Minecraft has become one of the most popular sandbox games in the world, especially for kids ages 6-13. Its appeal is in the open-world format where kids are free to use their imagination to play and build without many rules. It’s also become an educational tool to teach coding and computer programming skills in a fun and engaging way.

Whether it’s playing or learning game development in Minecraft, a top priority is keeping your child safe. We always recommend monitoring your child’s gameplay. In our summer Minecraft camps, our aim is to ensure an age-appropriate experience for your child. We use a private server and whitelist for each course so teachers have full control of who joins. This way, kids can learn and explore without distraction and parents can feel secure too.

In this article, I’ll share how to set up and customize the parental controls in Minecraft and best tips to manage your child’s account and gameplay. 

The Importance of Parental Controls in Minecraft

Generally, Minecraft isn’t moderated, so it’s up to parents to ensure kids are safe when they’re playing. 

We know that kids aren’t always aware of the things that will be harmful to them. They communicate daily with friends through social media and games, so they may feel safe online. However, in an age of online scams, catfish, and predators, games like Minecraft can pose a threat to your child’s safety. 

Setting up the right Minecraft parental controls allows your child more freedom within safe boundaries. As with any online interactions, your child’s safety is the number one priority. Minecraft gives you options to help you manage interactions with other players, in-game purchases, screen time, and more. The goal is to limit exposure to harmful content while they’re playing and learning. 

Having the right parental controls will give you peace of mind and ensure a safe and secure experience for your child when they’re in Minecraft.

Safety Concerns for Kids in Minecraft

Minecraft’s ESRB is Everyone 10+ and, in single-player mode, Minecraft is generally kid-friendly, However, most kids will want to play with friends or online which presents certain risks. The top safety concerns revolve around multiplayer interactions, privacy, in-game purchases, and screen time.

These are some of the safety risks that parents should look out for: 

Player Communications

One of the primary concerns is interacting with other players, especially strangers. When playing in multiplayer mode or on public servers, kids may come in contact with people they don’t know. These players can communicate via in-game text and voice chat including private chats. 

Look out for: 

While most of these interactions are not problematic, you want to monitor for behaviors like cyberbullying and inappropriate content or language. In rare cases, there is the risk of online predators attempting to communicate with children in Minecraft.

How to address it: 

Use the parental control filters and monitor interactions. You can turn off in-game chat or turn on the profanity filter. The last 100 chat messages are stored in the chat logs for you to monitor. You can also use screen recording apps to periodically check player interactions and gameplay. Also, know what servers your child has joined and if they are playing with strangers. Report users if they are using hate speech, bullying, harassment, sexual solicitation, or other violations of the community standards so Minecraft officials can step in. 

Inappropriate Content 

Minecraft is generally kid-friendly, but the ecosystem of user-generated content poses some risks. The addition of mods, custom servers, and community-shared content can lead to unintended exposure to inappropriate content. 

Look out for: 

Custom skins, builds, or chat messages that contain inappropriate or explicit content like swearing, hate speech, sexually explicit language, violence etc. Mods or custom servers can also introduce adult or inappropriate content that bypasses the game’s usual safeguards. 

How to address it: 

Use the parental control filters, monitor chat, and disable access to mods or restrict downloads. If your child is customizing their game, review any mods or add-ons your child is downloading to ensure they are age-appropriate. Generally, encourage your child to play in private servers or whitelisted family-friendly servers you have approved.

Privacy

Anytime we’re online, it’s important to safeguard our personal data. However, kids are less cautious about what they share and may not understand the serious safety implications of sharing this information. Minecraft’s in-game chat features can allow kids to give away private information even if they don’t mean to. Malicious people and predators can take advantage of this to collect sensitive information.

Look out for: 

Messages that contain or reference personal details such as real names, school names, addresses, phone numbers, or other identifying information. Any direct messages with strangers and new friends and check for suspicious questions about personal or account information. Do not post identifying information like real-life photos or social media handles.

How to address it: 

Monitor chat with other players. Regularly check the chat logs or use a screen recording app to review conversations. Discuss ground rules with your child and teach them what constitutes personal information and how to keep it safe. Encourage them to play offline or with close friends and family to ensure safe interactions.

In-Game Purchases

Minecraft offers various in-game purchases such as skins, textures, and mods. There are also microtransactions that unlock features or character content. This could become a financial concern if children are not monitored or spend excessively. 

Look out for: 

More frequent purchases or excessive amounts of money spent, including unexpected charges on your payment option. Unintentional purchases as kids may be making purchases without realizing it. Exceeding spending limits your set and changes in behavior like secrecy or anxiety around showing you their account or character.

How to address it:

Parents can set spending limits or block in-game purchases as well as receive text and email notifications for purchases. Set up controls that require parental approval for any purchase, allowing you to review and approve items before they are purchased. Regularly check Minecoin purchases and balance in Marketplace to ensure that spending is intentional and appropriate. 

Excessive Screen Time

Minecraft, like many online games, can be highly engaging and creative. The open-world format means there’s no limit to what kids can build and no end to the game, so kids can spend hours exploring. While this is a fun way for kids to play and learn, it can have negative effects like excessive screen time, disrupting sleep schedules, homework, or other activities.

Look out for: 

Spending too much time in Minecraft and ignoring activities like school work and socializing in person. Staying up late at night to play and experiencing fatigue during the day. Losing track of time, spending hours in the game without realizing how much time has passed. Peer pressure from friends to keep up or complete tasks in real-time.

How to address it:

Set boundaries for game time. It’s often difficult for kids to stop playing and that’s how games are built. You should establish clear boundaries for playtime using the parental control features provided by the platform. Ensure that your child has a balanced schedule with time for other activities, such as outdoor play, homework, or family time.

Best Practices for Minecraft Safety

1. Have Open Conversations with Your Child

Before diving into setting up controls, it’s important to discuss with your child why these measures are necessary. Explain the potential dangers of online interactions and how you’re putting these controls in place to ensure their safety. Keeping the conversation open fosters trust and helps children understand the importance of online safety.

2. Monitor Minecraft Activity Regularly

While parental controls are important, they should not replace regular monitoring. Periodically check your child’s activity on Minecraft, including the servers they join, the content they watch, and their interactions with others. Monitoring can be done by reviewing platform logs or using screen recording apps to periodically check gameplay.

3. Update Minecraft and Mods Regularly

Keeping Minecraft and its mods up-to-date is crucial for security and parental control features. Each update often includes important bug fixes, security patches, or new safety features that protect your child’s gameplay experience.

4. Encourage Offline Play

When possible, encourage your child to play offline or in single-player mode. This eliminates the risks associated with multiplayer interactions while still providing an engaging experience. Minecraft’s single-player mode offers a great creative outlet without the potential hazards of online communication.

5. Set Boundaries for Game Time

Minecraft’s engaging nature can make it difficult for kids to stop playing. Establish clear boundaries for playtime using the parental control features provided by the platform. Ensure that your child has a balanced schedule with time for other activities, such as outdoor play, homework, or family time.

How to Set up Parental Controls in Minecraft

Setting up parental controls is an easy first step in keeping your child safe in Minecraft. In your Microsoft account, you can manage settings across Minecraft platforms. There are also platform-specific settings based on which platform or version of Minecraft your child is playing.

Customize Parental Control Settings

• Setup a Family Account
• Customize or turn off in-game chat
• Allow or Block Multiplayer Access
• Add, Mute, Block or Report Players
• Turn Off Parental Controls

Setup a Family Account

Create a family account to manage all of your children’s account in one pace. Child accounts are all accounts for those under the age of 16 for the US & EU. By using this, only parents can modify settings. Any adult in the family can manage the settings for all the children in the family, but children can only see (and not set) their own settings.

