It seems like just yesterday that our kids discovered the strange and engrossing world of Minecraft, and a new generation of gamers was born. Minecraft has kept our kiddos entertained for many an hour, and while we aren't the biggest fans of letting our kids veg-out in front of screens for hours of the day, it's hard to argue against some of the great skills they've gained from playing Minecraft!
There aren't many kid-friendly games on the market that can hold a child's attention for that long, while also entertaining tweens, teens, and adults. So we're definitely big fans of the series over here! Which is why we're SUPER excited to announce the release of a brand-new Minecraft game, Minecraft Dungeons! The latest offering from developer Mojang is a bit of a departure from the original style and gaming mode of the earlier franchise games, but in changing it up a bit, they've turned Minecraft into an entirely new (and incredibly engaging and fun) experience that the whole family will enjoy.
Here's what you need to know about Minecraft Dungeons.
Minecraft Dungeons is in a completely different genre of game as the original.
The original Minecraft game is what's known as a sandbox game. Sandbox games are pretty much all about the gamer's creativity, and offer somewhat limitless possibilities for play. In Minecraft creative mode, players can explore, mine for materials, craft tools, and build structures or even entire engineered landscapes. If you stay in creative mode, you have access to unlimited resources and can continue to mine and craft till your heart's content. Players can also go into game mode, which incorporates much the same skills from creative mode, but also pits you against computer-controlled mobs.
But Minecraft Dungeons is different. This new game is a role-playing game, or RPG. In an RPG, the player controls a character that is on a quest in a fictional world, with an end-goal. Minecraft Dungeons has stripped away some of the most iconic Minecraft-esque elements of the game, and replaces it with some of the fast-paced adventure elements of other popular RPGs.
Minecraft Dungeons is perfect for family-friendly co-op gaming.
A lot of RPGs on the market right now aren't really appropriate for young gamers. Many of them have elements of realistic violence, or are a bit more advanced and are harder for younger kids to play. But Minecraft Dungeons changes all of that! The game can be played by up to four players on one screen, so no split-screens and no online play required (although you can still play against friends and strangers online). You're not playing against your co-players, but working in tandem. Which means it's the perfect set-up for parents and kids, or skilled and novice players. You and your kids can play together, and you can guide them through parts of the game that may be a struggle for younger players.
The game is easy for younger gamers to play.
Even experienced gamers can have a hard time with some games and some platforms. When you've got a younger kiddo who loves video games, finding one that they can play and understand can be tricky! That's what made the original Minecraft so great - the basic premise and functions of the game were simple, and the controls were manageable by even young gamers. Thankfully, it sounds like Minecraft Dungeons is as easy to play and understand as other games in the franchise. The game is available on multiple platforms, but even if you're using, say, an Xbox controller, you can control the game and complete all functions with just four buttons. However, as simple as the game looks from the outside, there's still tons of engaging content to satisfy even experienced gamers.
Minecraft Dungeons is a game you can grow into and enjoy for years to come.
As a parent of gamers, it's incredibly annoying when you buy a new game only to find that it's above your child's pay grade. Or, you get a new game and your kids have it beat within a week. Minecraft Dungeons is the perfect game for younger gamers to be able to play now, but offers enough content that it will keep them entertained and engaged for many gaming sessions to come. As they get older and more skilled at the game, they'll discover new ways to use their loot, or notice new areas that can be explored. As with other games in the franchise, we can also expect updates, expansion packs and marketplace content to be released, which can add even more layers to the game. The best part is, these updates are often free, so you don't have to shell out more than you paid for the game originally in order to keep it fresh and exciting.
Minecraft Dungeons is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows for just $19.99 for the base game, or $29.99 for Hero Edition.