Java Realms Content Creator Program Categories Overview

Key Takeaways

Point	Details
The current guidelines describe five categories	Minigames, World Templates, Adventures, Experiences, and Inspiration.
Check the current Experiences rules	The current Atlas guidelines still describe Experiences as a map category.
Submissions begin on the	Submissions begin on the r/realms subreddit, then proceed to the Atlas portal for full review.
Atlas access follows acceptance	Accepted creators gain access to Atlas for further submissions.
Approved maps are scheduled	Approved maps are scheduled for a Java Realms content release.

If you're a mapmaker looking to share your creations with a wide audience, the Java Realms Content Creator Program is the official path to get your maps onto Realms for Minecraft: Java Edition.

The program currently publishes content under five distinct categories. Knowing which category fits your map is the first step to a successful submission. Check Mojang's program overview and the current Atlas submission guidelines before uploading, because submission rules can change.

The Five Content Categories

The Java Realms Content Creator Program defines these categories:

The program currently publishes content under one of the following five categories: Minigames - Short, self-contained, and repeatable game modes.

• Minigames – Short, self-contained, and repeatable game modes. Think parkour courses, PvP arenas, or puzzle races.
• World Templates – A way for players to start a new survival game with something extra, such as a castle or a village.

World Templates - A way for players to start a new survival game with something extra, such as a castle or a village.

• Adventures – Longer experiences meant to be played from start to finish, often with a storyline.

Adventures - Longer experiences, meant to be played from start to finish.

• Experiences – Maps without a defined goal, like a theme park or scenic exploration area.

Experience - Maps without a defined goal, like a theme park.

• Inspiration – Visually informative creations designed to inspire potential builders.

Inspiration - Visually informative creations designed to inspire potential builders.

Choose by what a player does first: a repeatable round points toward Minigames; a survival starting world points toward World Templates; a beginning-to-end objective points toward Adventures; an open-ended exploration map points toward Experiences; and a build intended mainly to inspire other builders points toward Inspiration. If you are setting up a Realm to play maps rather than publishing one, see our Realms setup guide.

Before submitting, test the part of your map that defines its category. A minigame should reset cleanly and explain how one player can start; a world template should offer a meaningful starting area while normal terrain continues beyond it; an adventure should preserve progress between sessions; an Experience should give explorers something intentional to observe; and an Inspiration map should show ideas players can apply to their own builds. These checks turn the Atlas category guidance into a practical review pass.

Check the Current Experiences Guidelines

Mojang's Atlas guidelines, updated September 15, 2026, still include Experiences for maps focused on exploring, observing, or simply experiencing a world. Older secondary summaries describe a closure, but the current primary guidelines do not say that. Check the live guidelines and ask the Realms review team if your map fits this category before reworking it.

How the Submission Process Works

To submit a map, start by posting it on the official Realms subreddit (r/realms). Your submission enters a queue for initial review by a Mojang content coordinator.

To apply for the program, one should submit a map that they have made on the Realms subreddit r/realms.

If accepted into the program, you gain access to the Atlas submission portal. From there, you can submit maps for further review. The current Atlas guidelines say approved maps can be scheduled for a Java Realms content release.

All submissions must follow the Realms Map Guidelines, and maps must function in the latest stable release of the game.

Whether you're building a competitive minigame or a sprawling adventure, matching your map to the correct category is the key to getting it in front of thousands of Realms subscribers.