1. Sign in to Xbox Privacy & Online Safety Page using the parent’s Microsoft or Xbox live account.

2. Go to Microsoft Family in the menu.

3. Select Add a family member.

4. Select Member for the child’s role.

5. Create an account or enter the child’s existing email account.

6. Once signed in, your Family homepage will update with the child’s account.

Customize or Turn Off In-game Chat

Turn off in-game chat with the following settings:

Java Edition

1. Start the Minecraft server.

2. Select Options… in the start menu.

3. Select Chat Settings…

4. Click on Chat: Shown until it reads Chat: Hidden.

5. Restart Minecraft for the new settings to take effect in your game.

Bedrock Edition

1. Start the Minecraft server.

2. Open the game chat (Use the / shortcut).

3. Click on the gear next to the chat input for chat settings.

4. Toggle the button to Mute All chat and Mute Emote Chat.

How to Allow or Block Multiplayer Access 

1. Sign in to Xbox Privacy & Online Safety Page using the parent’s Microsoft or Xbox live account.

2. Select the child’s account

3. Select Xbox and Windows 10 devices Online Safety

4. Block multiplayer access with the following settings:

• Set Join multiplayer games to Block

• Set Create and join clubs to Block

5. Click Submit and wait for the page to reload.

6. Restart Minecraft for the new settings to take effect in your game.

Add, Mute, Block or Report Players

You can Add, Mute, Block or Report Players from the Pause Menu in-game.

Bedrock Edition

1. Start the Minecraft server.

2. Click esc to get the pause screen.

3. Click the player on the right-hand menu.

4. Click the three dots for settings.

5. Choose Block, Mute, or Report.

How To Turn Off Parental Controls On Minecraft

1. Sign in to Xbox Privacy & Online Safety Page using the parent’s Microsoft or Xbox live account.

2. Select the child’s account

3. Select Xbox and Windows 10 devices Online Safety

4. Update all options to Allow

Tips for Keeping Kids Safe in Minecraft

1. Setup Parental Controls

This is the first step to keeping your child’s Minecraft experience safe. These controls can help you easily manage what your child does in the game. Use parental control tools available to restrict chat features, set time limits, and manage what types of content can be accessed.

2. Setup a Private Server or Realm

Creating a private Minecraft server is one of the safest ways for kids to play multiplayer. A private server means you can control all of the settings and players in your world. A Realm is similar, these are personal multiplayer servers hosted by Minecraft that allow you to play with up to two additional players. Hosting a server or Realm gives parents more control and limits the potential risk for inappropriate or harmful content. 

3. Choose Family-friendly Servers with Whitelists

If you don’t want to set up your own server, you can find family-friendly servers like Famcraft and CrazyPig. These provide a wholesome and moderated experience. There are also servers that implement a whitelist, such as Blocklandia and Minesquish. This means they screen each user before allowing them to play and only approved players can join.

4. Monitor Activity Regularly

Monitoring your child’s Minecraft activity ensures they are following the rules you set and staying safe. You can see how they are interacting with other players and also spot any warning signs of inappropriate behaviors, cyberbullying, or excessive screen time. 

5. Have Open Conversations with Your Child

Before your child starts playing, teach your child about online safety and establishing the rules for using Minecraft. Create trust with your child through open conversations about their gameplay experience. You want them to be comfortable coming to you with any concerns. Regularly ask questions like: Are they playing with friends they know, or have they met new people online? Are they enjoying the game, or are they experiencing any issues like bullying?

Learn to Code in Minecraft Safely

Minecraft can be a fun and creative space for kids with the right precautions. Not only is it a great game, kids can use Minecraft to learn new skills, like coding. 

Our Minecraft summer camps provide a safe environment for kids to play and explore coding with a live instructor. We have private servers that allow only them and their classmates. Kids can freely play and learn. Each server is monitored by the student experience team. 

In the camp, students learn new technical concepts with Redstone, an element used for mechanical and electrical programming in Minecraft. They will learn how Redstone works and advance to build logic gates, similar to what electrical engineers create. They’ll practice their coding skills as well as problem-solving, logical thinking, and creativity. It’s an excellent way to take their interest in games to the next level.

If you want your child to play and learn Minecraft in a safe environment, enroll in our Minecraft summer camps.

The post Minecraft Parental Controls: What Every Parent Should Know appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

I have yet to meet a kid who doesn’t enjoy playing Minecraft. However, sometimes, as a parent, I do wish they’d spend some of their Minecraft time reading instead. Luckily for both kids and parents, there are tons of amazing Minecraft books for kids out there. These books will get your child reading while also scratching that Minecraft itch.

Prepare your child for success: If you are looking for your child to learn to code, explore our live, teacher-led coding classes. View Programs.

Some of the books in this list are engrossing narratives set in the world of Minecraft. Others are amazing resources for helping kids make the most of their time in-game. And there are even some coding books for kids if they’re interested in learning the basics of coding using Redstone or building mods.

No matter where your kids are on their Minecraft journey, there’s definitely a book on this list that will be great for them!

Minecraft Books for Kids

1. Minecraft – The Island
2. Minecraft Woodsword Chronicles
3. Minecraft for Beginners
4. Minecraft Epic Bases
5. Bite-Size Builds
6. Minecraft Maps
7. Minecraft: Blockopedia: Updated Edition
8. Minecraft Survival: Updated
9. The Minecraft Annual
10. Minecrafter Engineer: Must-Have Starter Farms
11. The Ultimate Player’s Guide to Minecraft
12. The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Circuit Power!
13. Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Minecraft Mods Programming

Minecraft – The Island

Ages: 8-11 years

The Island was the first of Minecraft’s official books and it remains one of my favorite Minecraft books. The main character appears on an island in a Minecraft world with no memory of his past life nor any knowledge of how to survive in this world. He has to discover the world from scratch, just as a new player would when they load up the game!

It’s a great read on its own, but if you’re looking for even more fun, you should check out the audiobook version. It’s read by none other than Jack Black. He really nails the narration and turns an already great book into something spectacular!

My kids listened to it several times, and I got sucked in every time.

The author already released a sequel for The Island called The Mountain, and a third book, The Village, will come out later this year.

Minecraft Woodsword Chronicles

Ages: 6-9 years

The Woodsword Chronicles begin in a similar way to The Island. Five friends are mysteriously transported into the Minecraft world, and must use what they know to survive and thrive! However, the Woodsword Chronicles are a bit easier to read, as they aim at a slightly younger age group.

The 6 Woodsword Chronicles books follow these friends from their first forays into the Minecraft world until their final showdown. Plenty to keep a young Minecrafter busy reading!

These are fun books and an amazing way of getting younger Minecraft fans into reading.

Minecraft for Beginners

Ages: 7-12

Some of the main themes of Minecraft are exploration, discovery, and creativity. At first, Minecraft’s complete lack of tutorials or a larger plot reflected these concepts. It made the game more difficult, in some ways, while allowing individual players the freedom to set their own goals. But it also led to a need for external resources for some players. These players wanted a bit more guidance on what they should be doing to get the most out of Minecraft.

Minecraft for Beginners is an official step-by-step guide to help new players “survive and thrive” in the game. It covers beginning concepts, like how to find food and crafting materials, building a shelter, and surviving basic combat.

This isn’t the right book for experienced players. However, it provides a solid foundation for Minecrafting kids who are just getting started.

Minecraft Epic Bases

Ages: 8-12 years

One of the truly amazing things that you can do in Minecraft is build huge, detailed bases where you can recover between adventures. Epic Bases is a photographic collection of Minecraft bases built by a guild of expert builders. Plus it has top tips and tricks for creating a stunning base of your own!

These bases are an incredible testament to the skill and dedication of the players who built them. If you’re looking for some inspiration for building an epic base of your own, this book is easily one of the best resources of its kind out there.

Bite-Size Builds

Ages: 8-12 years

The funny thing about huge, highly-detailed Minecraft bases is that they are big. Like, really, really big. That has a tendency to be daunting for players who don’t have experience with building things on that scale.

That’s why these Bite-Size Builds books are so amazing. Each book takes some fun and practical builds and breaks them down into easy-to-follow building chunks. It’s similar to how LEGO sets do their build instructions, but with a bit more freedom to stray from the directions and still have things turn out awesome!

There are currently three different books in this series for kids, each with over 20 different builds to try out.

Minecraft Maps

Ages: 8-12 years

The Minecraft world is HUGE, and every map has a wide variety of biomes to explore. Each biome has unique features, including different mobs, plants, and even weather!

