Minecraft’s a global juggernaut, hooking millions with its blocky, do-whatever-you-want sandbox since 2011. With over 141 million monthly players in 2023 (and likely more in 2025), it’s a cultural icon that keeps growing through constant updates, mods, and pure creative freedom. Whether you’re building epic castles, surviving zombie hordes, or messing around with friends, it’s got something for everyone. But its spinoffs? They haven’t had the same luck. Most ditch the core building and open-ended magic that make Minecraft special, often feeling like simpler side projects with short-lived support.
Below, Gurugamer will break down every Minecraft game and spinoff, their status in 2025, and whether they’re worth your time.
1. Minecraft (Main Game)
The classic blocky sandbox game from Mojang, dropped back in 2011. You wander a massive, randomly generated world, gather stuff, craft tools, and build whatever you want with no set goals. It’s got a few versions:
- Java Edition: The OG for PC players, great for mods and custom servers.
- Bedrock Edition: Works on consoles, phones, and PC, with cross-play and a marketplace for extras.
- Education Edition: Built for schools, with simpler features for teaching.
Status in 2025: Still going strong with regular updates. Mojang’s moved to smaller, frequent “feature drops” like Bundles of Bravery and The Garden Awakens from 2024 instead of big yearly patches. You can play it on pretty much anything—PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android. A proper PS5 version is in the works.
Is it Playable?
Totally playable, works fine on all platforms. Absolutely, jump in. Minecraft’s a beast with millions still playing. It’s endlessly creative, whether you’re surviving, building, or messing around online. Java’s the pick for modders and PC folks; Bedrock’s better for playing with friends across devices. Education Edition’s mainly for classrooms, so skip it unless you’re a teacher or student.
2. Minecraft: Story Mode
A story-based adventure game from Telltale Games and Mojang, released in 2015. It’s got two seasons (13 episodes total) where you follow Jesse and pals hunting for the Order of the Stone. Your choices shape the story, and it’s kid-friendly.
Status in 2025: Dead and gone. It got yanked from stores in 2018 after Telltale went under and licenses expired. No sign of it coming back.
Is it Playable?
There is no legal way to play Story Mode, however, you can still illegally acquire it to play. The game was mostly for younger fans or people wanting a story-heavy Minecraft thing, but it never came close to the main game’s appeal.
3. Minecraft Earth
A free mobile AR game from 2019, kinda like Pokémon GO. You collected resources (“tappables”) in the real world, built stuff using AR, and teamed up with others. Had some cool exclusive items and social building.
Status in 2025: Shut down and unplayable. It closed on June 30, 2021, because it didn’t catch on, had too many microtransactions, got little support, and the pandemic killed its location-based setup. If you spent money, you got a free Bedrock Edition as a sorry.
Is it Playable?
No way, servers are offline, and you can’t download it. Skip it since it’s dead. It was a neat idea, but the grindy gameplay and AR focus weren’t as fun as the main game. There are better AR games out there, like Angry Birds AR.
4. Minecraft Dungeons
A 2020 dungeon crawler with action vibes, focused on co-op play. You run through random levels, fight mobs, grab loot, and take down bosses. Supports up to four players with a short story set in the Minecraft world. There’s an arcade version, but it needs four players.
Status in 2025: No more updates since October 2023 after six DLCs and the arcade port. Still playable on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. No server shutdowns announced, but don’t expect new stuff.
Is it Playable?
Yep, works fine solo or with friends. Give it a shot if you like dungeon crawlers. It’s fun for quick co-op sessions, but it gets repetitive and doesn’t have the building stuff that makes Minecraft special. Compared to heavy hitters like Diablo or Hades, it’s a bit basic, so it’s best for casual players or Minecraft fans wanting something different.
5. Minecraft Legends
A real-time strategy game from April 2023, made with Blackbird Interactive. You lead Minecraft mobs to protect villages from piglin attacks, mixing action and strategy. Building’s simple (pre-made structures), with a 10-hour story and multiplayer.
Status in 2025: Done and dusted. Mojang stopped updates on January 10, 2024, less than a year after launch, since it got so-so reviews, felt repetitive, and didn’t grab a big audience. Still playable on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Is it Playable?
Yeah, you can still play it, including multiplayer. Try it if you’re into RTS or a big Minecraft fan. The strategy mechanics and multiplayer are decent, but it gets old fast and doesn’t have much content. If you like Pikmin or Age of Empires and want a Minecraft spin, it’s okay, but it’s nowhere near the main game’s depth.
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