The first time I played Minecraft, I quit within a day.
No tutorial. No objective. Just a blocky landscape and some vague notion that I was supposed to punch trees. I didn’t get it. It was just too… open-ended. So I put it down.
It wasn’t until years later, when my kids started playing and begged me to join them, that I gave it another shot. This time, something clicked.
Turns out, Minecraft isn’t a game you “beat.” I mean, sure, people say that defeating the Ender Dragon is “beating the game,” but even that’s not something you really have to do. It wasn’t until I started thinking of Minecraft as more like digital Legos that I began to actually appreciate it for what it is.
Open-ended. Endlessly customizable. Many ways to play.
If you’ve ever asked, “But what do you actually do in Minecraft?” know that you’re not alone. This article is for parents (and curious newcomers) trying to understand what makes this game tick and how to make sense of it as a shared activity.
Welcome to the Sandbox
Minecraft is what’s known as a sandbox game. You’re given a world to explore, but you have no fixed path or required objectives. There’s no big mission to save the princess or stop the end of the world (unless you choose to pursue that). Instead, you’re dropped into a landscape filled with trees, animals, caves, and villages… then left alone to figure out what you want to do.
It’s like a kid playing in a sandbox. The materials for a sand castle are all there, you just have to build it yourself.
For some players, that kind of freedom is exhilarating. For others (especially those of us engineering types who are used to more structured games), it’s paralyzing.
But here’s the secret: Minecraft wants you to get lost. The game is built to reward curiosity, exploration, and experimentation. And it’s okay if you don’t know where to start. That’s part of the fun.
If you’ll let it be, that is.
Different Ways to Play
There isn’t one “correct” way to play Minecraft. In fact, that’s what makes it so appealing, especially for families.
Some players are builders, constructing elaborate castles, treehouses, or entire cities. Others are explorers, setting off on long treks through forests and mountains. Some dive into redstone engineering (Minecraft’s version of circuitry and automation), while others become farmers, decorators, adventurers, or role-players.
Creative Mode removes all survival elements and gives you access to an infinite catalog of building materials. This is great for stress-free play and collaborative family projects.
Survival Mode adds resource gathering, health, hunger, and danger: perfect for kids who want a little more challenge or excitement.
Let your family experiment. Try different styles. It’s perfectly normal if one person enjoys mining underground while another just wants to plant a garden, breed a hundred cats, and decorate their house.
Learning by Watching
One of the best ways to understand Minecraft is to watch other people play it.
Whether it’s a Let’s Play video, a creative build showcase, or a redstone tutorial, Minecraft content creators have demonstrated the game’s possibilities to millions of players. That’s how I really started to get it: by seeing what others imagined and created.
Don’t be afraid to sit down with your kid and watch a few videos together. Ask questions. Let them explain things. You’ll be amazed at how much they know and how much they want to share.
A Game Worth Exploring Together
At its heart, Minecraft is a shared canvas. You don’t have to be an expert. You don’t even have to know what you’re doing. You just have to play.
The game rewards patience, creativity, and a willingness to try. And when you play it together as a family, it becomes something even more powerful: a space for collaboration, laughter, problem-solving, and yes… even the occasional (inevitable?) creeper explosion.
So, if you’re still wondering what you’re supposed to do in Minecraft… start by logging in. The first steps are pretty universal. Punch a tree. Build a crafting table. Make a pickaxe. Go from there.
Ask your kid what they’re working on. You don’t need to have a plan. You don’t even need to know what you’re doing. Just open the game, place a block, and be part of the world your kids already love.
Everything else will come with time.