This Minecraft Maps book explores each of the game’s different biomes and gives tips and tricks for getting the most out of each one. The book itself reads like a journal of an intrepid explorer looking to discover everything the world has to offer. And the illustrations are fantastic!

It is a few years old at this point (2019). Many of the newer biomes aren’t represented. I, for one, am hoping that that means that a second edition will soon be on its way.

Minecraft: Blockopedia: Updated Edition

Ages: 8-12 years

In the real world, if we didn’t have access to the internet and wanted to learn about something specific, we would turn to our nearest encyclopedia. In the Minecraft world, players can turn to this book.

The Blockopedia is an impressively hefty book, offering up over 300 pages of information on different types of blocks. Its pages feature in-depth information on most of the blocks in the game. This means it is one of the most complete Minecraft reference books you can get anywhere! It does not, however, have specific information on the different mobs in the game. It also lacks information on any of the blocks released in the last couple of years since it came out.

That said, there aren’t any other books out there that do a better job! The Blockopedia is a great choice for any Minecraft fan looking for an offline resource.

Minecraft Survival: Updated

Ages: 8-12 years

One of the best parts of Minecraft is the feeling of adventure that comes from playing through survival mode. From the struggle to find shelter to protect you during your first night all the way through defeating the End Dragon, survival mode offers up challenge after challenge for adventurers brave enough to face them.

And this updated guide from the Official Minecraft Team helps you to take them all on.

It covers every topic you’ll need, with details on hostile mobs, potion making, trading with friendly villagers, and more. But if there is something else you need, there are 3 more books in the series to guide you. These cover Redstone engineering, advanced combat techniques, and creative mode, for when you need a break from surviving.

Together, these 4 books form one of the most comprehensive collections of tips and tricks that you can find!

The Minecraft Annual

Ages: 6-10 years

Though not technically a book, the yearly Minecraft Annual definitely earns its place on this list.

Each annual edition is full of fun Minecraft trivia, tips for playing, and features on the most recent updates. Since most Minecraft reference books tend to be from a couple years ago or more, that last bit can be particularly helpful! They also include build and survival challenges, game ideas for playing Minecraft with friends, and more!

Minecrafter Engineer: Must-Have Starter Farms

Ages: 8-14 years

In between battling dangerous monsters and exploring abandoned mines, Minecraft players also have to find resources to keep them in fighting shape. Often, this means making a farm.

Especially in the early game, creating a farm that provides a source of food can be the key to success. This book is filled to bursting with farm builds that make growing food a breeze, leaving more time to adventure.

Many of the farms in this book are simple enough for beginners, which is great. But the later farms take full advantage of one of the most complex and useful features in the game. Redstone! Luckily, the diagrams do a great job of explaining each build and serve as a great introduction to Redstone mechanics.

The Ultimate Player’s Guide to Minecraft

Ages: 8-12

If you like the idea of a book that will help you make automated farms for growing food and gathering resources, but also want a guide to help you through everything else Minecraft could throw at you, this unofficial player’s guide might just be the book you’re looking for.

The Ultimate Player’s Guide to Minecraft covers everything from a player’s first night, to elaborate Redstone creations. And, for Minecrafters playing on the Java version of the game, it has a decent guide to installing and using mods as a way of unlocking even more functionality!

If you’re not familiar with mods, they are bundles of code that can be added to a Minecraft game to add new features and functionality. And if you know how to code (or want to learn how to code in Minecraft), it’s even possible to build your own!

The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Circuit Power!

Ages: 8-12 years

Mods aside, Redstone circuits are easily one of the most complex parts of Minecraft. In large part, that’s because Redstone mimics real-world electrical wiring systems. A good Redstone engineer can build anything from a door that opens automatically to a fully functioning calculator! But it takes a lot of patience and know-how to get there.

The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Circuit Power dives into the Redstone deep end and helps players understand all the different Redstone elements in the game, as well as giving ideas for things to do with them.

This is not a book for Minecraft beginners, but it is an amazing resource for players who want to master Redstone. And, because of how closely Redstone mirrors electric circuits, they’ll be sure to gain some real-world knowledge along the way!

Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Minecraft Mods Programming

Ages: 13+

If you have a bit of computer know-how, installing a Minecraft mod is a simple enough process. However, coding a Minecraft mod is another matter entirely!

Working on a specific project helps kids learn to code far better than simply trying to piece together different concepts from a book or forum. A Minecraft Mod makes for an excellent project. That’s because making mods stretches kids to experiment with new concepts and coding languages and it gives them a product at the end that they can enjoy.

There aren’t a lot of great books on coding Minecraft Mods out there. And many of the ones that do exist are either outdated or aimed at more experienced coders. An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Minecraft Mods Programming is one of the few that does a decent job explaining the process for coders with zero modding knowledge all the way up to building a functioning mod.

It’s a good book, but if you ask me, I would recommend coding classes with a live instructor over a book 100% of the time.

Learn to Code in Minecraft

Apart from being a ton of fun, Minecraft can be a great motivational tool for sparking a kid’s interest in learning to code. But the learning process is so much better when done as part of a group!

CodeWizardsHQ has live instructors ready to help your kids learn to code. They even host week-long Minecraft summer camps where kids can learn complex concepts like computational thinking and computer logic while practicing with Redstone and other Minecraft staples.

It’s a ton of fun, and could even be the first step on your kid’s path to a career in coding!

The post 12 Must-Read Minecraft Books for Kids appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

There are few games out there with as enduring a legacy as Minecraft. Despite the game’s low-graphics blocky look, Minecraft has been capturing the imagination of kids around the world since 2011 and become one of the most-loved games of all time. 

Which is exactly why Minecraft gifts are such a perfect choice for kids! 

Favorite Minecraft Gifts for Kids 

As a game, Minecraft leans hard into creativity and personalization, and many of the gifts in this guide expand on those themes. This isn’t just a list of Minecraft toys to play with (you can get that here), but rather a list of different kinds of gifts you can buy for Minecraft fans of all ages. 

1. Minecraft Camp

For ages 11 and up

A fun and practical gift, kids can join a 1-week Minecraft camp with CodeWizardsHQ. Intro to Redstone Logic in Minecraft introduces kids to redstone, an element used for mechanical and electrical programming in Minecraft. A great introduction to coding that will get kids excited to learn what else programming can do.

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2. Minecraft Guide Collection 4-pack

For ages 7 and up

This Minecraft Guide Collection pack is a great gift for kids looking to improve their Minecraft game. Each of the four books is filled with tips and tricks to help your kid survive and thrive in the perilous world of Minecraft. Plus, they do a great job of scratching that Minecraft itch even during those times when your kid can’t get online, making them a perfect companion for road trips!    

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3. Minecraft: The Island, Book or Audiobook 

For ages 8-12

If your kids are looking for an amazing story set in the Minecraft world, this is the book you’re looking for. It’s the first of the official Minecraft novels, written by author Max Brooks (World War Z), and it is an excellent read!

I highly suggest getting the audiobook version narrated by Jack Black, as he absolutely kills it. 

And while the recommended reading age is 8-12, don’t let that scare you off. While there are some tense moments, my son loved the audiobook version at age 5 and I found it entertaining even as an adult.  

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4. 6-Inch Minecraft Llama Bookends

For ages 14 and up 

Actually, there are a ton of Minecraft book options out there, and many of them are worth a look. But when it comes to keeping all of them organized and looking good, why not continue with the Minecraft theme? 

These Minecraft Llama bookends are both super fun and functional and would look great in any Minecraft fan’s room.

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5. The End Battle Lego Set

For ages 7 and up

LEGO sets are perfect real-world counterparts for the Minecraft game, and this Ender Dragon Set does a great job of recreating one of the most iconic battles in the game. Kids will have a blast putting together the epic Ender Dragon, and, as a bonus, this set includes a virtual code to get the exclusive dragon-slayer skin to use in their own Minecraft worlds!  

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6. LEGO Minecraft Crafting Box

For ages 8 and up

The LEGO Minecraft Crafting Box is a huge 8-in-1 LEGo set that gives kids the chance to build all sorts of amazing Minecraft scenes. It is one of the larger Minecraft LEGO sets available, with over 500 pieces, and includes a Steve mini-fig and exclusive blocks like the diamond pickaxe, lapis lazuli, and a mooshroom cow.  

