A 3D adventure game that requires players to gather supplies and items to help survive in a dangerous and expansive world. Minecraft is a bit like a computerized version of LEGOs with unlimited possibilities, allowing for infinite creativity and discovery. In "Survival Mode" players must escape dangers like creepers, zombies and starvation to gain experience and explore the vast world. In "Creative Mode" players have the opportunity to build with a supply of every type of block in the game. Of the two, I preferred "Creative Mode" and enjoyed building for hours, but "Survival Mode" was also fun and surprisingly challenging. I can see why it's easy for children to get lost in this game, and like that it promotes creativity, logic, and even survival skills (sort of).

Minecraft is a free game by Mojang AB. Children everywhere can thank a developer in Sweden for this goofy, cubed, free mmorpg. In this game children play a cubed character that sort of resembles a Lego man. The character can find animals like cows, chickens, horses and other animals and tame them. Players harvest wheat to feed to their animals and can train some of them, like horses to give rides. This game has a lot going on, and can be as complicated or as simple as the child's capabilities allow. Wolves, creepers, skeletons, endermen, dragons and spiders are all a threat in Minecraft. This might seem as though the game might be too scary for children if not for the fact that everything is so incredibly square. it is funny and fun to have square flowers and raindrops. Square spiders and dragons will still give chase but are not frightening in the same way that more realistic graphics might be. Players build communities with others within the game. Families who prefer that their children do not play with others online can still install it as a single player game. It is available in app form as well.

This game is great for the kinds of kids who like to put
things together and figure out how they work. There is no assigned task other than to tinker with what is there.

The only downside from this game is that it might be so fun that kids will likely pester parents for more screen time than allowed.