Minecraft wiki entry for Pixel_art, associated text: If you're creating some kind of map (the playable kind, not the item), preferably an underground or indoor one, you can use colored blocks to create a "minimap", which is a small map that appears as part of the HUD in some games. You do this by putting a solid-color layer over the top of the area, and tracing the cave's layout using a different block over the top of the solid color layer. You can create labels, other pieces of pixel art and/or different colored blocks to mark certain areas on the minimap. Finally, when the layout is all done, give the player a used map (this time the item kind) to hold in their off-hand slot to use as a minimap as they explore the dark caves or wherever you set the area in. If you want to have the minimap as an actual feature rather than just a map item, you can get a mod or plugin to put a minimap on the HUD, but be aware that the player may not have the mod installed when they play the map if they aren't playing on a server with the mod preinstalled.