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Recommended: How to Make a Minecraft Server

7. Steve Big Fig LEGO Set

For ages 7 and up

While LEGO recommends this set for kids 7 and up, I personally love this set as a gift for older kids who want to show off their love for Minecraft. There are three BigFig sets to collect, with each figure standing over 5 inches tall, and they look great displayed on a shelf.

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8. Ravensburger Minecraft: Builders & Biomes Strategy Board Game 

For ages 10 and up

The Builders & Biomes game takes the Minecraft theme and turns it into an exciting resource collection board game for 2-4 players. It’s a perfect choice for a family game night, with a setup that changes each game and tons of different strategies for success. Plus, when you’re ready, there’s an expansion to add even more variability to your game! 

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9. Ravensburger Minecraft Heroes of The Village Board Game

For ages 6 and up

Not feeling competitive gameplay with your kids? Perhaps Heroes of the Village would be a better fit! Instead of a competition to see who wins, this game is a cooperative game where your family works together to defeat the Illagers and save the day! 

On a personal note, my family loves cooperative games and this is the game that’s in my shopping cart right now.  

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10. Minecraft UNO

For ages 7 and up

If you aren’t keen to learn an entirely new game but still want to add some Minecraft-themed goodness to your family game time, you can’t go wrong with this take on the classic UNO card game. 

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11. Minecraft Axolotl Plush

For ages 3 and up

This Minecraft Axolotl plushie is undeniably cute, making it an excellent choice for any younger fans of the game. Of course, if your kid prefers a different Minecraft critter, there are tons of other plushie options available. Pick the one that’s right for them, and get them a brand new Minecraft companion in real life! 

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12. Minecraft SquishMe toys

For ages 3 and up

These Minecraft SquishMe toys are the Minecraft equivalent of a stress ball that kids can squish to calm down. For some extra sensory stimulation, this particular set also has a different fun scent for each character and a glittery sheen. 

While this set comes with 6 figures, you can also buy them individually.   

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13. Ender Dragon Treasure X Kit

For ages 5 and up

One of the best parts of Minecraft is the sense of discovery that comes with exploring new worlds. These Treasure X Kits work to recapture that feeling in the real world by giving kids the possibility of finding a real gold-dipped treasure! 

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14. NERF MicroShots Minecraft Ghast Mini Blaster

For ages 8 and up

This is a fun mini-NERF blaster modeled after the Minecraft Ghast mob found in the Nether. The blaster is easy to load and comes with two NERF Elite Dart making it perfect for target practice. It’s a unique and fun addition to any Minecraft collection!  

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15. Deluxe Netherite Sword

For ages 6 and up

Diamond swords are so last update. This Deluxe Netherite Sword is the new best Minecraft sword, and a perfect accessory for kids who enjoy imaginative play, or for older kids who want to show off their love of the game. 

This particular sword also features authentic sounds from the game and soft foam edges to keep kids from hurting each other. 

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16. Minecraft Piggy Bank

For ages 14 and up

Any adventurer knows that when it comes to keeping your treasures safe, you need a place to keep them. This Minecraft take on the classic piggy bank is sure to do the trick! 

It’s made out of lightweight plastic and has a stopper in the belly for easy coin retrieval, so you’re treasures are always at hand. 

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17. Minecraft Brown Chest 13-Inch Storage Bin

For all ages

Of course, not all treasures fit in a piggy bank. For all the rest, there’s this Minecraft Brown Chest!

This 13-inch storage bin is modeled after the basic chest in the Minecraft game, making it a perfect fit for a Minecraft-themed bedroom or gaming area. 

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18. Minecraft Caved-In Wall Decal

For ages 4-13

There are a handful of different wall decals to choose from, but I especially like this Caved-In Wall Decal from Roomscapes because it makes it look like Steve, Alex, and their pets are looking straight at you from the wall. For a Minecraft fan, it’s an especially awesome fourth-wall break!

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19. Minecraft Decorative Pillow Cover TNT

For all ages

This decorative pillow cover is a great choice for a Minecraft-themed game area, bedroom, or anywhere else where you want to add some Minecraft flair. It comes in several different varieties, but the TNT cover is my personal favorite. 

These pillowcases are soft and durable and work best as a cover for a 16×16-inch pillow.

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20. Minecraft Yellow Bee Nest Block Desk Lamp with 3D Bee Puller

For ages 4 and up

This Minecraft Beehive Desk Lamp may very well be my new pick for the best-looking lamp ever. 

Its bright colors are great for lighting up a room, while the Minecraft theme makes it a great choice for any gaming fan. The best part is the 3D chain pull shaped like a Minecraft bee ready to pollinate some flowers. 

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21. Minecraft T-Shirts

For all ages

When I was a kid, I didn’t much care for getting clothes as a gift, but that’s probably because no one gave me shirts as cool as these! There are a ton of great shirts available online, so there are sure to be at least a few that fit your kid’s style. I personally loved this Miner’s Society shirt  on Amazon.

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22. Minecraft: Minecoins Packs

For all ages

Of course, if you want a gift that is guaranteed to please, there’s very little that a true Minecraft fan wants more than even more Minecraft. 

Minecoins are the in-game currency used to buy new maps, texture packs, and skins in the Minecraft store for any of the Bedrock versions of the game. Do note that if your kid plays the Java version, these aren’t for them. Instead, they can download mods for free, or even learn to code their own!  

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Choose the Best Minecraft Gift

Minecraft is one of those games that has near-universal appeal since it offers so many different ways to play. Kids who enjoy fighting games have tons of zombies and skeletons to fight. Kids who love exploration can discover underwater temples or hidden underground cities. And kids who just want to play with blocks can dive into creative mode and build to their hearts’ content!

That versatility is great, but it also means there’s not really a one-size-fits-all kind of solution for choosing the best Minecraft gift. It’s important to think about the individual kid and what they enjoy about the game when choosing what to get.

For example, my son has really been enjoying defending the villages against zombies recently. He loves pretending that he is a mighty warrior, so something like the NERF blaster or Netherite sword would be tons of fun for him. My daughter, on the other hand, likes building farms in creative mode. We turn the enemies off completely so she doesn’t even have to look at a zombie. She would adore some of the Minecraft plush toys, or the piggy bank. 

Both of them enjoy flipping through Minecraft building guides and both would love decorating their rooms with Minecraft goodies. 

The easiest way to guide your decision is to find out about the parts of the game your kids love and why. Good luck!

The post 22 Minecraft Gifts for Kids They’ll Love appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

Part of Minecraft’s appeal comes from the game’s simple, blocky look. But, there are also a surprising number of ways that you can customize the way your games look, such as using Minecraft color codes. 

Common ways to customize the look and feel of your games include adding mods and textures packs, but even if you’re only playing with vanilla Minecraft, there are ways to add a bit of color to your game.

Minecraft color codes can be used in-game as a simple way to change the colors of some text, like the words on a sign or in a book and quill. They can even be used to format the Message of the Day for your server! 

Let’s take a quick look at how it works.

(Note: The color codes (§) work in Bedrock Edition of Minecraft. In Java, you’ll need to use an external editor or JSON (\u00A7) format to get similar results.)

How to Use Minecraft Color Codes

The hardest part of using Minecraft color codes is just figuring out how to type the § symbol. It’s easiest to use the  Windows alt codes, or simply cut and paste if that’s not an option.

Once you’ve got that handled, it’s mostly just a matter of inputting the correct code and writing your text!  

Using in chat

Using color codes in the chatbox allows you to change the color of the words in your chat text! Simply write the desired color code, hit space, and then write your message as usual. Use the code §r to reset your text to the default color and style after writing your formatted text 

Formatting text this way can be useful for emphasizing specific words or simply for adding a bit of style to your chats! 

Using with items

Items that allow you to write text in the game, like signs or books and quills, will also allow you to use Minecraft’s color codes. 

Just like with the chatbox, it’s just a matter of inputting the color code or formatting marker you want, hitting space, and writing as normal. Again, the §r code resets your text to the default, so you can format it as you like. 

This is useful for things like writing instruction books for items in your server or color coding your signs in-game. 

