Minecraft: Story Mode is the first episode of a five-part adventure series based on the sandbox building and exploration game Minecraft. It is a cinematic adventure where the story is driven through the player's choices. Decisions are carried over and influence characters and events. The game uses the original title's block design and introduces a story for the game world as there was none for the original title.
The introduction explains that The Order of the Stone is a legend of four heroes who once defeated the Ender Dragon. The game then returns to the present where the character Jesse (either male or female) is the protagonist. His friends Olivia and Axel are introduced, along with Jesse's pet pig Reuben. Axel brings the news of the Endercon where there will be a building competition with a chance for the winner to meet Gabriel, one of the heroes of The Order of the Stone .
The gameplay involves different moments where the characters is offered different choices for actions or conversations. These are time limited and if none is chosen, the 'silence' option is selected automatically, which also counts as a decision. Choices are remembered by characters, with a notice for the player, and influence how they will react in the future. The tone is lighter and less mature, and many choices do not have the strong emotional impact other games by the developer are known for. There are many humorous moments and references to typical Minecraft elements.
The gameplay also includes cut-scene-like gameplay, free exploration, inventory management, quick time events, action sections where Jesse fights mobs in the woods and on a bridge using his sword, and puzzle-solving. Players can move between different areas, strike with the sword and have limited health. There are also sections where Jesse gets to create new items by arranging various items in a way according to a recipe.
This game entry only covers the platforms where the first episode of the game is available separately, unlike the PC version. Additional episodes could be purchased as a season pass or as additional single DLC items or in-app purchases for this first episode as the base entry, depending on the platform. For some platforms listed here the entire season can also be bought right away, as a single purchase.