Review: Minecraft explained to parents

Minecraft Featured

Create the world of your dreams or nightmares with millions of blocks! In Minecraft, you decide how the world structures itself, what elements go to where, and you invite your friends to play together. You can also participate in survival mode, which requires you to accumulate resources during the day to protect yourself from zombies after dark.

Minecraft Boxart PS4
Minecraft Boxart SwitchMinecraft Boxart Xbox One
Release date: 20 June 2018

Developed by: Mojang
Published by: Microsoft
Available on: everything…
Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PC, Android phone, iOS phone…

Type of game: Action, adventure, strategy, simulation
Average duration of a game:30 minutes

Estimate of the total duration of the game: Infinite.

Topics: Survival, creation, imagination

Business model: Need to buy the game once, then there are microtransactions.

Number of players:
1 4-player local player
1 to 8 players online.

Available in physical (blu-ray), cartridge (on Nintendo Switch) or digital (download on console)

Buy digitally, Minecraft on Nintendo Switch, click here.
This supports Shared Screen. Thank you!

Possible configurations of the Nintendo Switch:

Nintendo Switch Handheld modeNintendo Switch Tabletop modeNintendo Switch TV Mode
Players3+ 7+ 12+16+18+
Neophytes
Intermediate
Experienced
The game is not very demanding in terms of reflex. It will only be necessary to learn how to move in a 3D world.
The most advanced players will be able to find something to exercise their creativity and imagination.
Replayability

The game is virtually infinite, as long as the player wants to create, share his creations and enjoy the creations of others.

Difficulty

It will take perseverance to get to the end of the adventure. After that, many challenges with all levels of difficulty will be available.

Violence, fear, nudity?

Players face monsters in many battles with shovels, swords and pickaxes. No blood. When monsters lose, they’re knocked out. Everything is made up of square blocks.

Level of language used

Very little text and instruction. The player is mostly left to his own devices.

Positive message

Players, monsters and levels have all shapes and colors. They are made up of blocks.

Minimum reading level required
Orange Green Gauge

Very little text and instruction. The child may need to be guided through the menus to find their way around.

Additional costs ?

It is possible to buy extensions called to extend the adventure. It’s optional though.

Minimum level of execution on the controller required
Orange Green Gauge

Learning to explore a 3D world takes a little time. The rest is easy.

Principle of the game

In Minecraft, you decide how the world structures itself, what elements go to where, and you invite your friends to play together. You can also participate in survival mode, which requires you to accumulate resources during the day to protect yourself from zombies after dark. Everything is done by creating and destroying blocks.

The game has become a phenomenon thanks to its simple principle and has attracted more than 100 million players.

Local game modes

Minecraft includes survival mode and creation mode.

The creative mode allows you to create anything you want as you want it. While survival demands to survive the zombies that arrive at night.

It is possible to play in split screen mode on console only. The screen is then divided into 2, and each player controls his character on his part of the screen.

It is possible to guide your child in this way.

Up to 4 players can play together locally.

Online gaming modes

You can play online if you pay for your console’s subscription:

Playstation 4 and 5: Playstation Plus

Xbox One and Xbox Series: Xbox Live Gold

Nintendo Switch: Nintendo Switch Online

Free online game on PC.

Players can join servers created by other players and enter each player’s world.

On PC, players can easily communicate with each other with voice or keyboard. It is therefore necessary to warn players of the possible risks of these interactions.

PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch players can play together online.

Extensions

There are microtransactions that are offered to the player, to buy costumes, or different colors of blocks.

Conclusion

Minecraft is a game that leaves the player with the choice of everything, all the time. He can dig non-stop, make tunnels, castles in the sky, huts, houses… it all depends on his imagination. If the child needs guidance and goals to enjoy a game, it is not for him.

On the contrary, if he likes to create, imagine stories without limit of time or resources, he will love it. He can play with his parents or friends on the same console. He can also join his friends online on the Internet. In this case, it is necessary to have increased parental supervision as always when it comes to the Internet.

More information about the game:

About Marc Shakour

Former video game programmer, columnist, teacher, competitor ... Marc has always been very familiar with the world and industry of video games. He decided to help neophytes about it, to discover new universes, worlds and fantastic creatures.

View all posts by Marc Shakour