Using in MOTD (Server)

Speaking of servers, it’s also possible to format the text of your Minecraft Server’s message of the day (MOTD). Unlike with the chat window or in-game items, using the § symbol won’t work. Instead, you’ll have to use the JSON code starting with \u00A7 to format your text, though it otherwise works the same way!

List of Minecraft Color Codes

List of Minecraft Formatting Codes

More Minecraft Resources

• How Minecraft Teaches Kids Coding
• The Best Minecraft Texture Packs
• A Parent’s Guide to Minecraft for Kids
• 10 Best Minecraft Mods for Kids
• How to Download and Install Minecraft Mods
• How to Play Minecraft with Friends
• How to Make a Minecraft Server

Learn To Code in Minecraft

Formatting your text in Minecraft is a simple and fun way to customize your game experience and impress your friends but it’s only scratching the surface of all the amazing things you can do in Minecraft with a little bit of coding knowledge. 

If you want to take your Minecraft customization skills to the next level, be sure to check out our Minecraft coding summer camp this year!

The post A Complete List of Minecraft Color Codes appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

If you ask almost anyone, it’s pretty obvious that we like Minecraft around here. In large part that’s because Minecraft is a useful tool for getting kids interested in coding. 

But, if we’re being honest, it’s mostly because it’s a really fun game! Especially because kids can play Minecraft with friends, add Minecraft mods, and customize with Minecraft with texture packs. 

Having fun is important, after all. Playtime is about a lot more than just having a good time, it’s an important part of learning, too. 

This is why we’ve compiled our list of the best Minecraft toys available in 2023. These toys and gifts are sure to put a smile on your child’s face if they love playing Minecraft. Check it out! 

Best Minecraft Toys for Kids 2023

• Minecraft Lego Sets
• Minecraft Dungeon Toys
• Minecraft Plush Toys
• Minecraft Sword Toys
• Other Minecraft Toys

Minecraft Lego Sets

When Minecraft was first released many people described it as being a sort of virtual version of LEGO blocks, so it’s fitting that we eventually came full circle by creating LEGO sets with a Minecraft theme.

LEGO is one of the oldest and most-loved toy companies out there, and they’ve done an amazing job taking the Minecraft theme and making some truly spectacular toys. While not every LEGO Minecraft set is still in production, all of them have a ton to offer as far as imaginative play and creativity.

These are some of my favorites!

1. LEGO Minecraft The Abandoned Mine

Ages: 7+ | Price: $19.99 | 248 Pieces

When looking for a great place to start your LEGO Minecraft collection, this is a simple and fun choice.

Brings classic Minecraft action to life by building and exploring the mines while under attack from various hostile creatures. This set includes popular Minecraft characters and creatures. Mine for essential resources while luring the zombie, spider, and living slime to the cave entrance where kids can use a hand-operated device to bring high-level rocks crashing down on them.

2. LEGO Minecraft The Mushroom House

Ages: 7+ | Price: $24.99 | 272 pieces

After any Minecraft adventurer knows, nothing beats the feeling of getting back home after a successful day exploring the mines! 

This Minecraft Mushroom House set has everything a new adventurer needs for their very own starter house, including a bed to rest in and a chest to store all their hard-won treasures. Just beware of the dangerous spider-jockey patrolling the nearby woods. 

This set packs a ton of fun into a small package. The roof comes off the Mushroom house for easy access to the great indoors, and kids can add the classic Moo-shroom cow mob to their collection.  

3. LEGO Minecraft The Villager Raid

Ages: 7+ | Price: $62.99 | 562 pieces

One of the most challenging parts of the Overworld in Minecraft is an ill-timed raid on a local village. This set allows your kid to bring that battle to life in their very own desert village! 

Alongside the village itself, this set includes two villagers, two raiders, a ravager mount with biting action, and a new hero minifigure named Kai! 

4. LEGO Minecraft The Warped Forest

Ages: 7+ | Price: $28.95 | 287 pieces

At some point in every Minecraft game, it’s time to leave the Overworld and explore the Nether. 

This warped forest LEGO set is a perfect first foray into the Nether, complete with local mobs, and a surprising new landscape to explore. Kids will also love the built-in explosion and rockfall features which add a ton of great action to the set! 

Recommended: How to Make a Minecraft Server

5. LEGO Minecraft The End Battle

Ages: 7+ | Price: $39.44 | 222 pieces

If there’s any real goal in Minecraft, it’s getting to the End to defeat the Ender Dragon, and that’s what this set is all about! 

What this set lacks in landscape, it more than makes up for in the form of the formidable ender dragon boss, which comes complete with a ferocious fireball blast. As a bonus, this LEGO set comes with a code to unlock the Dragon Hunter skin for their character on the Bedrock version of Minecraft. 

Minecraft Dungeons Toys

Minecraft Dungeons is a spin-off of the main game franchise that focuses a lot more on combat and a lot less on mining or crafting. But while it shifts the focus away from Minecraft’s core components, it also adds a variety of new characters to the game’s roster, unlocking tons of great imaginative play opportunities!

6. Minecraft Dungeons 3.25” Collectible Figures

Ages: 6+ | Price: ~$10-$20 each

Apart from the LEGOs, these are my personal favorite version of Minecraft figures. There are a huge variety of characters to collect and play with, and many of them have interchangeable accessories that add to the fun! They are all fully posable and made out of durable plastic so they can withstand some rough play.

Whether you’re looking for action figures for a full-scale battle or as part of a shelf collection, the 3.25” collection fits the bill. 

7. Minecraft Dungeons Nano Metalfigs 1.65″

Ages: 6+ | Price: $9.99

If the 3.25” figures seem a bit too large, these metalfigs might be what you’re looking for. Instead of hard plastic, these are cast from metal, so they aren’t posable, but what they lack in flexibility they make up for in quantity.

A pack of 18 figures only costs around $20 and includes both heroes and baddies, allowing you to fill a battlefield without also emptying your wallet.

8. Minecraft Dungeons Redstone Monstrosity

Ages: 6+ | Price: $114.88

If you are looking for the biggest, baddest Minecraft Dungeons toy you can find, this one is sure to make your short list! 

While he belongs to the 3.25” Mattel set, he easily dwarfs the other figures. Standing at a full 10-inches tall, and more than 7-inches wide, this dungeon boss is the monster to end all monsters! All of his joints rotate and he has a built-in smashing arm attack, making him a formidable foe for the other Dungeons figures. 

Minecraft Plush Toys 

If your adventurer is more of a snuggler than a fighter, Minecraft plush toys may be more their speed. 

Minecraft is full of both cute and creepy cool characters, any of which would make an amazing plushie companion. Luckily, toy makers thought so, too, so there’s a huge variety of Minecraft plushies to choose from! 

These are some of my top picks.

9. Steve Plush or Alex Plush

Ages: Any! | Price: $29.98

What’s a game without the hero? 

Whether your kid is a fan of Steve or Alex, you can’t go wrong getting one of the main characters. These come from different manufacturers, but both manage to make a super cuddly toy while staying true to the characters’ blocky designs.  

10. Creeper Plush (or any of the monsters!)

Ages: Any! | Price: $21.99

The creeper is probably the most iconic of the Minecraft enemies, and is well-known for ruining otherwise perfect plans.  This plushie captures the creeper’s explosive personality in a much cuddlier form factor. 

11. Axolotl Plush (or any of the allies!)

Ages: Any! | Price: $24.99

One of the things you can do in Minecraft is tame mobs to make them your pet! Tame cats and dogs have been around for a long while, and have inspired tons of loyalty among Minecraft players. The axolotl is much newer, but has already made a big impact, protecting players from the monsters of the deep. 

This plushie does a great job of capturing the axolotl’s inherent cuteness, making it a perfect addition to any Minecraft fan’s collection. 

12. Baby Pig Plush (or any of the neutral mobs!)

Ages: Any! | Price: $12.99

Enemies will attack you and allies will defend you, but neutral mobs tend to stay… neutral. But that doesn’t make them any less cute! 

This baby pig plushie is easily one of the cutest.

