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Minecrafthas been around for over a decade and still has a large fanbase. This diverse game attracts an equally diverse range of players and content creators alike. It’s become so popular that even those who have never played it can likely recognise the protagonists, Steve and Alex, hostile mobs like the Creeper, and the range of adorable animals that inhabit the game’s world.
Related:I Tried To Survive As A Vegan In Minecraft And Now I’m Safer Than Ever
But what if you’ve never taken the plunge into a Minecraft world? Is it really worth starting to play a game made in 2009? Does it not feel dated or irrelevant? Will you feel like you’ve been left behind and are forever playing catch up? We take a look at if Minecraft is worth it.
Updated on July 30, 2025:We’ve updated this article to include the GoodBuy video, so that you have everything you need to make the decision to dive back into Minecraft, whether it’s for the first time, or if it’s that inevitable once-a-year longing to start up a new survival world.
Review
Minecraft is older than this site, so we don’t have a review of it. However, we’ve had plenty to say over the last few years aboutthe game’s longevity and appeal.Back in 2019 Evergreen Editor Helen Ashcrofttook a look at the history of Minecraft and explored its popularity. All the reasons that applied then are still relevant today.
Minecraft is inexpensive and appropriate for almost everyone… It is also still updated, even after ten years, with all updates being free of charge.
During lockdown,Minecraft became a bonding experience for her family, and she still holds the belief that while you can play Minecraft casually, for many itbecomes a hardcore gaming experienceas they keep finding new things to do. Cross-Department Editor Issy van der Velde spoke of howMinecraft helped him overcome a fear of change, while Photo Editor James Troughtoncredits the community with helping him come to terms with his bisexuality.It’s also used for educational purposes, as theMinecraft and Frozen Planet 2 collaborationshowed.
Time Expenditure
The time expenditure for Minecraft can’t really be measured. It’s an open-ended sandbox title, so while you will roll some credits if you defeat the Ender Dragon, the game is far from over. You can continue to explore the procedurally generated world, defeat any hostile mobs, and collect items to build anything you can imagine. If you just want to build you can jump into creative mode and cut out the exploration and mining.
Aside from the main game, there are also ahuge number of mods available. Some of them justtweak the main game, while othersliterally add new dimensions. You can findmods that improve gameplay, and even mods thatturn it into an RPG. With so many options there are people who have been playing for a decade and are still finding things to do.
Cost
Thecost of Minecraft varies, depending on the platform. Physical copies are often available from a wide range of outlets at varying prices, so do check around.
Below are all the platforms you can purchase it on and theretail cost listed on the Minecraft site.
$29.99
Windows 10 and 11
$7.49
iOS
$6.99
$19.99
PlayStation 4 / PSVR
Oculus
Free update on Windows
You canplay Minecraft Bedrock edition with up to eight players using crossplayacross any supported device. If you purchase Minecraft for PC you will getboth the Java and Bedrock editions, which have some differences. All versions will recieve free updates.
Minecraft Marketplace
TheMinecraft Marketplace offers you a place to purchase fan-created items. These range from skin and texture packs, which change the appearance of your characters and worlds toentire hand-crafted worlds to explore. Many of the worlds include puzzles to solve, and adventures to undertake. Prices vary.
Minecraft Realms
Minecraft Realms is a subscription service that costs $3.99 a monthfor a multiplayer server for up to ten people, not including you, which you can control. You’ll have access to three World Slots and the server will be accessible 24/7 from all devices running Bedrock Edition.
A Realms Plus Subscription is $7.99 a monthand also includes free access to a range oftexture packs, aselection of skins, and a host ofworlds to explore.
What Players Are Saying
The Best Game Ever - Jacqueline Zalace
This game is 100 percent worth it. There is an endless amount of content, and if that isn’t enough, there are so many mods out there that enhance your Minecraft experience. It’s so easy to get sucked into Minecraft, playing for hours at a time. Whether you like exploring or building grand bases, there is truly something for everyone. With free content updates, it will leave you coming back for more all the time.
Always Worth It - Amanda Hurych
The replay value alone makes Minecraft a treasure trove of a game. you may play it how you want, when you want, and you’ll always have a good time. I can’t think of a better pick-only-one-game-to-have-on-your-desert-island type of game than Minecraft.
Worth Every Penny - Alpay Dedezade
Since Minecraft’s humble beginnings, it has offered sprawling procedurally generated voxel-based sandboxes for you to do pretty much anything you want. Its lego-like base-building mechanics allow for endless creativity, where your only limit is your imagination. After years of ongoing support and a steady stream of updates, Minecraft is more than worth the price of admission and will most likely go down in history as one of the greatest video games of all time.
