Minecraft

How Minecraft works

Minecraft is a paid-for online video game. Players can play on their own or with others through online multiplayer. The game is available on almost every gaming device, including Xbox, PlayStation, PC, iOS and Android.

Hwb provides a centrally-funded version of Minecraft for children and young people in maintained schools in Wales. This version is called Minecraft Education Edition. It has been tailored for educational use and offers tools and resources to enhance learning. This guide focuses on the main Minecraft game, not the education edition. 
Minecraft is focused on building and exploring in a block-based world.

Players can create structures like buildings, pixel art and even entire planets. There are various game modes.

The most popular of these are:

• survival mode, where players must collect resources and fight enemies to survive
• creative mode, where players can build whatever they want without restrictions 

Minecraft is extremely popular among young people due to the game encouraging creativity, problem-solving and socialising.

Minimum age requirements

Minecraft is rated PEGI 7, meaning it is suitable for those aged 7 and over. Parental controls will automatically be applied to any account belonging to a player under the age of 16. This is based on the date of birth input when setting up an account.

You should set up the account together, to ensure that your child enters the correct date of birth and receives the benefits of a child account. Minecraft does not have an age verification process.

Features

Achievements

Players can earn achievements by completing tasks in Minecraft. This is a way to guide new players into the game and give them challenges.

Adventure mode

A game mode that allows players to visit other players’ worlds, without being able to destroy any structures.

Biomes

The different regions of terrain in Minecraft worlds. There are 64 different environments, including desert, jungle and the ocean.

Blocks

The material used to build and create.

Chat

The in-game messaging system that allows players to communicate with each other or execute commands such as enabling cheats.

Commands

Commands are features that are activated by typing text into the chat. For example, ‘/tp’ allows users to teleport.

Creative mode

A game mode that allows players to build and create a world without having to collect resources or fight enemies. This is recommended for younger players.

Creeper

A non-playable character enemy that can damage the world and player by exploding.

Emotes

Moves that your character can perform. These can be used when socialising with other players.

Equipment

The items and tools used for collecting materials, building and hunting. These include pickaxes, shovels and swords.

Minecoins

In-game currency used to purchase content such as character costumes and worlds from the marketplace. Minecoins are purchased with real money.

Minecraft Marketplace

The Marketplace, called the Store on PlayStation, is where players can buy content created by Minecraft and official Minecraft partners.

Mobs

Short for ‘mobile entity’. These are AI non-playable characters that can attack or interact with the player character.

Realm

A subscription that lets players create and manage their own private servers. These servers are invite only. The number of invites allowed is based on a subscription tier.

Server

The Minecraft worlds players can play in. These can be created by Minecraft, players or by official Minecraft partners.

Survival mode

Players collect resources and build structures, while having to fight enemies and find food to survive.

Zombie

Enemy characters that attack the player at night.

Terms

Griefing

Term for intentionally harming other players in-game or destroying their builds for the sake of amusement. This is against the community guidelines of many servers.

Spelunking

When players explore caves to collect resources.

What Minecraft offers

Creative outlet

Minecraft gives young people the chance to create their own buildings and pixel art, with almost limitless building opportunities when playing in Creative mode. This nurtures creativity, in a similar way to making creations out of building blocks.

Teamwork and socialising

Minecraft features online multiplayer, allowing young people to play alongside their friends and interact with them even when not in the same place. Players can build structures together which can strengthen their friendship and build their teamwork skills.

Managing risks

Inappropriate content

Other players may create inappropriate content and send inappropriate messages in the chat function. Players are warned before playing that user-generated content may not be suitable for all ages.

Steps can be taken to reduce the risk of your child being exposed to inappropriate content.

Report content

Report any worlds that contain inappropriate content and break Minecraft’s community guidelines. This helps get harmful content removed.

Adjust parental controls

Use parental controls to enable filters in chat to block offensive words, limit the chat so that only friends can be messaged, or turn off chat completely.

Play on trusted servers

Only playing in private servers alone or with trusted friends will prevent your child from interacting with strangers, reducing the chances that they see inappropriate content.

