On the face of it, Minecraft looks like a very simplistic game. You just mine square blocks and then use them to build things. Compared with the sleek, almost movie-quality of modern graphics in modern video games, the blocky aesthetic of Minecraft looks very outdated. People that haven’t played the game often wonder what all of the fuss is about. But Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time, so surely it must have something going for it? The reality is that Minecraft is much deeper than people realize, with complex crafting systems, amazing exploration opportunities, hidden worlds, and endless possibilities. These are some of the big reasons why Minecraft is so popular.
You Have Complete Freedom
Minecraft doesn’t force you down a specific story path. The world of Minecraft is your playground; build anything, go anywhere, and do whatever you like. There are multiple game modes to play in, so you can adjust the difficulty as it suits you. It’s essentially your own virtual sandbox environment. There are other sandbox games out there that give you the freedom to explore virtual worlds, but there are always quests and storylines that you need to follow to progress. There are limits to those worlds too, but that isn’t the case with Minecraft.
Still, it’s not just a free-for-all – the game is structured enough to make a story for you. So, if you do want to progress through a narrative, that is an option. You can play Minecraft in Survival Mode where you have to mine for blocks, kill monsters, and craft tools to stay alive. Or there’s Creative Mode, which lets you fly around the map and build whatever it is that you want to build. There is no other game out there that gives you the same freedom.
The Exploration Is Amazing
If the exploration element of games is what you love most, Minecraft is a great game for you. You can explore caves, mountains, deserts, and more – all of which are randomly generated by the game. Minecraft gives you the freedom to go wherever your curiosity takes you. The randomly generated map means that you never know what’s around the corner and you never run out of new terrain to explore. This unlimited freedom is a big part of what makes Minecraft so popular.
The Creative Mode Offers Endless Possibilities
The Creative Mode gives you endless possibilities for building whatever you like. All of the blocks will be at your disposal, and building whatever it is that you want is easy and intuitive thanks to the crafting system in Minecraft. In creative mode, you can build something as simple as a house or castle, or something more complex like a working computer.
It’s Great Fun With Friends
If you have friends that play Minecraft, there are so many ways that you can play together. You can build massive structures together to show off your skills and ingenuity – or just to create something beautiful. You can also work together to create deadly traps or defense systems for those pesky mobs at night time. Or you could race each other and see who can build the quickest house. Voice chat adds that social element and gives you a great place to hang out with friends.
It’s Easy To Play
Another reason why Minecraft is so popular is that it’s easy to play. You don’t need to be an expert or a seasoned gamer to play Minecraft – anyone can get started with just a few minutes of playing the game. The trajectory of the game is very intuitive so you build your knowledge of crafting and mining more valuable materials as you go. If you do want to do something more complex, there is a huge community online where you can find tutorials and tips. The fact that anybody from young kids to seasoned gamers can pick up and play straight away is a big reason for the success of Minecraft.
It’s Always Being Updated
Minecraft receives regular updates, and new features are constantly being added to the game. This keeps users excited and coming back for more. There’s always something new to discover in Minecraft, whether it’s a weapon or recipe that you didn’t know existed before or a new feature that has just been added. Players can even create their own mods for Minecraft, so you can shape the game in whatever way you like.
If you wrote off Minecraft in the past because you thought it was just a simple kids game, you couldn’t be more wrong. It’s an incredible sandbox world with endless possibilities and no other game offers that level of freedom. So, why not give it a try?