Overview
Punch trees. Build worlds. Markus “Notch” Persson’s Minecraft started as a cave game prototype and became the best-selling game in history. Infinite procedural worlds, block-by-block construction, and survival mechanics created endless possibility space. Microsoft’s $2.5 billion acquisition validated indie development’s commercial potential. The game became platform, education tool, and cultural phenomenon beyond gaming itself.
Fast facts
- Creator: Markus Persson.
- Year: 2011 (1.0 release).
- Sales: 300+ million copies.
- Acquisition: Microsoft ($2.5B, 2014).
Core loop
| Phase | Activity |
|---|
| Day | Gather resources |
| Craft | Create tools, items |
| Build | Construction |
| Night | Survive monsters |
Game modes
| Mode | Focus |
|---|
| Survival | Resource gathering, danger |
| Creative | Unlimited building |
| Adventure | Custom maps |
| Hardcore | Permadeath |
Procedural generation
| Element | Generation |
|---|
| Terrain | Infinite world |
| Biomes | Climate zones |
| Caves | Underground systems |
| Structures | Villages, temples |
Crafting system
| Recipe type | Examples |
|---|
| Tools | Pickaxe, sword, shovel |
| Armour | Helmet, chestplate |
| Mechanisms | Redstone circuits |
| Decorative | Furniture, blocks |
Cultural impact
| Influence | Scale |
|---|
| Education | Classroom integration |
| YouTube | Content ecosystem |
| Merchandise | Multi-billion dollar |
| Genre spawning | Survival crafting boom |
See also