Java Edition
The edition for personal computers. Many players think of it as the classic version of Minecraft. It suits people who play on a computer and want to meet up in worlds with others who own the same edition.
Editions
Editions and modes
There is only one Minecraft, but it comes in several editions, and each edition has different game modes. The edition decides which device you'll play on and who you can meet in a shared world. The mode decides whether you'll be fighting to survive or can build in peace without worrying about monsters.
First decide where and with whom you want to play. The edition follows from that answer, not the other way round.
How this section works: the editions are described using verified facts, and the modes in general terms. Menus and settings look slightly different from version to version, so check the official help pages for details.
The two main editions
Java and Bedrock, plus a short history of the mobile version and the studio.
Bedrock Edition
The edition for mobile devices, consoles and Windows. Its key feature is cross-platform play: friends on a phone, tablet, console and computer can all get together in the same world.
From Pocket Edition to Bedrock
The mobile version was in development from August 2011 and stayed in alpha for a long time, until its full release on 18 November 2016. The "Pocket Edition" subtitle was dropped in version 1.2.0.
Who is behind the game
Minecraft was created by the studio Mojang, known today as Mojang Studios. Microsoft bought Mojang in 2014. Official news, help and the add-on store belong to the rights holder, not to fan sites like ours.
Game modes
The three modes beginners ask about most often.
Survival
You start empty-handed, gather resources, keep an eye on your health and hunger, and build a shelter from the mobs that come out at night. This mode teaches you to plan and makes every small success feel great.
Creative
Every block is available from the start, there are hardly any threats, and your character can fly. A good choice for big architectural ideas and for younger children who aren't ready for monsters yet.
Adventure
A mode for maps made by other players or by Marketplace creators. You can only break and place blocks the way the map's author intended, and the world turns into a story with quests.
If you want something similar
Building sandboxes are a whole genre, and Minecraft is not alone in it.
Other block sandboxes
Some similar games focus on exploration, others on survival in a 2D world, and others on building together. When choosing a new sandbox, look at its age rating, how it lets players talk to strangers and whether it has in-game purchases.
What makes Minecraft stand out
Simple blocks, a huge world and the freedom to set your own goals. The game doesn't tell you what to do, so it suits both people who love building and people who love wandering through caves and mountains.
How to choose an edition
- Decide which device you'll mainly play on: a computer, phone, tablet or console.
- Find out what your friends or brothers and sisters play on, if you want to build together.
- If your group plays on different devices, take a look at the cross-platform Bedrock Edition.
- Buy and install the game only from your device's official store or the game's official website.
- Before buying for a child, check the age rating and the online communication settings.
Related reading
- Installing
Archived address: how to install Minecraft on a phone or tablet through the official store.
- Guides
Your first week in Survival, day by day: shelter, light, food, a mine, a farm. Plus our article catalogue.
- Updates
Where to read the official update notes and how the mobile edition changed over the years.
- Questions
Answers about installing and accounts, the game itself, safety and family rules.
What we rely on
- The official Minecraft website and Mojang Studios help pages
- Minecraft Wiki: Bedrock Edition version history
- PEGI and ESRB: video game age ratings
We describe the basics of the game in general terms. Menus, button names and the contents of updates change over time and differ between editions, so check the details against the official help pages and update notes.