5 things parents should know before purchasing Minecraft for their kids

Minecraft, as the single best-selling game of all time, has caught many eyes over the years. And it's become a mainstay of online culture, with many of Minecraft's biggest YouTubers amassing millions of subscribers. This means a lot of people see the game for the first time and want to get it for themselves.

Detailed below are five things parents should know before picking up this sandbox experience for their children.

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5 things parents should know about Minecraft

1) There are two versions of Minecraft

This is probably the most confusing part of the game. There are actually two different versions. The original version of the game, and the one most commonly seen on YouTube, is Java Edition. Java is known for its modding potential, though it can require a stronger machine to run. Java Edition is also exclusive to PCs.

The second version is Bedrock, which supports multiple platforms such as Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, mobile devices, and PC. This version of the game is Microsoft's remake. It features simple-to-connect multiplayer, an easy-to-use marketplace for community content, and is generally better optimized than Java.

Both versions have their advantages: Java is perfect for messing with files and even tinkering with code, while Bedrock is perfect for plug-and-play and easy multiplayer with friends. There's also just a lot of tiny differences between the two since they're maintained by different teams.

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2) Violence is an important part of the game

The worst violence in Minecraft ever looks is a flash of red (Image via Mojang)

Violence isn't technically required to play the game. Creative mode is a combat-free building mode intended to allow players to create whatever they can come up with without worrying about surviving. However, survival is inarguably the main focus of the game, and combat is required there. Killing Minecraft's ender dragon is imperative to see the credits.

That being said, the violence depicted in the game isn't anywhere near real life. There's no blood, though mobs will make a noise when hurt, which could be distressing.

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3) Online Gameplay

One of the best features of the game is how it's able to connect people and forge lifelong memories through its multiplayer. Both versions mentioned earlier have multiplayer, but Bedrock is cross-platform. This means anyone playing on Bedrock, be it on a phone, Switch, PC, or Xbox, can all play together in one world.

However, as with all online games, be sure to stay vigilant. All of Minecraft's best servers have dedicated moderation teams to keep things safe, and they do a great job, but there's never a way to know for sure what might happen.

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4) Console versions only allow featured servers

These featured servers are the safest way to play multiplayer (Image via Mojang)

For parents who want the safest multiplayer experience available, the console versions of Bedrock Edition are the ones to look at. Since Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo do not allow for direct IP connections, their consoles only have access to Minecraft's five featured servers. This makes the console versions safer, as it's harder for creeps and scam artists to reach out in un-modderated environments.

Featured servers are officially partnered with Mojang to provide safe, family-friendly experiences for players of all ages, and they do an incredible job at that. There are five of these featured servers, but Mojang plans to add more in the future.

However, it does mean that kids on console versions of Bedrock can't play custom PC Bedrock servers, which might be something to keep in mind, depending on the household.

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5) Be careful downloading content

CurseForge is a great place to get mods for Java Edition safely (Image via CurseForge)

Community-created content is a huge part of the game's identity, with many of Minecraft's best mods having years of development behind them. Over time, the community has developed several trustworthy ways to distribute mods, but using caution when downloading things online is always recommended.

If your child wants to experiment with any of these Minecraft modpacks, make sure to do some research on the sources first to avoid downloading viruses. YouTube is another great resource for installing mods safely, as there are plenty of up-to-date tutorials for modding the game.