Minecraft Sword Toys

Like many adventure games, Minecrafters spend a lot of time defending themselves from enemies with their trusty sword. However, one of the things that makes Minecraft special is that while the sword is important, the other tools in-game can be just as important or even more so!

In that spirit, I’ve included not only the best sword toys but also the best Minecraft tool toys in this list.  

13. Enchanted Sword

Ages: 7+ | Price: $16.99

Sure, you could get your kid a regular old Minecraft sword, but we all know that the enchanted swords are where it’s at! 

Enchanted items in Minecraft have a purple effect on them to show that they are magical, and this enchanted sword toy captures that effect well. It’s advertised as being an add-on for a costume, but many of the reviews pointed out that it is durable enough to be a good buy on its own.  

14. Pick, Axe, or Shovel

Ages: 7+ | Price: $129.00

As far as costume tools and weapons with a Minecraft theme go, this 3-in-1 set is about as good as it gets. Essentially, this set is a tool handle and three separate heads that you can switch out depending on which tool your adventurer needs at that moment. 

Online reviews rate it as holding up extremely well during rough play, which is good, because it is selling for a premium on Amazon. Other places have it listed at cheaper prices, but tend to be sold out because of it. I feel like that’s proof enough that this is a great one to get! 

15. Customizable Shield 

Ages: 7+ | Price: $22.99

In the Java version of Minecraft, players can attach a banner to their wooden shield to add a little visual customization to their armor. This toy set takes that idea and runs with it, but in real life! 

While the base of the shield looks just like the regular wooden shield from Minecraft, there is a slot where you can put your own banner to make the shield as unique as you like!  As a bonus , there is a connector on the back side of the shield where you can keep a spare tool for those moments of mining between battles. 

16. Minecraft Dungeons Nerf Hammer

Ages: 7+ | Price: $45.00

This is one of the more unique Minecraft accessories that I’ve seen in stores, but it looks like a ton of fun! 

NERF’s Stormlander Hammer is inspired by Minecraft Dungeons rather than the original game, but it retains the pixelated look that Minecraft made so popular. Alongside just being a great little warhammer for make believe battles, this weapon has a hidden secret. It has the ability to shoot up to three NERF darts out of the hammer’s head to hit enemies at range!

Other Minecraft Toys

17. Minecraft Transforming Turtle Hideout

Ages: 6+ | Price: $21.99

If there’s one thing that kids love, it’s things that turn into other things. Luckily, that’s the general premise of the Transforming Turtle Hideout! 

It starts out as a large Minecraft turtle, but once you open up its shell, it transforms into an entire Minecraft base, complete with a small Steve figure, four levels to explore, and a smaller version of the turtle itself! 

18. Minecraft Builders and Biomes Board Game

Ages: 10+ | Price: $39.99

While this board game isn’t technically a toy, it’s cool enough that I’m willing to overlook that fact. 

The Builders and Biomes Strategy game takes the mining and crafting fun from the digital world to your kitchen table, all while keeping the same feel of exploration and creativity. It’s an awesome choice if you’re looking for some Minecraft fun for the whole family! 

19. Minecraft Mine Kit Collectibles

Ages: 7+ | Price: $13.94

This last one gives your kid the chance to try out a little mining for themselves! 

The Mine Kit comes with a finger-sized pick and a stone block to break. For the kids (or parents) patient enough to mine their way through the hard exterior, one of 6 possible collectibles is hidden inside. If you’re really lucky, there’s even a chance for a real gold-plated creeper! 

Learn to code with Minecraft toys!

All of these Minecraft toys are a ton of fun. That’s great news because imaginative play has been shown to be an important part of kids’ educational journeys.

We’re all about Minecraft because of how easy it is to move from a love of Minecraft to a love of coding. There are many ways to transition from playing the Minecraft game and toys to actually learning to code using Minecraft.

While playing with these toys alone won’t turn your kid into a coding wizard, they could be a first step on their journey. 

Get your child interested in learning how games like Minecraft work and coding their own features in Minecraft. Then, be sure to check out our 1-week coding camp in Minecraft or 12-week structured coding classes for kids to get started.

The post 19 Best Minecraft Toys for Kids 2023 appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

If your child likes playing video games, odds are you’ve at least heard a little about Minecraft already. Released in November 2011, it’s now the second best-selling video game in the world and has an estimated 600 million registered users.

With its immense popularity, kids are often really excited to start playing (and likely have friends who already play). But with the vast amount of things you can do in-game, parents commonly ask, ‘is Minecraft good for kids?’ We’ll cover all the basics of Minecraft, so you know what kids can do in the game and what to watch out for.   

What is Minecraft?

Minecraft is known as a sandbox game, a video game that focuses on creativity and freedom of movement and often doesn’t have an objective. It’s also considered a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG or MMO), meaning the game hosts a large number of players on the same server. The entire world of Minecraft is basically infinite and it’s most easily recognized by its block-style design. Everything within Minecraft is made out of blocks, even characters and animals.

Kids flock to Minecraft because of the endless possibilities of what you can do in the game. You can build nearly anything you can imagine, customize your character, grow food, have pets, create weapons and wearable items, and go on adventures. You can even change how the entire game looks, but we’ll explain more about that a bit later.

How do you play Minecraft?

Minecraft is played both as a single player or multiplayer game, which involves playing with other people. Kids can play in five different game modes:

1. Survival Mode
2. Creative Mode
3. Hardcore Mode
4. Spectator Mode
5. Adventure Mode

The two most popular modes are Survival and Creative.

• Survival mode is where players have to focus on building shelter and gathering food to be able to protect themselves and fight off mobs of monsters that spawn randomly throughout the game. 
• Creative mode is meant purely for building. Players have access to basically all blocks and items, can’t die, and are able to fly. 
• Hardcore mode, in the Java Edition, locks the world to Hard difficulty and the player cannot respawn after dying.
• Spectator mode, in Java and Legacy Console Editions, allows the player to fly around and observe the world without interacting with it in any way.
• Adventure mode is similar to survival, but you play on premade maps to complete quests and some features are more limited, such as breaking blocks.

Popular Minecraft Game Terms

Minecraft Mobs

These are your main opponents in survival mode. Mobs can be creatures, monsters, animals, insects, or villagers that attempt to kill your character or damage your items. In video games in general, “mob” is short for “mobile object,” which is a computer-controlled non-player character.

Minecraft Creeper

One of the most well-known mob characters is the creeper. These green creatures can spawn at any time or location throughout the game. They approach players and then ultimately explode, which can kill characters and damage the environment around them.  

In all modes, Minecraft goes through day and night, and nighttime in survival mode is when mobs are most often to appear. In both modes, it’s important to craft weapons and tools, which allow you to harvest and gather items to build and fight back mobs. 

Minecraft Mining

Mining is also a big part of Minecraft, it’s a way to gather materials to use in survival mode. You can search to discover a mine that already exists or just start digging to create your own mine. Mining allows you to gather different types of stone, metal, and gems for building and crafting. 

There’s a lot more to explore in Minecraft, too. As we mentioned before, the Minecraft world is basically infinite, and its landscapes are varied. Spend some time walking around and you’re likely to come across forests, deserts, oceans, jungles, snowscapes, and more. Each place has different animals, plants, and resources to mine or harvest. 

Is Minecraft safe for kids?

While Minecraft can certainly be a safe game for kids, there are some important factors to consider before purchasing the game for your child. These include violence levels in the game, hand-eye coordination needed for building and mining, and possible interactions with other players.

Depending on the rating system you reference, Minecraft is recommended for kids starting between the ages of 8 and 10. The different modes and game versions of Minecraft mean that age appropriateness varies. The single player creative mode being the safest in general for kids.

What are the dangers of Minecraft?

The main dangers of Minecraft for kids involve multiplayer modes and possible interactions with strangers. These can be avoided altogether by choosing single player mode or playing multiplayer locally (where multiple players in the same house can play together). Survival mode involves some violence when killing mobs, but the violence depicted is fairly tame.

Playing multiplayer Minecraft on a public server exposes your child to interactions with strangers. Players can text chat with each other, but you can also hide the chat window. Your child’s experience on a public Minecraft server can vary greatly depending on the players who are online. Often the biggest risk is having other players steal or destroy items or buildings that your child may have put a lot of time and effort into.

