Why Minecraft is Still So Popular Almost a Decade Later

Minecraft - PS4, Xbox One - Review - Minecraft Adventure

Minecraft is ubiquitous.

In real life. And online. It’s been branded on every conceivable product. So many memes. And the game is still a favorite among top Youtubers and streamers.

But why?

Why after all these years does this game still reign supreme?

Today we’re looking at what makes Minecraft such a special game, leaving it as popular now than it has ever been. Standing the test of time, it continues to be a generation defining game.

So let’s look at why that is.

My History with Minecraft

I wouldn't call myself an experienced Minecraft player despite having played the game on PC, mobile and on console. That’s the nature of the Minecraft. I first played it on PC way back when the game was only a year or two old and still in beta.

Some years later I picked it up again but this time on mobile. However, me not being very big into mobile gaming, I didn’t stick with it. For me, Minecraft isn’t a game I can enjoy on mobile but that has nothing to do with the game—merely my own gaming preferences. For those interested, the Pocket Lite Edition is a great version of the game and worth the time.

Now I've recently returned to the game but this time revisiting it on the PS4. I’m enjoying the game more now than I ever have.

Of course, it’s grown substantially since last time I played it. Its continued updates and support by the developers is one reason it has remained relevant all these years.

However, what struck me is how playing the game feels now in the world of gaming full of titles like Red Dead Redemption, Metal Gear, and God of War.

Even compared to those hugely popular, adult themed, blockbuster games, little old Minecraft still sits atop the thrown.

A true institute of gaming.

Low Barrier of Entry

One of the biggest determinants to AAA games is their high barrier of entry. True of both the financial sense, often needing extremely expensive gaming PCs or a recent gen console, and in the sense of one's commitment of effort.

Modern AAA games hive a high time commitment, often needing hours upon hours before you will learn all the basics of a game and make your way through the opening of a game. Many popular games might need 10-20 hours before it will fully open up and you’ll see everything it has to offer.

This is where Minecraft really shines.

Its low barrier of entry makes it accessible for almost anyone. The game has been ported to every conceivable platform and mobile device. Doesn’t matter if you have an old PC or just a cheap laptop, Minecraft runs great on anything.

If you have any modern piece of technology, it likely runs Minecraft.

And unlike the perils of modern blockbuster games, you don’t need a 10-hour tutorial to learn how to play. Minecraft is intuitive and can be picked up and played in mere minutes.

Despite there being so much stuff to do in Minecraft, it never feels overwhelming. One task gives way to the next. Immediately after picking up the game, you'll find yourself with a clear grasp on the game and already exploring what the game has to offer.

Easy to Learn, Impossible to Master

Many of the world’s best games and competitive challenges are based on this concept: easy to learn but impossible to master. Minecraft is no different.

For example, if someone new to gaming wanted to pick up the newest blockbuster game, they would likely need a lot of time to learn the game’s controls, its mechanics, and figure out how to progress in the game.

The early hours of most modern games can usually feel frustrating. Games generally fall into two categories: slow hand-holding openings or overwhelming throw-everything-at-you openings. Neither are very enjoyable.

Picking up a new game to play has become a massive commitment, needing lots of time before you may even figure out if you enjoy the game or not. Of course, this is not the case with Minecraft.

Minecraft has no tutorial. It doesn’t need one. In mere minutes you will be running around collecting resources, fighting off slimes and building your starting house without ever having to sit though cutscenes or reading detailed tutorials.

But to write off Minecraft as being a simplistic game would be a grave mistake. Although Minecraft is easy to get started with, it is nearly impossible to master. If you want to be a proficient Minecraft player, be ready to dedicate thousands of hours to the game.

Within the simple rules of Minecraft’s mechanics is the ability to create and do just about anything your mind can think of. Everything from building structures, to making elaborate contraptions, to creating covers of songs using note blocks, or, as one one legendary player did, creating an entire functioning calculator within Minecraft using redstone.

This unfettered ability to create and do anything is what makes Minecraft so expansive and wide-ranging. The game has the perfect mix of intuitive gameplay and far-reaching mechanics, making it a game for anyone to enjoy.

Inclusive Not Exclusive

It feels like gaming has turned into a world of provocateurs with every developer and publisher wanting to out do each other. More violence, more nudity, more sex and drugs, most AAA games nowadays are packed full of adult themes to entice players and to get games journalists talking.

Every publisher wants to pander to some established demographic. They want to create their audience and then sell to them. They want their games to be exclusive. Only on PS4, or Nintendo, or PC. Or whatever PR marketing has been dreamed up in an office somewhere.

Minecraft stands in direct contrast to all of that. Minecraft is inclusive. Doesn’t matter your age, your gender or cultural upbringing. Minecraft is for you. If you’re still young in the heart and still have an imagination, Minecraft is for you.

It doesn’t need sex, violence or adult themes to get people interested and keep them playing. It’s not about being in some in-group. Minecraft can tear down barriers between generations or between genders. It’s educational and is used in schools to teach a whole variety of lessons and subject matter.

You don’t have to belong to some gaming community to get the most out of the game. Solo or with friends, Minecraft is fun no matter who you are.

In a world of gaming filled with exclusivity and in-group politics, Minecraft stands in contrast to it all.

Don't Forget to Sleep

People who aren’t familiar with Minecraft often refer to is as that “Lego game” based on its appearance, and to be honest, that isn't an unfair comparison. Lego offers us the most accurate analogy.

Most modern games are like a Lego set. You open it up and you must follow steps to complete the task. Go here, do this, collect this, and there you go, you’ve beaten the game. Much like a Lego set, you have a series of steps to complete, and when you do, you have a finished Lego build.

However, Minecraft is like that big bucket full of Lego that you pour out on the floor and play with for hours. You can build anything you want. No rules, no steps, no objectives. Your only goal is to use your imagination and to have fun.

Minecraft is exactly that. It’s the big bucket full of loose Legos with endless possibilities.

And much like Lego, Minecraft taps into something deeper than just playing a game. It speaks to our innate ability to imagine and create, and in this way, it is an extension of a core element of the human condition.

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This post was originally published by me on Scorum Sports Media

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