An open world to explore freely. The extraction of raw materials to create your own buildings or entire worlds - these are the factors that made Minecraft a world hit in 2009. After all, the legendary Block Adventure is the second best-selling video game of all time. In May 2020, the pixel adventure took off to new shores in Minecraft Dungeons. But what is it, anyway?
Since its launch in 2009, Minecraft has become an absolute mega-hit and is now firmly anchored in pop culture. Even those who have never been involved with video games have heard the name before. Minecraft Dungeons got released in May 2020. We'll find out what's behind the new game and whether developer Mojang can repeat the success of the original.
Minecraft Dungeons in Brief
- Minecraft Dungeons is a spin-off of Minecraft
- The game is a dungeon crawler in the style of Diablo 3
- Besides a single player, there is a co-op mode for 4 players
- Crossplay will come later as a free update
- The gameplay is aimed at genre newcomers and younger players
- The game came on May 26 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch
Minecraft Dungeons: Minecraft meets Diablo
Minecraft Dungeons is a spin-off of the legendary open-world adventure Minecraft. This time though it's not about breaking down bricks and other materials in an open game world to create your own home. Crafting does not exist in the game. Those who had hoped to dig their own way through the dark dungeons might be disappointed.
Instead, the Swedish developer Mojang took the new game closer to Diablo 3 and respectively the dungeon crawler genre as a model. With peaceful construction work being a thing of the past, everything is about action-packed fights, dungeons, and intense boss fights. The only obvious difference is in the typical Minecraft block look which is much more family-friendly than the Blizzard realism.
- READ MORE: Diablo III vs. Path of Exile
Loot, Quests and Battles: The Gameplay of Minecraft Dungeons
Minecraft as a Dungeon Crawler? Can that even work? Minecraft Dungeons simplifies many of the elements that make Diablo 3 and others seem quite complex and is, therefore, more suited for beginners. The template has already proven that this could be the right approach to appeal to a wider audience. After all, it was already one of the best games of the 2010s. The main task is to rescue enslaved villagers from the clutches of villain Arch-Illager (nickname: Archie). To succeed, you explore the open game world, complete various missions, and fight your way through dungeons. Some missions are generated procedurally: While the objective of the same quest remains largely the same, paths, enemies, and loot change each time.
Typical classes do not exist in Minecraft Dungeons. At the beginning, you choose a character skin. All weapons and armor found in the game can be used. Melee, ranged or spell? Each character can master all the disciplines of combat, depending on the equipment they use. Dungeon crawlers are mainly defined by the loot and the developers know that too. That's why they use Minecraft Dungeons to ensure that exploration is rewarded: Be it through new equipment, hidden secret rooms with valuable items or jewels. Emeralds are the in-game currency in Minecraft Dungeons, which can be exchanged for new items at merchants in the hub world. Loot dropped by enemies is tied to a character and can only be picked up by that player, so no ninja looting is possible.
Alone or Co-Op: The Multiplayer of Minecraft Dungeons
While Minecraft Dungeons can be played alone anyone familiar with the genre knows that co-op is much more fun. Up to four players can go into battle together, either online or on a PC or console. Crossplay, the option to combine players from different platforms will be released at a later stage as a free update. In the beginning, players on PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, or Xbox One will only be playing among themselves. The game won't have matchmaking as Minecraft Dungeons is designed to be played together with friends.
Minecraft Dungeons: What Is it Now?
If you know Diablo or other action RPGs, you'll feel right at home in Minecraft Dungeons. Basically, the game feels like Diablo 3, only much smaller, simpler and packed in the classic Minecraft look with a good dose of humor.
Thus, the game is mainly aimed at families or a younger audience, which doesn't have to be a bad thing. A melee weapon, a piece of armor, a ranged weapon. That is all. There is no need to study hundreds of tooltips to find the best possible equipment. One look is enough to see if the new item is better than the one you currently have. Through three artifacts and new abilities with level-ups, customization will eventually come into play. We doubt that Minecraft Dungeons will surpass the original as it doesn't allow creative freedom.
Demands increase as the game progresses. Early on you'll be able to fight your way through a huge number of enemies by simply hammering the action buttons, but tactics become crucial in the later stages. So, does Minecraft Dungeons have what it takes to knock the great Diablo 3 off its genre throne? Probably not, as it doesn't aim to. It's a casual, fun co-op game where you can waste several hours at a time. Since it's not out yet, things might still change and later updates might rework some aspects. For now, though it's a family-friendly version of the dungeon crawler genre.
The game released on May 26, 2020, for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. You can choose between the standard version for €19.99 and a Hero Edition for €29.99, which comes with a Hero-Cape, two skins for players, a pet, and two DLC-packs. Members of the Xbox Game Pass can enjoy the game on PC and Xbox One at no additional cost.
More news and articles from the world of games and esports are available as always on EarlyGame. Check out the most ridiculous weapons in video games.
