# Minecraft April Fools' Snapshots: 23w13a_or_b & 25w14craftmine

Canonical: https://guides.gaialegends.pro/posts/april-fools-snapshots-23w13a-or-b-25w14craftmine
Published: 2026-10-02
Updated: 2026-10-02
Version scope: Java Edition 23w13a_or_b and 25w14craftmine

> Every April 1st, Mojang releases a playful snapshot. In 2023, 23w13a_or_b added a voting system to unlock wacky features like balloon cows and a Moon dimension. In 2025, 25w14craftmine lets players craft custom mine-dungeons, earn XP for permanent upgrades, and collect rare trophies. Both are fun, self-contained detours from standard Minecraft.

<TldrBox>Every April 1st, Mojang releases a playful snapshot. In 2023, 23w13a_or_b added a voting system to unlock wacky features like balloon cows and a Moon dimension. In 2025, 25w14craftmine lets players craft custom mine-dungeons, earn XP for permanent upgrades, and collect rare trophies. Both are fun, self-contained detours from standard Minecraft.</TldrBox>

## Key Takeaways

| Point | Details |
| --- | --- |
| 23w13a_or_b is the 'Vote | 23w13a_or_b is the 'Vote Update' where players unlock features by voting. |
| 25w14craftmine is the 'Craftmine | 25w14craftmine is the 'Craftmine Update' where players craft and explore procedural mine dimensions. |
| The Vote Update includes | The Vote Update includes a Moon dimension with cheese blocks and balloon cows. |
| 25w14craftmine adds Player Unlocks, | 25w14craftmine adds Player Unlocks, Shimmering Keys, and mob trophy drops with rarity grades. |
| Both snapshots are joke | Both snapshots are joke versions and do not affect the main game. |
| They are available only | They are available only as Java Edition snapshots for their respective release years. |

## Two of the Most Creative April Fools' Snapshots

Every year, Mojang releases a joke snapshot on April 1st that breaks the usual rules of Minecraft. In 2023, we got 23w13a_or_b – the "Vote Update" – and in 2025, 25w14craftmine – the "Craftmine Update". Both are playable Java Edition snapshots that add absurd new dimensions, blocks, and mechanics. Here's a quick tour of what each one brings.

## The Vote Update: 23w13a_or_b


![Minecraft April Fools' Snapshots: 23w13a_or_b & 25w14craftmine supporting Minecraft scene 1](/images/posts/april-fools-snapshots-23w13a-or-b-25w14craftmine-inline-1.webp)

23w13a_or_b introduces a voting system where players decide which features get added or modified. The Minecraft Wiki describes it as:

> 23w13a\_or\_b, supposedly the first and only snapshot for the Vote Update, is an April Fools' joke snapshot, released on April 1, 2023, which, as the primary focus, adds a system where players vote for gameplay features or mechanics to be implemented or changed.

This snapshot is based on 23w13a, and was reuploaded shortly after release to fix crashes and remove some inappropriate color names. Unlock votes like `minecraft:air_blocks` to craft air from empty glass bottles – yes, you can bottle air and use it underwater or on the Moon. Fill a cow with air to create a "balloon cow" that carries you to the Moon. On the Moon you'll find edible Cheese blocks, copper spleaves that break when touched, and packed air that permanently fills your breath bar. The "Other Portal", built with glowstone and activated with a water bucket, teleports you 500 blocks upward with a humorous "Error 404 Terrain Not Found" message – a nod to the Aether mod community memes.

Other notable additions include the Copper Sink (stores water but not lava), Golden Chests that randomly turn stored items into gold, and the "Midas Touch" vote that makes chests golden.

## The Craftmine Update: 25w14craftmine

25w14craftmine takes a completely different direction. Instead of voting, you craft your own "mines" – procedurally generated dungeon-like dimensions. The snapshot is built on 1.21.5 Release Candidate 1. As the Wiki notes:

> 25w14craftmine, supposedly the first and only snapshot for The Craftmine Update, is an April Fools' Day joke snapshot for Java Edition, released on April 1, 2025.

