Minecraft is a kind of Lego for computers, games consoles or mobile devices in which players create their own world from virtual blocks with a great deal of creativity and skill.
Age rating: USK —ages 6 and up
The world in Minecraft consists of cubes and blocks that are all the same size. It is regenerated each time according to the sandbox game principle and therefore always looks different. The cubes can be made of various materials, such as wood or dirt. Depending on the game mode, they are used in different ways:
In Creative Mode , players combine blocks to build houses, models, or even working computers. They don’t need to collect materials—they have an unlimited supply at their disposal. This allows them to create their very own world, which they can shape creatively and constantly change. Since Minecraft fosters children’s spatial thinking and creativity,“Minecraft Education”—a version of the game developed specifically for schools—is now available. It allows students to interactively explore subject areas such as science, math, and the basics of AI. In computer science classes, too, Creative Mode is well-suited, for example, as an introduction to programming. So far, however, this content has been reserved exclusively for educational institutions.
In Survival Mode, players must use materials and tools to fight monsters and hide in their self-built hut at night. The main difference from Creative Mode is that players must gather the materials themselves and also manage a hunger bar and a health bar. Items that cannot be collected—such as chests, swords, doors, furnaces, etc.—must be crafted at a “crafting table.” The difficulty level can be adjusted between “peaceful,” “easy,” “normal,” and “hard” depending on the age group.
Despite its simple pixel graphics, Minecraft is very popular among children because it offers unlimited creative possibilities. Players can create their very own virtual world and love designing landscapes and buildings and gathering the resources needed to do so. When playing with others, competition and strategy are particularly put to the test, but building together can also be a lot of fun and requires good teamwork.
On online servers, Minecraft players from all over the world come together to experience various games and adventures together. Popular game modes include Bedwars, Oneblock, Skywars, Build Battle, Murder Mystery, and Parkour. Depending on the game mode, specific settings and rules apply to gameplay, which makes the experience varied and exciting for children and teens.
Minecraft brings a large community together and offers plenty of opportunities for “Let’s Play” videos on YouTube and live streams on Twitch. Children and teens watch their favorite streamers, learn tips and tricks along the way, interact with others, or post their own content online. This allows them to experience Minecraft even without playing it themselves.
Minecraft is rated by the USK for ages six and up. How well children fare depends, among other things, on the game mode they choose: While Creative and Adventure modes are easy to navigate, Survival and Hardcore modes are more focused on defense and survival. In these modes, players must overcome obstacles—such as encounters with monsters—which adds a certain level of suspense.
Since the game doesn’t set any limits of its own—such as through different levels—it encourages players to play endlessly and lose themselves completely in the virtual world. The controls can also be difficult for inexperienced players.
In addition, when making a purchase, you should be aware of the different game versions :
The Bedrock Edition includes the “Minecraft Marketplace.” Here, players can make in-app purchases, such as outfits, resource packs, new maps (pre-made game worlds), or mini-games. This content is very appealing to children and teens because it enhances the gaming experience. The store is heavily promoted within the game, so players are inevitably exposed to it. In addition, some of the items for sale are unsuitable for younger children, such as the “Scary Mods,” which make the game more frightening with dark environments and monsters.
The Java Edition does not include a built-in store. Add-ons can be downloaded for free from third-party websites. However, the installation process is technically quite complicated and should not be performed unsupervised. Since these extensions are not officially reviewed, there is not only a small risk of viruses but also the danger that children might encounter content that is not age-appropriate.
Since Minecraft has been owned by Microsoft since 2014, a Microsoft account is required to create a Minecraft account. If your child is under 16, this account must be linked to a parent’s account. You can set up parental controls for your child’s account through Microsoft Family. The website provides the privacy policy and terms of use in German. Data is processed and used to improve the product and may also be shared under certain circumstances.
The game is designed to foster creativity and problem-solving skills. In Sweden (the home country of Minecraft developer Markus Persson), it’s even part of the school curriculum. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind as a parent:
Younger children should be supervised while playing at first and should stick to Creative and Adventure modes or the easier difficulty levels in Survival mode. Older children may eventually be able to try Hardcore mode.
As always when it comes to media use, you should keep an eye on how much time your child spends playing the game. Make sure agreed-upon media usage times are followed, and discuss as a family which game modes your child is allowed to play. Ensure that the content is age-appropriate, and monitor what content your child is allowed to purchase and use, as not all offerings on the “Marketplace” are suitable for children.
Players can communicate with each other in Minecraft using the chat feature. In doing so, children are exposed to communication risks such as conflicts, cyberbullying, and cybergrooming. Talk to your child about treating others with respect in chat, and encourage them to block and report inappropriate messages. This will help your child protect themselves from harassment. Explain to your child that they should never share personal information, such as their name or address, in chat.
Using the parental control feature of a Microsoft account, you can restrict communication features to friends only or disable them entirely. Access to in-game purchases and online multiplayer modes can also be managed through this control feature. You can find step-by-step instructions for setting up parental controls for Minecraft on the medien-kindersicher.de website.
The game was tested for accessibility as part of the “Gaming Without Borders” project. According to the test results, Minecraft already does a lot right in terms of accessibility in the areas of comprehension, controls, and audio. The game is well-suited for children and teens with disabilities. However, some barriers were identified in the “Vision” category, which makes it more difficult for people with visual impairments to use. Mojang, as the developer studio, is also interested in this and is working to further improve accessibility.
