sep 2022