Minecraft fans will soon be able to step into the blocky world they've been building on screens for over a decade. Merlin Entertainments and Mojang Studios announced Saturday during the Minecraft Live event that they're constructing Minecraft World, a $70 million theme park set to open in 2027 at Chessington World of Adventures in Greater London.
Minecraft World will feature themed attractions including a roller coaster, interactive adventures, block-built playscapes, and dedicated retail and dining areas. The park represents the first time the world's best-selling video game will be translated into a physical theme park experience.
Chessington World of Adventures, located just 35 minutes by direct train from London Waterloo, already operates as Britain's largest wildlife theme park, featuring rides, a zoo, an aquarium, and two hotels. The addition of Minecraft World will expand the park's offerings into the gaming entertainment space.
"We're absolutely thrilled to be bringing Minecraft's creativity, bold adventures, and ridiculous fun to life at a theme park for the first time at Chessington World of Adventures," said Angela Jobson, senior vice president of global brand for Merlin Entertainments.
The collaboration brings together two entertainment giants with complementary expertise. Mojang Studios, Microsoft's subsidiary that develops Minecraft, created the best-selling video game of all time. Merlin Entertainments operates the Legoland theme park chain, giving the company experience in translating beloved building-block brands into physical attractions.
A "selection of iconic Minecraft creators" will consult on the park's design and construction, the companies announced. This community involvement reflects Minecraft's culture of user-generated content and collaborative building that has defined the game since its launch.
"Minecraft World represents a meaningful milestone in our ongoing journey to expand the Minecraft universe," said Torfi Frans Ólafsson, senior creative director of entertainment at Minecraft. "We're thrilled to have partnered with Merlin Entertainments to realize a place where you can literally be in the Minecraft Overworld and have an adventure of your own with your family and friends."
The park's design will recreate Minecraft's distinctive aesthetic, with attractions built to resemble the game's signature block-based architecture. Interactive elements will allow visitors to "play, explore and craft together on a truly epic scale," according to Jobson's statement.
Theme park adaptations of video game properties have seen mixed success historically, but Minecraft's creative sandbox gameplay and family-friendly appeal position it well for the physical attraction format. The game's emphasis on building and exploration translates naturally to theme park experiences that encourage hands-on interaction.
The project represents a significant investment in location-based entertainment tied to digital properties. With gaming increasingly driving popular culture, theme parks are seeking ways to capitalize on beloved franchises that originated in interactive media rather than traditional film or television.
Construction details and specific attraction descriptions have not yet been revealed, but the companies emphasized their commitment to creating an "immersive, authentic and welcoming" experience that honors the source material while providing new ways for fans to engage with the Minecraft universe.