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10 Benefits of Playing Minecraft

Some games can teach players skills they can use later in life or improve skills they already possess. Research has proven that playing certain games is good for the mind and even body, and Minecraft is one of those games. Here are 10 benefits of playing Minecraft.

  1. It encourages learning.
    To do well in the game, you need to be creative and learn new ways of creating structures. To create materials or tools, you have to understand how they’re constructed and what you need to build them. You can’t make a hammer without wood and metal, the basic components of a hammer.
  2. It rewards creativity.
    Even while learning the basics, the game rewards creativity. You can combine things on a crafting table, which allows the player to make ingenious creations. As players become more advanced in the game, they can build waterfalls, pressure plates, and more.
  3. It develops computer literacy.
    When you download Minecraft without any alterations, it is called the “vanilla” version. You can add modifications to the vanilla version and change the way the game can be played. To modify the game, you have to learn some basic computer coding, a skill that can be used later in life. By learning to modify the game, you learn a bit of the coding that goes into making a game.
  4. It increases intelligence.
    It’s no secret that playing games can increase intelligence. Minecraft is a great example of such a game. The game is comprised of boxes, so the player will inadvertently pick up on geometry skills while playing. Minecraft is especially useful for children who are just learning these skills. You can make magnificent creations once you’ve learned the different shapes and how they work together.
  5. It encourages teamwork.
    While it’s possible to play the game alone, it’s more fun when you have teams. By playing as a team, you can create massive structures that would otherwise take several hours to make. Examples of this teamwork include models of Hogwarts and New York City that were created by Minecraft teams in a relatively short timespan.
  6. It’s cheap.
    Many games on the market are around $60, which is quite expensive, especially when you factor in that the average game-play is somewhere around 15–20 hours. Not only is Minecraft cheap, but you can also get hundreds of hours of game-play with even the vanilla base of the game. The price doesn’t include the modifications, most of which are free. Minecraft on Xbox is around $30, while the computer version will cost $26.95.
  7. It increases perception.
    Players are highly involved with the world around them. Players need to mine rare resources that are necessary in order to build, so they begin to notice more in their peripheries. Gamers are more likely to have a wider visual field than those who do not play.
  8. It improves hand-eye coordination.
    Hand-eye coordination is crucial in Minecraft. In survival mode, players must survive the night to be able to build during the day. Survival requires them to take on monsters that attempt to kill their characters. Gamers are also required to make their way through obstacles and even use quick thinking to get out of sticky situations.
  9. It’s appropriate for all ages.
    There are monsters, but most of the monsters are creatures such as spiders or skeletons. Unlike most games, there is no blood or graphic content. There are also no advertisements that may be considered inappropriate. There is merely scenery. These characteristics make it appropriate for the youngest of children as well as enjoyable for adults.
  10. It teaches resource management.
    There is a finite amount of materials in the world. Yes, there is a creative mode where you have unlimited resources, but when you play in regular mode, you have to determine the use of certain resources. You may not have unlimited diamond materials, so do you want to make a hammer, ax, or armor? The player must decide the best way to use their resources before the resources run out.
Last Updated: February 03, 2016