Obviously with online multiplayer games there’s a risk for online bullying, scamming, and interactions with potential predators. Minecraft recognizes these risks and even offers a world through Minecraft Education Edition to help teach kids good Internet safety practices.

How to keep kids safe on Minecraft

If kids are in single player mode or on a local server, there really isn’t any need to worry about their safety. For kids who want to play Minecraft on public servers, there are steps parents can take to make sure their kids stay safe and have fun, too.

As with any online multiplayer game, it’s important that if your child does play on a public Minecraft server, that they understand basic online safety precautions. These include not sharing identifying information (their real name, age, address, phone number, etc.) and never sending money to anyone they meet in game.

Staying involved with what your child is doing in Minecraft is important, too. To protect your kids online, take an interest in what they’re doing in-game. If you don’t understand what they’re doing, have them explain and show you. Even better, take some time to play Minecraft with them. Staying involved makes your child more likely to come to you. If a problem arises while they’re playing, you’re more likely to understand what they’re telling you if you have some basic knowledge about Minecraft. 

What age can kids play Minecraft?

Age recommendations for Minecraft vary, and the game does not require age verification before playing. Minecraft is definitely popular among elementary-aged kids, but how young is too young for this game?

Is Minecraft appropriate for a 5 year old?

Although age recommendations are different depending on the standard you review, none of them recommend Minecraft for 5-year-olds. In general, a 5 year old child might get bored with the open ended nature of Minecraft. They may also not have the hand-eye coordination needed to build in the game. If a parent is confident that their 5-year-old can handle Minecraft, single player in creative mode would definitely be recommended.

Is Minecraft OK for my 6 year old?

A 6-year-old who has played video games before may have the skills needed to play Minecraft and have fun. As a parent, take some time to familiarize yourself with Minecraft and how it’s played. That should give you a good idea of whether or not it’s appropriate for your child. However, this age is still too young for multiplayer mode on public servers due to safety concerns.

Is Minecraft good for 7 year olds?

Some game rating standards do recommend Minecraft for ages 7 and up. There is some mild cartoon violence in Minecraft in survival mode as players can kill animals for food and kill attacking mob characters. Parents who are concerned about this level of violence can stick with creative mode for their child. At this age, it is likely still best to stick to single player or local multiplayer games. 

The Entertainment Software Rating Board, which has established ratings for video games in the United States since 1994, gives Minecraft an E10+ rating. This means they have rated the content as generally suitable for everyone ages 10 and up. 

Can Kids Play Minecraft With Friends?

Playing video games with friends makes them even more fun! Minecraft offers several ways that kids can play with their friends in the same world.

If your child plays Minecraft on a gaming console, you can easily turn it into a multiplayer game with anyone else in the house using split screen. It may be a little distracting at times since you have to focus on your half of the screen, but it is the easiest way to play Minecraft with friends and there’s no risk of dealing with strangers. Alternatively, you can play a LAN game, which allows players on the same wifi network to play together, but this can be done with players using separate devices.

For kids wanting to play Minecraft with friends from a distance (meaning they aren’t in the same room or on the same wifi network), you can choose to host your own Minecraft server or play via Minecraft Realms. Both of these options involve some extra costs, but they are much more secure than playing on a public server. 

Our article, How to Play Minecraft With Friends, goes into more detail about all of these options, the pros and cons of each, and how to set them up. 

What are Minecraft mods?

Although Minecraft allows you to build anything you want and has tons of customizations built in, you can change the game even more with mods. Mods can do everything from adding new features or items or they can change the look of the game entirely. Many of the mods available are ideal for kids as well.

Mods do need to be downloaded and installed, and there are a couple of trusted websites for Minecraft mods. Learn more about how to download and install mods in Minecraft and how to uninstall them, too.

What are Minecraft servers?

A Minecraft server is what hosts a Minecraft world and allows multiple people to play in the same Minecraft world together. There are public servers, where basically anyone can join and play, and there are private servers. Private servers are typically set up and hosted by an individual person who then can control who can (and can’t) join their server. This is a great option for kids to be able to play Minecraft with their friends, but it does involve some work to set up.

To create a private server, you can either choose to rent a server through a third-party for a monthly fee, or you can run a server on your own. Find out what’s involved in running your own server and how to make a Minecraft server.

Can Kids Learn Coding with Minecraft?

There are many aspects of Minecraft that make it a great tool for teaching kids key concepts of coding. Redstone is one of the most common ways that kids can learn coding fundamentals, and they probably don’t even realize it! Redstone works like electrical wiring and helps kids build in-game items by using logic gates to control when the redstone is powered or unpowered. 

Command blocks are another way kids can start to learn about programming through Minecraft. These special blocks execute console commands (commands that are typed in the chat box) when certain requirements are met. Using command blocks together with redstone starts the beginning of learning the concept of conditionals. Learn more about how Minecraft teaches kids coding.

While redstone and logic gates can unlock a whole new world of customization in Minecraft, they can be complicated to learn on your own. That’s why CodeWizardsHQ is introducing a new virtual coding camp for kids that teaches how to use redstone and logic gates and how these tie into engineering and coding. Over the course of one week, a live instructor will guide students through how redstone works and how to incorporate logic gates to harness the power of redstone. By the end of camp, students will have the skills to be able to build many exciting redstone projects in Minecraft. 

The post A Parent’s Guide to Minecraft for Kids appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

Minecraft is a game built to test your survival skills, resourcefulness, and creative ability. It’s very much like the “choose your own adventure” books we used to read as kids, but with the ability to design and write your own adventures completely. How that journey looks and feels can be enhanced with Minecraft mods. Traditional Minecraft already offers an endless amount of possibilities. However, throwing Minecraft mods into the mix adds another layer of depth and replayability. Like the number of things you can do in Minecraft, mods are also endless since they are being developed on a daily basis. 

While Minecraft is played by all ages, it’s especially popular with kids between the ages of 6 and 13. Not only is the game entertaining, but it also helps kids improve problem solving skills, increase computer literacy, and explore their creativity. What are some fun ways for kids to mod their Minecraft experience? Try one of these best Minecraft mods for kids. 

What are Minecraft Mods?

Minecraft mods allow you to control your gameplay in a variety of ways. You can turn your game into a better-looking version of the current game, create your own Jurassic Park, simulate an RPG with quests and dungeons, or even go as far as exploring space after building and launching your own rocket. If you thought regular Minecraft unlocked your creative potential, Minecraft mods increase it tenfold. 

How do I put mods into Minecraft?

Adding mods to Minecraft can vary from easy to a medium level of difficulty, depending on the platform you are using. Downloading mods on a platform like Xbox is as simple as buying the mod directly in the Microsoft store and accessing them in your game. 

It gets a bit more complicated when you want to download mods on the PC Java edition, but nothing most kids can’t handle with a bit of help from their parents. Find out how to download and install Minecraft mods.

Recommended: Best Minecraft Texture Packs

What mods are safe for Minecraft?

Anytime you add new software to your computer, it always comes with a possibility of containing something harmful. Minecraft mods are no exception. Luckily for us, Minecraft has a large community that has done the hard work of providing safe mods for you to download. 

The best way to ensure mods are safe for Minecraft is by downloading from a reputable source with a high amount of downloads. Two popular websites to download mods are Minecraft Forge and CurseForge. 

Recommended: How to Play Minecraft with Friends

Where to find the best Minecraft Mods for kids

You can download mods from many places, but it’s often best to start a trustworthy source. A common website is minecraftmods.com. You can use Minecraft Forge to install mods you find there for free. While installing individual mods this way gives you more control, there are some easier methods that involve other software handling the installations for you. If you are looking for something like this we recommend CurseForge. See full instructions on how to download and install Minecraft mods.

10 Best Minecraft Mods for Kids

Since there are tens of thousands of mods out there, we decided to pick ten of our favorite ones to help you jump into modded Minecraft quicker.

JourneyMap

Anyone who has played Minecraft can tell you how big the world is. JourneyMap allows you to use real-time mapping on multiple devices to easily track where you are and view where you’ve been. It features a minimap and full-screen map of the main world, cave maps, Nether map, and End map. 

