Minecraft is an action-adventure game that brings back the classic concept of building and exploring in a block world. Players are free to explore, kill, craft, and build, either in creative mode with no dangers or limitations, or survival mode where enemies come out and can harm them and their creations.
The gameplay involves various activities such as exploration, combat, crafting, and building, all set in a procedurally generated world. The game features a tutorial island for learning the basics, helpful pop-ins with explanations, and split-screen support for two or four players. Online multiplayer capabilities allow for games with up to eight players, and custom game sharing options.