Minecraft

What keeps Minecraft’s millions of monthly players coming back?

There’s no single answer, of course. Minecraft gives you a bottomless bucket of virtual blocks and lets you craft your own worlds and adventures. This global phenomenon is many things to many players.

And years after the mobile version’s 2011 debut, it continues to wow us in new ways. Here are just a few reasons we still dig this pixel-perfect paradise:

‣ Minecraft is about constructing just about anything you can imagine with chunky cubes. In Creative mode, you’re free to do this at your leisure, as all resources—virtual pieces of wood, stone, and other materials—are free and plentiful.

Added since launch, a trove of decorative items, like delicate stained glass and groovy diamond-encrusted jukeboxes, have expanded the architectural possibilities. Have a vision? Bring it to life in Minecraft.

‣ Minecraft began as a survival game, challenging players to explore, gather resources, build a shelter, and craft items in an attempt to make it through the night.

That still exists in Survival mode. You’ll have to think strategically to thrive in what can be a hostile world. And it’s not just about Creepers and spiders anymore. One update unleashed poisonous puffer fish and seaweedy zombies, while another added more pleasant creatures, like bees that speed up crop growth.

‣ Whichever mode you favor, it’s more fun with a few pals. Whether you’re taking down the Ender Dragon or taking on an elaborate construction project, Minecraft is a wonderfully social experience.

And a massive one. A 2017 update lets you find, play, and collaborate with millions of others across platforms. If you’d prefer to just dabble, liven up your game by downloading user-created templates, skins, textures, and even entire worlds.

Minecraft

Create, explore and survive!

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