Minecraft is one of the most sold video games in the history of the industry. Likewise, it’s equally popular on YouTube and other streaming platforms generating billions of views. It’s no wonder the franchise has taken off and become the biggest video game brand in the world. What’s even more spectacular is how it started as a one-man indie project in 2009.
There is no doubt that if you are reading this that you’ve either experienced Minecraft yourself or know someone who has. One of the best things about Minecraft is that it’s not only a video game that’s fun to play, but it’s also educational and stimulating. There are plenty of benefits to allowing kids to play the game.
Why Is Minecraft So Addictive?
One of the first things you may wonder is why it’s so addicting in the first place. One of the reasons has to do with what it brings to the table. It brings a lot of things that kids love including building things, gameplay elements, and videos. Along with this, it’s a complete sandbox game. This means any player can do whatever they want with no restrictions. There aren’t defined goals or expectations. It’s a game that encourages exploring and being creative. This means you can play Minecraft one day and have a completely different experience the next.
Are There Specific Disadvantages to Playing It?
There are always going to be concerned with anything that is classified as ‘addictive.’ After all, it could lead to withdrawal symptoms when the game is taken away. It could also lead to kids wanting to play games all day and becoming disinterested in being active and participating in other things. This could lead to “Internet gaming disorder” which is something that can further lead to more disorders and destructive behavior.
This type of disorder isn’t common and there are plenty of different things you can do to set up healthy boundaries to avoid it. The risk of addiction isn’t that great as long as you have these boundaries in place. Ideally, you want to keep video games to a set limit per day. Keeping it under an hour is a good rule of thumb. Also, you want to ensure kids spend time doing other things and eating a healthy diet. You can read more about how to make playing Minecraft and other video games healthier in our guide.
What Are the Benefits of Playing Minecraft?
It’s best not to be scared off by some of the disadvantages of playing Minecraft. There are plenty of benefits to consider. The immersion that Minecraft delivers can have numerous benefits for children. HJere is some of the best skills that can be further developed playing it.
1. Enhance Creativity
One of the best aspects of Minecraft is how it forces kids to use their creativity. The game itself is essentially a blank canvas for kids to create their world. Within it, kids can explore caves, complete their challenges, and build whatever their heart desires. The world is limitless in opportunity and creativity.
2. Problem Solving
Another benefit is the amount of problem-solving opportunities they will have. To begin building in the world, you need to solve various problems. The environment is meant to offer unique challenges. You’ll be tasked with finding resources, crafting materials, and even constructing buildings while battling opposing forces. There are so many problems that need to be solved while playing and seemingly doing mundane tasks.
3. Math
Building anything is going to require a lot of math. In Minecraft, you need to gather resources and figure out math equations to be able to succeed. You also need to work a lot with shapes which helps one learn more about geometry. There is also an element of computer engineering with Redstone.
4. Focus
One of the underrated skills you develop while playing Minecraft is better focus. It requires a lot of focus when you are playing Minecraft because you have things turning you in different directions and trying to steal your attention. It helps you focus on a single objective which can be difficult for children.
5. Planning
Planning is another skill you can develop while playing the game. It takes a lot of planning to be able to achieve objectives and build things. You start with nothing. Because of this, you have to plan how you are going to gather resources, craft tools, build, and more.
6. Teamwork
There is a lot of teamwork required when you are playing with others. Whether you are playing locally or online, you will need to work together to achieve a lot of goals.
7. Confidence
You will be dropped into the wilderness with limited resources and no guide. There are no instructions provided. This means you need to take the reigns and lead yourself. This can help one develop a lot of confidence in themselves.
Is It Good for Your Brain?
While there hasn’t been definitive research on it, there is a lot to like about Minecraft when it comes to cognitive development. There have been studies that show how video games improve kids’ processing speed, reaction timing, cognitive flexibility, memory, and more. Minecraft has a lot of elements that force kids to think outside the box and use their brains to solve problems making it an excellent choice for a video game for cognitive development.