Review mods

Mods your child downloads can include content that is not available in the base game. This content is unrated and could be unsuitable for young people. Review any mods that your child downloads to ensure it is appropriate for them.

Excessive screen time

Minecraft gives players almost unlimited freedom and the ability to build whatever they want. Unlike many games, there is no story or levels, and therefore no natural finishing point. Because of this, players could become addicted to the game and spend excessive amounts of time on their device.

These actions can help prevent your child from spending too much time playing the game.

Set screen time limits

In most device settings, you can set time limits that control how long your child can use a device or specific game for each day. Setting time limits on your child’s device can prevent them from spending too much time on Minecraft.

Agree on boundaries

Setting boundaries with your child about where and when they can play Minecraft can help keep their screen time balanced.

Talk with your child

Have a conversation about screen time with your child and encourage them to stay aware of how long they play the game and how it makes them feel.

Contact with other players

Minecraft has public servers, which allow players to interact with strangers from around the world.

This can bring risks such as:

• bullying
• sharing inappropriate content
• asking them to interact on other platforms

To keep your child safe from other players, consider the following actions.

Change parental settings

Using Minecraft’s parental settings, you can limit chat features so that your child can only message their friends or no one at all. This prevents contact with strangers.

Monitor friend list

Keeping an eye on your child’s friends list, ensuring that your child knows and trusts them all in real life, will reduce the likelihood of a stranger interacting with them.

Choose safe servers

Only playing on private servers or servers intended for children will reduce the risk of strangers contacting your child through the game. For younger children, you could allow them to play single player only.

Talk to your child

Having regular conversations with your child about their digital life will help you stay updated about who they interact with. This will allow you to take action if they are communicating with strangers.

Teach them to block and report

Showing your child how to use the blocking and reporting tools on Minecraft will empower them to prevent contact with anyone who is making them uncomfortable on the platform.

Overspending

Players can purchase the in-game currency ‘Minecoins’ using real money. Your child may feel they need to spend money on Minecoins to purchase new content and cosmetics to keep up with their friends or other players.

These steps can help keep your child’s spending under control.

Set purchasing controls

Using family settings, you can set up payment controls so that your child will need your permission before purchasing in-game items.

Talk about spending

Have a conversation with your child about spending. Help them realise the value of money by comparing money spent on Minecraft with items they could buy in real life for the same amount. Come to an agreement on how much they can spend each month on the game.

Settings to protect your child

If your child wants to play Minecraft, the following settings can make their experience on the game safer.

Set up Microsoft Family Safety

You will need your own Microsoft account to set up Microsoft Family Safety.

Minecraft has a range of safety settings, which are accessed through Microsoft Family Safety. To set controls on your child’s account, you must first link the Microsoft account they use for Minecraft to your own Microsoft account.

To do this:

• Download and open the Microsoft Family Safety app.
• Sign in with your Microsoft account.
• Select ‘Create a family group’.
• Invite your child using their Microsoft account.
• Accept the invite sent to their Microsoft account.
• You can now set controls including:
  • enabling or disabling multiplayer
  • who can communicate with your child
  • who can view your child’s account

Filter chat

By default, text filters are applied to accounts belonging to young people under the age of 16. However, if you want to filter bad language or stop strangers from messaging your child aged 16 or older, you can do this through Minecraft’s chat settings.

To filter chat:

• Open Minecraft and go to the main menu.
• Select ‘Settings’.
• Select ‘Chat Settings’ to:
  • turn off the chat
  • filter out bad language
  • allow messages from friends only

Review reporting and blocking tools

You can teach your child to report or block other players who are making them uncomfortable.

Report a player

• While playing, navigate to the player list on the right-hand side of the screen.
• Select the player you wish to report.
• On the player’s profile, select the ‘Report’ button.
• Follow the prompts provided. 

Block a player

• Go to the player list on the right-hand side of the screen or type the player’s name into the search facility on the main menu.
• On their profile, toggle ‘Block’ to ‘On’.

Useful links

• Internet Matters’ step-by-step parental controls guide