Minecraft: The "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" of Video Games

During the past decade, the gaming industry has evolved at an alarming rate. Astonishingly realistic games with intricate storylines are becoming commonplace and virtual reality grasps hold of the industry. So… why is this pixelated #game, free from any storyline, the second most popular game of all time (behind Tetris)? Is it the hours of gameplay that feels like mere minutes, mesmerizing you into endless adventure? Or maybe it is the breathtaking creations millions of users create and share with fellow gamers. . In this article we will examine how this forward-thinking, monumental work of #art can teach us some valuable life lessons.

---

Freedom

Minecraft embodies pure autonomy in the digital form. Upon starting a game, you are dropped off in a foreign landscape, randomly rendered. There are no missions, your journey is in your own hands. Unlike bestsellers like GTA or Call of Duty, there are not any impenetrable doors, infinite oceans or conveniently placed obstructions on the map. In this infinite world, if you see it, you can explore it, and you can alter it with the right resources.

This is very valuable in our world today. In school, children are trained how to think. Social media governs society’s moral compass and deems what is right and wrong. However, in #Minecraft, users can spend their time creating a self-sustaining metropolis or pillaging villagers’ residences and underground caves. As unimportant as it appears, allowing the youth to live as they please and deem for themselves what works best is essential for yielding independently thinking influencers in society.

Unaccomodating to Users

With this freedom comes an almost complete disregard of the user. I can not tell you how many times I have found diamonds after hours of searching only to “drown in lava” or be exploded by a creeper, losing it all. “Retry mission” is not an option to undo your mistake. What is done is done. As a #millenial, I am bombarded with the notion of my generation being babied and “expecting a participation trophy”. With this game, one may realize that he/she has to work for one's goals despite the obstacles faced, no matter how unfair they are. (Reading back, I realize how much of a whiny millenial I sound in the last few sentences 😂)

Think Outside the Box

Finally, we are taught to think outside the box. I will admit, I am not always the most creative problem solver. The fact that I am afraid to make mistakes stifles the likelihood that I will take risks to solve complex issues. However, Minecraft acts as a sandbox for exercising divergent thinking. Without a concise playbook on how to thrive in the #world, one must rely on trial and error to circumvent tribulations.

This idea transcends mere theoretical virtues. According to a poll surveying managers of recent college graduates (source), 60% of supervisors feel as though those entering the workplace lack “critical thinking and problem solving skills”, the highest of all soft skills. Clearly, the education system lacks in building this essential skill. Exercising this muscle, through games like Minecraft, can increase competitive advantage in an enjoyable way.

---

Minecraft is not the holy grail, but it may be the “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” of the gaming world. It can increase one’s competence in navigating #society without giving much thought. Perhaps the brilliance of integrating these values into an addictive game had a big influence in establishing Notch's (Minecraft Creator) net worth of 1.4 Billion #USD.