mlsanityData to 14 Oct 2026

MineNPC-Task: Task Suite for Memory-Aware Minecraft Agents

arXiv 2601.05215 ↗First posted 8 Jan 2026cs.AIcited by 1

On the map: LLM agents and tool use → Reinforcement learning for LLM agents

Abstract (arXiv)

We present MineNPC-Task, a user-authored benchmark and evaluation harness for testing memory-aware, mixed-initiative LLM agents in open-world Minecraft. Rather than relying on synthetic prompts, tasks are elicited through formative and summative co-play with expert players, then normalized into parametric templates with explicit preconditions and dependency structure. These tasks are paired with machine-checkable validators under a bounded-knowledge policy that forbids out-of-world shortcuts. The harness captures plan, action, and memory events, including plan previews, targeted clarifications, memory reads and writes, precondition checks, and repair attempts, and reports outcomes relative to the total number of attempted subtasks using only in-world evidence. As an initial snapshot, we instantiate the framework with GPT-4o and evaluate 216 subtasks across 8 experienced players. We observe recurring breakdown patterns in code execution, inventory and tool handling, referencing, and navigation, alongside successful recoveries supported by mixed-initiative clarifications and lightweight memory use. Participants rated interaction quality and interface usability positively, while noting the need for stronger memory persistence across tasks. We release the complete task suite, validators, logs, and evaluation harness to support transparent and reproducible evaluation of future memory-aware embodied agents.

Key facts. Cited by 1 paper in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Placed in Reinforcement learning for LLM agents, one of 16 directions in LLM agents and tool use. Builds on 20 of its 42 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 8 Jan 2026.

Builds on

20 of 42 references.

Closest ancestors · 2

Same direction, newest first

  1. 2023Ghost in the Minecraft: Generally Capable Agents for Open-World Environments via Large Language Models with Text-based Knowledge and Memory25 May
  2. 2022MineDojo: Building Open-Ended Embodied Agents with Internet-Scale Knowledge17 Jun

Other references · 18

  1. 2022ReAct: Synergizing Reasoning and Acting in Language Modelscited by 8,695
  2. 2023Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacra of Human Behaviorcited by 3,568
  3. 2023WebArena: A Realistic Web Environment for Building Autonomous Agentscited by 2,006
  4. 2020ALFWorld: Aligning Text and Embodied Environments for Interactive Learningcited by 1,205
  5. 2019Habitat: A Platform for Embodied AI Researchcited by 1,191
  6. 2019ALFRED: A Benchmark for Interpreting Grounded Instructions for Everyday Taskscited by 783
  7. 2018VirtualHome: Simulating Household Activities via Programscited by 415
  8. 2022ProcTHOR: Large-Scale Embodied AI Using Procedural Generationcited by 380
  9. 2017Embodied Question Answeringcited by 336
  10. 2022ScienceWorld: Is your Agent Smarter than a 5th Grader?cited by 327
  11. 2018TextWorld: A Learning Environment for Text-based Gamescited by 310
  12. 2018BabyAI: A Platform to Study the Sample Efficiency of Grounded Language Learningcited by 244
6 more
  1. 2021TEACh: Task-driven Embodied Agents that Chatcited by 197
  2. 2023STEVE-1: A Generative Model for Text-to-Behavior in Minecraftcited by 97
  3. 2024VLM Agents Generate Their Own Memories: Distilling Experience into Embodied Programs of Thoughtcited by 55
  4. 2024GameArena: Evaluating LLM Reasoning through Live Computer Gamescited by 32
  5. 2024"My agent understands me better": Integrating Dynamic Human-like Memory Recall and Consolidation in LLM-Based Agentscited by 29
  6. 2024Imagining a Future of Designing with AI: Dynamic Grounding, Constructive Negotiation, and Sustainable Motivationcited by 7

Built on by

Cited by year (2026 to 14 Oct)

Citing papers per year: 2026: 1.

1 paper.

Similar, not cited

Close in wording, no citation either way

  1. 2026MineExplorer: Evaluating Open-World Exploration of MLLM Agents in Minecraft
  2. 2024MrSteve: Instruction-Following Agents in Minecraft with What-Where-When Memory
  3. 2026WISE: A Long-Horizon Agent in Minecraft with Why-Which Reasoning
  4. 2026Multi-agent Framework for Time-Sensitive Complementary Collaboration in Minecraft
  5. 2025Parallelized Planning-Acting for Efficient LLM-based Multi-Agent Systems in Minecraft
  6. 2025OpenHA: A Series of Open-Source Hierarchical Agentic Models in Minecraft
  7. 2026PEAM: Parametric Embodied Agent Memory through Contrastive Internalization of Experience in Minecraft
  8. 2024TeamCraft: A Benchmark for Multi-Modal Multi-Agent Systems in Minecraft