The cubed graphics form large cubes that the player can mine. That’s the recipe for one of the most successful games in history. What is Minecraft like in 2024?
Minecraft
Since its release in 2011, Minecraft has become one of the best-selling games of all time (source: minecraft.net)
When Markus Persson (nicknamed Notch) created a simple game in the Java programming language in 2009, he probably didn’t realize he was crafting a true gem of the video game industry. Since then, Minecraft has become the best-selling game in history (over 300 million copies as of 2023) and continues to entertain both young and adult players. Today, this pixelated masterpiece is owned by Microsoft, although development is handled by Persson’s development company Mojang. The game still boasts over 100 million active players.
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From blocks to millions of players
A big sandbox where players are given complete freedom to decide where to go and what to do. That’s one way to describe Minecraft. This sandbox survival game with an open world encourages a creative approach to gameplay. The world, made entirely of cubes, can be mined or built upon. Want an epic castle? No problem. Want a small wooden house with a garden? No problem. Want a crazy roller coaster? You know… The game’s core principle lies in mining resources (mine), crafting items (craft), and building. But Minecraft isn’t just about that. Survival elements are also present: the player must eat, and various monsters roam the world, trying to attack them. Players must progress from their first wooden sword to diamond armor while securing a food source and building a base. Each game world in Minecraft is uniquely generated, ensuring that every playthrough is completely different from the last. These worlds are also divided into diverse biomes, making exploring snowy plains, vast deserts, or even mushroom forests essential for obtaining new resources. This captivated players and critics worldwide, turning Minecraft, a small indie game by one person, into a global phenomenon. The franchise’s expansion into the real world didn’t take long. Today, products featuring the Minecraft logo or theme can be found in every store. LEGO produces a line of Minecraft sets, and additional games in the Minecraft universe, such as Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft: Story Mode, continue to be released.
Gameplay and game modes
Simple pixelated graphics surprisingly create a believable world. At first glance, it’s clear what’s a tree and what’s a cave. This makes Minecraft enjoyable to play, with its cozy atmosphere combining with dangers lurking around every corner. However, you’ll need to leave the safety of your shelter in search of resources and exploration. Each activity grants experience, which can be used to enchant items into more powerful versions. The game can be played as single-player or multiplayer. In both cases, several game modes and difficulty levels can be set. These modes determine the type of experience you’ll have in Minecraft. Survival mode is the basic version where the player must survive in a hostile world against monsters and hunger. Upon death, the player respawns in the same world. The same cannot be said for Hardcore mode, which is similar to Survival but deletes the world upon the player’s death. Creative mode is for those who enjoy creativity, as the player is immortal, can fly, and has unlimited materials. Adventure mode is similar to the basic game mode, but most blocks cannot be mined. Interaction is possible only with certain blocks, creatures, and items. Spectator mode allows players to fly through all blocks or view the game from the perspective of monsters or other players. Interaction is not possible in this mode.
The story of Minecraft
Before we delve into a brief explanation of Minecraft’s story, it’s worth noting that the game doesn’t have a fixed storyline. While it can technically be completed (see our article on this topic), the game world doesn’t end, allowing players to continue mining, building, and exploring. The player’s character spawns in a randomly generated world. Here, players can find wandering animals, various materials (e.g., wood, stone, coal, diamonds…), and monsters that hunt them. From there, players must reach the Nether, a hellish part of the world. Here, new and more dangerous monsters, along with ever-present lava, pose a challenge. The reward is new and otherwise unattainable materials. After hours of crafting various items, it’s time to find an ancient fortress with a portal leading to the End, where players face the Ender Dragon. Upon defeating the dragon, the game is technically complete. However, the game doesn’t truly end, and the character can return to the base world. But visiting the End is entirely optional. The story of Minecraft is what the player makes of it. It can have no story at all, or players can imagine themselves as castaways in an unknown world with no escape. It’s all up to you, and that’s the essence of this phenomenal video game title.
Community and mods
With so many players, it’s no surprise that Minecraft has a large player community, many of whom create community mods. These include popular graphical modifications that can simply smooth out the game’s appearance or completely overhaul all textures. Other mods add quest systems like those in RPGs or even entire character development systems, new monsters, or linear storylines. These community mods are not officially supported by Mojang, so adding them to the game can be quite a challenge. Fortunately, modders provide detailed instructions to help with the process.
Where to download Minecraft?
Before downloading the game, you need to purchase it first. Minecraft is now available on almost all gaming platforms and can be purchased from their respective online stores. Today, it costs just a few hundred euros.
Minecraft multiplayer
If you’re interested in online gaming with friends, make sure you have the same game version. There are several versions available. The standard Java version is the most played, but there’s a good chance your game is running the Bedrock version. Don’t worry. Switching versions is fairly simple. Open the Minecraft Launcher, go to the Installations tab, and click New. Here, you can choose your preferred version. To play online, you’ll also need a game server. Setting one up is simple, and there are plenty of tutorials online. If you want to host players on your server even when you’re offline, you’ll need game server hosting. Alternatively, you can join a public server. There are even Czech and Slovak servers, each offering a unique experience. Some focus on roleplay, while others host epic battles between kingdoms. You’re sure to find something that suits you. Minecraft was ahead of its time and remains relevant today, nearly fifteen years after its initial release. It entertains millions of young and old players, and thanks to the modding community, it offers fresh experiences even to seasoned Minecraft enthusiasts. With this game, you truly can’t go wrong.
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