Minecraft released on PC in 2011 and brought with it a sandbox experience players could customize and share with friends, creating complex and exciting worlds. Minecraft's versatility made it a great base to expand on with the use of community-made modpacks, giving fans of the open-world exploration game hundreds of different options for gameplay. Because of its success and popularity, Minecraft has also been officially translated into many different formats, including a handful of spin-off games.
Since its initial release, Minecraft has been modified and ported to platforms ranging from PlayStation and Xbox to the Nintendo 3DS and mobile devices. Many versions have been changed slightly to accommodate the requirements of their platforms, but the core game has stayed the same: an open-world adventure of survival and exploration. While Minecraft has many exciting qualities, a playable Minecraft storyline was never added to the base game, leaving the world's plot up to fan interpretation.
However, thanks to spin-off games created by Mojang Studios and other developers, players can now enjoy games based in the Minecraft world but with distinct characters and original plots. Minecraft's spin-offs also include new ways to experience core tenets of the franchise with friends and solo. While some fans might be happy exploring the overworld in search of Minecraft's rare ores or battling their way through hordes of zombies after dark, going on a story-based adventure to save the world from a Wither can be a nice change of pace.
Minecraft Spin-Off Games - Minecraft: Story Mode
Narrative adventure game Minecraft: Story Mode was released in 2015 by developer Telltale Games. It follows protagonist Jesse as he and his friends take on different monsters of the Minecraft universe. While it doesn't provide the open-world freedom of the original game, it's traded for a rich story with interesting and intriguing characters, as well as many Minecraft-related jokes fans will appreciate. Minecraft: Story Mode was released in two separate seasons. Season 1 ran from 2015 to 2016, introducing 8 episodes, and Season 2 released over 2017, adding 5 more episodes to the story. Unfortunately, Telltale's closure left much of Minecraft: Story Mode unavailable, though some episodes are still playable via physical copies.
Minecraft Spin-Off Games - Minecraft: Earth
Minecraft: Earth released in 2019 for mobile devices. The purpose of the game was to bring Minecraft into the real world via augmented reality, much like Pokémon GO did for the Pokémon franchise. Players could use their mobile device to create an AR "Build Plate," which would allow them to create, build and explore a Minecraft space in a tangible setting. However, Minecraft: Earth released just months before the COVID-19 pandemic began. According to Mojang Studios, the game will no longer be supported after June 30, 2021. While it is unclear whether Minecraft: Earth would have been successful in a pandemic-free world, the loss of the game so soon after its release may be a disappointment to fans who wanted to try it with friends at a safer time.
Minecraft Spin-Off Games - Minecraft Dungeons
Minecraft Dungeons is the most recent spin-off for the Minecraft series, releasing in May 2020. Like Story Mode, Minecraft Dungeons has a linear storyline that players must follow, eliminating the open-world setting Minecraft is known for. Minecraft Dungeons replaces open-world exploration with a hack-and-slash combat system, as players work to eliminate the antagonist Arch-Illager, who has been corrupted by the Orb of Dominance. Players go from village to village, fighting enemies and liberating those who suffer under the Arch-Illager's reign. The story lacks some of the depth of Minecraft: Story Mode, but the gameplay is satisfying and fun for fans who enjoy seeing Minecraft concepts flipped on their head. Minecraft Dungeons has three DLC packs currently available, including The Jungle Awakens, Creeping Winter, and Howling Peaks. Each DLC adds more content and story for players to enjoy.
Source: Mojang Studios