Enter a world of blocks, battles and builds
Find out why Minecraft has millions of fans worldwide.
Minecraft has now sold more than 300 million copies, making it one of the world’s most popular video games. Find out the story behind Minecraft and why young people still love to explore, build and battle there.
What is Minecraft?
Minecraft is what’s known as a sandbox game. This is a type of immersive video game (when a game features a 3D image that appears to surround the player’s character) where gamers can explore and play in a virtual environment. When Minecraft players open the game they’re dropped into a large open world with mountains, forests, caves and oceans to investigate. The game has no set goal and players can do whatever they like. They could use blocks to build things, venture out to battle or even build a portal to another dimension.
How did it all begin?
Minecraft was made by a game programmer from Sweden called Markus “Notch” Persson. As a child, Persson was a big fan of Lego and enjoyed building his own designs from the little blocks. He got a computer when he was seven and made his first computer program when he was eight years old. In 2009, he began developing a block-based mining game called Cave Game. He worked on the game for two years and on 18 November
2011 the full version of Minecraft was released. It was an instant success with gamers.
Different ways to play
One of the main appeals of Minecraft is the fact that there is something for everyone. Some people like to play in survival mode, which is all about gathering materials, crafting items and learning how to fight off enemies, known as mobs, to survive in the blockbased world. In creative mode, people have the freedom to build anything they want, without the threat of enemies disrupting them.
Minecraft in school
Some schools use a special version of the game, Minecraft: Education Edition, in the classroom. Students can do all sorts of things, such as exploring ancient Egypt, discovering different types of wildlife and learning the stories of real people who have made a difference in the world.
Endless possibilities
Lots of Minecraft players share their amazing creations with other gamers online. Some of these “builds” take many hours of work. An ongoing project called Build the World aims to create an exact replica of Earth with the same measurements it has in real life. It was launched in 2020 by a YouTuber, and Minecraft players around the world were invited to get involved. Now it’s the world’s biggest Minecraft project, with more than 4,000 different builds – some of which involve thousands of builders.
Players have also made their own creations inspired by books, films and TV shows, including Hogwarts Castle from the world of Harry Potter.
Ever changing
One of the best features about Minecraft is that the game is constantly changing, with new worlds and characters being added. This year Minecraft: Education Edition is collaborating with the TV show Planet Earth III. Players can learn about how to protect the planet while exploring Earth’s different landscapes. Fans even have a live-action Minecraft movie to look forward to. It’s set to release in 2025 and will star Aquaman actor Jason Momoa. In the world of Minecraft, there’s always more to discover.