Players spawn next to a Mine Crafter block. Insert "mine ingredients" to shape the mine's properties – terrain type, loot, difficulty, etc. As the Wiki explains:

> The mine crafter can craft "mines" using mine ingredients which change different properties of the mine.

Enter the mine via a Mine Travelling Block placed on top. The goal is to find and use a Mine Exit; death means you lose the mine. The Wiki confirms:

> The mine is won if the player successfully finds and uses a mine exit and the mine is lost if the player dies.

Winning grants Experience Points, which can be spent on Player Unlocks. The Wiki adds:

> Winning a mine grants the player experience points which can be used to purchase player unlocks that grant the player new powers.

Every fifth mine is a special event mine that rewards a Shimmering Key upon victory. Use Shimmering Keys on Shimmering Doors in the Overworld hub to generate new rooms containing structures like village houses or End ships. The hub also features a Sky block that changes the skybox texture, and mobs have a 10% chance to drop Trophies with varying grades – from Grass (55.2%) to Netherite (0.6%), with a rare Shiny variant appearing only 1% of the time. The rarest trophy, a Shiny Netherite grade, has a 1 in 181,000 drop chance.

Player Unlocks are a key feature: as the Wiki states:

> Player Unlocks are a feature added in 25w14craftmine.

They are accessed from the inventory screen or by pressing U. The total XP cost for all non-hidden unlocks is 2,847 levels. One category, "School of Hard Knocks", is explicitly negative – a hilarious twist on typical upgrade trees.

## Key Differences Between the Two Snapshots

- **Core mechanic**: 23w13a_or_b uses votes to enable features; 25w14craftmine uses ingredient crafting to generate dungeons.
- **New dimensions**: The Moon in 23w13a_or_b; procedurally generated mine dimensions in 25w14craftmine.
- **Progression**: Voting unlocks blocks and mechanics; winning mines earns XP for permanent power-ups.
- **Combat and rewards**: 25w14craftmine includes trophy drops and Shimmering Doors; 23w13a_or_b focuses on whimsical blocks like balloon cows and cheese.

Both snapshots are pure fun and showcase Mojang’s creativity. They don't affect main game updates, but they're well worth a play if you want a break from standard survival. If you're new to Java Edition snapshots, brushing up on edition differences can help – check out our guide on [choosing between Java and Bedrock for speedrunning](/posts/how-to-choose-between-java-and-bedrock-for-minecraft-speedrunning-2026-guide).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Are these snapshots still playable in current versions?

No, they are snapshot versions tied to their respective release years (2023 and 2025). You can only play them by launching those specific snapshots through the Minecraft Launcher. They do not carry over to later game versions.

### Do the mechanics from these snapshots affect the main game?

No, these are joke snapshots and their features are not added to the main Minecraft game. They are self-contained experiments.

## Sources

- 23w13a\_or\_b, supposedly the first and only snapshot for the Vote Update, is an April Fools' joke snapshot, released on April 1, 2023, which, as the primary focus, adds a system where players vote for gameplay features or mechanics to be implemented or changed. — [Java Edition 23w13a or b](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_23w13a_or_b)
- 25w14craftmine, supposedly the first and only snapshot for The Craftmine Update, is an April Fools' Day joke snapshot for Java Edition, released on April 1, 2025. — [Java Edition 25w14craftmine](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_25w14craftmine)
- The mine crafter can craft "mines" using mine ingredients which change different properties of the mine. — [Java Edition 25w14craftmine](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_25w14craftmine)
- The mine is won if the player successfully finds and uses a mine exit and the mine is lost if the player dies. — [Java Edition 25w14craftmine](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_25w14craftmine)
- Winning a mine grants the player experience points which can be used to purchase player unlocks that grant the player new powers. — [Java Edition 25w14craftmine](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_25w14craftmine)
- Player Unlocks are a feature added in 25w14craftmine. — [Player Unlocks](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Player_Unlocks)