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This is simply because the controls are much easier to manage for younger kids. Our recommendation for those starting out is to buy the app for a tablet or console.
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And, as we found out at our last Minecraft party, the Windows 10 app doesn’t work when connecting to our servers. The Windows 10 app (non-Java version) is not quite as robust as the Java version. This is the version that allows your kids to create modifications using the Java programming language. You definitely want the Java version of Minecraft for Windows. Windows (especially Windows 10) is the trickiest. You’ll notice that they cost $26.95 and have a code that you can easily redeem on the site after creating your account. Or, you can elect to buy one of the Minecraft gift cards at Wal-Mart, Target, etc. Since Mojang (the developer of Minecraft) is located in Sweden, you might have issues with credit card purchases online. The download and install is fairly simple. The current price on this version is $26.95. You will have to create an account with Mojang to manage your download. If you have a Mac, you can go to and download/buy by clicking the Download button. It does have limitations versus the other versions of Minecraft but is a great place to start for most kids. This version is technically called Minecraft PE (Pocket Edition). There aren’t any straightforward ways of playing Minecraft on a Chromebook.įor Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire devices buy the app from the Play Store, Apple Store, or Amazon Store.
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And, as your kids would probably say, “that’s not the right version”.įor Chromebooks you’re mostly out of luck. There are some other adventure-type versions of Minecraft for these platforms (Minecraft Story Mode), but they don’t allow the blank canvas of creativity found in traditional Minecraft. Some apps have free versions but Minecraft isn’t one of them.įor consoles (Playstation 3/4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Wii U) you can simply purchase Minecraft for that platform at the store. So Many Minecrafts!įirst off, you will have to pay for Minecraft - no matter which version or platform. And I’m going to try and do so without my son’s help. I’m going to try and simplify the best that I can the many versions and iterations of Minecraft. Our students typically understand these much better than their parents, and we’ll typically hear things like “you didn’t get me the right version” or “this isn’t the right Minecraft.” Turns out, there are many versions and platforms for Minecraft. When my son first started playing Minecraft, I was aware of only one method of doing so: a paid app on his Kindle Fire.
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