Minecraft online: what is free and what is not
The official free way to play Minecraft online is Minecraft Classic, which Mojang put up at classic.minecraft.net in 2019 for the game's 10th anniversary. It is the 2009 version: build with a small set of blocks and share a link so friends can join. The full Minecraft is a paid game on PC, consoles and mobile.
Minecraft Classic, the free version
Classic is a recreation of Minecraft as it was in 2009. You get 32 blocks, a flat world and creative building only. There are no mobs, no crafting, no hunger and no survival. Mojang even kept some of the old bugs on purpose.
Multiplayer works through a link: start a world, copy the invite and up to nine friends can build with you. It is a nice way to see where the biggest game ever started, but it gets old fast if you want the full game.
What the full game adds
- Survival mode. Punch trees, craft tools, build a shelter before night and fight the mobs that come out in the dark.
- Hundreds of blocks and items. Redstone circuits, farms, enchanting, potions and a huge crafting tree.
- The Nether and the End. Two extra dimensions, with the Ender Dragon waiting at the end of the second.
- Servers and Realms. Join public servers or rent a private Realm to play online with friends.
- Two editions. Java Edition on PC, and Bedrock Edition on consoles, mobile and Windows with cross-play.
Watch out for fake Minecraft sites
Many sites promise free Minecraft online and serve copies, ads or worse. The only free official version is the Classic one at classic.minecraft.net. The full game comes from minecraft.net and the official stores for your device.
Minecraft by Mojang Studios is the best-selling video game of all time, which is why so many sites copy its name.
Voxel survival on Roam
BLOCKSURVIVE and Hold Till Dawn both start the classic way: punch a tree, craft a tool, last the night. Don't Go Down is a voxel dungeon crawler where the floor drops when you open the chest. WAYFARE: Wildlands is a blocky fantasy RPG with quests and goblins. BOOMDIG is a dig-down arcade game: hold to dig, tap for TNT. None of them are Minecraft. They are block games you can play or remake on Roam.
Play it on Roam
BLOCKSURVIVEAn empty hotbar, a lake and a tree to punch.
Hold Till DawnPunch a tree. Build a wall. Wait for the sun.
Don't Go DownOpen the chest. Then ignore the title.
WAYFARE: WildlandsSword in hand. Bow on your back. Goblins ahead.
BOOMDIGHold to dig, tap to blast, and see how many floors you can clear.
More on Roam
Make your own block world with Roam
Roam is a free iPhone app where you describe a game and it comes back playable. Ask for more mobs, a new biome or a friend in the world. Roam is rated 13+ on the App Store.
Try: "voxel survival on a floating island, chop trees, build a hut before night, my dog is the boss mob, friends can join"Roam ("Roam - Make Games" on the App Store) is an iPhone app where you play games and make your own by describing them or from a photo. It is free to download and play, and making games works without a subscription; optional Spark and Reality plans and credit packs add more creation. Android: pre-register on Google Play.
Questions people ask
Can you play Minecraft online for free?
Yes, Minecraft Classic at classic.minecraft.net is free and official. It is the 2009 creative version, not the full game.
Does Minecraft Classic have survival mode?
No. Classic is creative building only, with 32 blocks and no mobs.
How many friends can join Minecraft Classic?
You can share a link and play with up to nine friends.