Although many of today’s popular titles are free-to-play games, it might surprise you to find out that Minecraft — the best-selling game of all time — isn’t one of them. Its price varies depending on your platform of choice, but it’ll always cost you something to pick up and play the hit title. However, it is possible to gain access to a free trial of the game. It’s not available on every system — and there are a few limitations — but it’s a good idea to take advantage of the demo before buying Minecraft. There’s also a way to access an old version of Minecraft from 2009 for free, so long as you don’t mind being more than a decade behind the times.
Play the Minecraft demo on PC & Mac
Anyone looking to test out Minecraft on their home computer just need to follow these two easy steps:
- Create a new account.
- Download Minecraft from the official website.
That’s really all there is to it. You’ll have access to the full version of Minecraft, but it only lasts for “five in-game days.” A day in Minecraft runs for about 20 minutes, so you’ll have just over an hour and a half to decide if the game is for you. It’s also a good way to check if your older laptop can handle the procedurally generated worlds and sprawling landscapes of one of the best PC games and Mac games.
Play the Minecraft demo on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
While the demo for the console is more restrictive than PC/Mac, it still allows you to experience the world of Minecraft. Here is where you can access the demo for consoles:
- Xbox One owners can locate the demo on the Xbox Store after searching for ‘Minecraft. ‘
- PlayStation 4 owners can find it on the PlayStation Store after searching for ‘Minecraft. ‘
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to save your progress or go past the trial levels. The demo gives you a hands-on experience of what the game will be like, but you may want to check out gameplay videos on YouTube.
Play the Minecraft demo on iOS and Android
Unfortunately, Minecraft: Pocket Edition doesn’t have a demo version available. We enjoy playing Minecraft on Mobile just as much as on a console or PC, but with this method, you’ll need some time to get used to the controls.
Here are some alternative games for Android games and iPhone games that are similar to Minecraft.
Play Minecraft Classic for free
Fortunately, you can find the 2009 version of Minecraft Classic available for free on PC. This version lets you play in Creative mode with your friends but lacks some of the features of the current version.
This game launches and plays in your browser. We don’t recommend this version because of the archaic interface and old bugs, but it is a wonderful way for people to get accustomed to the franchise.
If you still want to give it a try, head to Mojang’s official website.
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