Biomes O’ Plenty

A must-have for someone who loves a variety of landscapes is Biomes O’ Plenty. As the name implies, this mod adds more biomes to your game. A lot more! However, it also adds many other features such as new building blocks, plants, flowers, armor, and more. If you’re looking for new blocks to enhance regular gameplay, this is the mod to go with.

Tinkers Construct

If you like to build things, I can’t recommend a better mod than Tinkers Construct. This mod provides you with new weapons, tools, and utilities that you had no idea you were missing. My favorite is the 3×3 hammer, which acts as a pickaxe but can mine nine blocks at a time. 

Immersive Engineering

Any electricians or Tesla fans? Immersive Engineering introduces a more realistic form of power to your gameplay. You can put up power lines for electricity, large machines for crushing, and windmills or water mills for power generation. 

Pixelmon

Another popular game that kids like to play is Pokemon. The Pixelmon team decided to create a mod that allows Minecraft to play like modern Pokemon games. You can throw your Pokeball at wild Pokemon to battle and even breed them.

Paleocraft

Paleocraft completely changes your game. Instead of basic creatures such as cows, pigs, and creepers, you get dinosaurs. There are over 100 new creatures added. You may run into a small docile dinosaur or a large aggressive T-Rex. Luckily, you’ll have new vehicles to help you escape!

Galacticraft

Galacticraft is for future astronauts and space enthusiasts. If you are tired of spending your time on a plain Minecraft world, try building your very own rocket, flying to the moon, and exploring the solar system. 

SkyFactory 4

While Minecraft can be very fun and addicting, it can at times get tedious. Mining, crafting, mining, crafting, over and over. When does it end? When you automate it, of course. SkyFactory 4 focuses on helping you automate things such as cobblestone and crops.

All The Mods 6

It can be difficult to decide on a mod to use, so many people use multiple mods at a time. While All The Mods 6 doesn’t actually provide all the mods available, it does provide around 200 mods that work very well together. Downloading just this single mod pack can easily provide you with an endless amount of gameplay.

SevTech: Ages 

One of my favorite modes is SevTech: Ages. When you first install this mod and log into your game you’ll start with nothing, not even a map! However, the goal of the game is to progress through the ages of basic “caveman” to stone tools and eventually space. This is the perfect mod to not only teach you about Minecraft but also show progression.

Minecraft Mods Can Teach Kids to Code

Minecraft mods are a great way to enhance your gameplay and there are plenty of mods that are safe for kids to use. What most people fail to realize though is that they can also be a way to educate kids, like how Minecraft teaches kids to code.

Mods aren’t just created out of thin air, they have to be written in code for them to work. Combining coding with something fun like Minecraft early on can help students progress in their coding skills. CodeWizardsHQ currently offers live, online coding classes for elementary, middle, and high school students that teach coding fundamentals through fun projects like creating games and building websites. With the skills they learn, using mods in Minecraft will be even easier, and who knows, maybe they’ll be inspired to create their own mod.

The post 10 Best Minecraft Mods for Kids appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

Minecraft is a game with simple graphics and a block-like appearance. Aside from the gameplay arguing with physics Minecraft also has a very unrealistic look. This style is very popular and many gamers love it! However, it’s not for everyone. Since Minecraft is highly moddable, there exist many different types of texture packs that can alter how your game looks while you play.

In 1-week Minecraft coding camps, we explore coding in Minecraft with Redstone, an element used for mechanical and electrical programming. Kids and teens can build their own game to add texture packs to. Eventually, they can even code their own texture packs.

What are Minecraft texture packs?

Minecraft texture packs are a collection of files that change the visuals of blocks in Minecraft. These blocks range from building materials, items, mobs, and anything else that you can see in your game. Without getting too technical, by default, Minecraft has a native resolution of 16×16 pixels. Texture packs can increase them up to 1024×1024, which has 4,906 times the number of pixels as native!

Note: you may hear the term resource pack in place of texture packs. While resource packs provide new textures for your gameplay, they also provide other game features such as music, sound effects, particle effects, and text. Resource packs are only available in Java Edition 1.6.1 and higher. In this article, anytime you see the words “texture pack”, you can safely replace them with “resource pack”.

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Minecraft shaders and texture packs

Now that you know what texture packs are, you may feel like your game may benefit from using them and it’s all you need to have a better gaming experience. And you may be right! Or, if you’re like many other gamers, you still want more after adding the upgraded graphics. While texture packs are great at giving your entire gameplay a new and improved look, shaders can increase the aesthetics even further. Many gamers opt to add texture packs and shaders to their game.

Unlike texture packs, shaders focus on the lighting of your game. The use of shaders can create a very realistic atmosphere and sky, dramatic shadows, and water that looks like you could jump right in. Similar to texture packs, shaders can be CPU intensive so you may need to try out a handful to get the best ones that work on your machine.

While shaders and texture packs can both be used by themselves, it’s highly recommended that you download Optifine to take advantage of all the features that some packs have to offer. 

Where to download Minecraft texture packs?

Now that you’re ready to try out texture packs, where can you get them? Like most things with Minecraft, it depends on the version of Minecraft you are using. If you’re using Minecraft Java Edition or Windows 10 Edition on a computer, you will need to go to the developer’s website that created the texture pack and download it directly.

If you are using one of the legacy console editions, such as Minecraft: PS4 Edition, Minecraft: Xbox One Edition, or Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition then you will need to purchase texture packs directly from the respective stores on the console. 

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How much are Minecraft texture packs?

The price of texture packs is also dependent on the edition. If you are using one of the legacy console editions, then texture packs are usually around $2.99 U.S. dollars. However, if you download the texture packs yourself, such as in the case of Minecraft Java Edition, then texture packs are free!

How to make your own texture packs

While installing texture packs that have been created by someone else is great, sometimes they lack the exact look you’re searching for. If that’s the case, you may be interested in creating your own texture packs. Creating your own texture packs is beyond the scope of this article, but if you’re interested we highly suggest going to Gampedia and reading up on it. 

It does take a bit more technical skills than purely installing texture packs, but if you’re familiar with text editors and simple design using Photoshop or equivalent then you should be able to learn to create your own textures fairly quickly. Once you are finished creating your texture asset files, you can compress them into their own zip file and drop them in the resourcepacks folder of your game. 

Top 5 Minecraft texture packs

There are too many texture packs for you to try all by yourself. While having a plethora of options isn’t a terrible thing, it can be difficult to choose a great texture pack. We created a list of the top 5 most downloaded texture packs from Planet Minecraft.

1. LB Photo Realism Pack 256×256 Version 10.0.0 

LB Photo Realism is a texture pack that’s nearly as old as Minecraft itself so it’s no surprise that it will have the most downloads. Currently, at over 2.5 million downloads from Planet Minecraft alone, LB Photo Realism aims to make Minecraft more realistic, as if the name didn’t give it away. There are many resolutions of this texture pack so you can find one that your computer can easily run. Adding the right shaders and the Wild Grass mod can also give biomes their own unique plants that are realistic and help give your environment that extra spark.

2. Sphax PureBDCraft x128

Another decade old texture pack is Sphax PureBDCraft. Unlike LB Photo Realism, Sphax PureBDCraft aims to give Minecraft a comic-like look. This is preferable to many gamers since even with realism texture packs, it’s nearly impossible to give Minecraft a very realistic look. Even though it’s a cartoony texture pack, there are resolutions from 16×16 to 512×512 that all give you high-definition textures. This pack also has many optional add-ons such as multiple 3D items and blocks, an advanced tech add-on to give your redstone technology a new look, an add-on to connect blocks for smoother transitions, and even an add-on to allow you to customize your own textures for specific blocks. 

3. oCd Texture Pack

If you have obsessive compulsive disorder then the oCd Texture Pack should be the first texture pack that you download. Even if you don’t have OCD, it’s worth trying out since it’s a beautiful pack that provides a clean and minimalist look. This ordered pack lacks extra noise and harsh colors with all textures having an even spacing. It’s a great resource pack as well for someone who doesn’t have a high-end machine that can run high-resolution texture packs without lag. Even though there is only a 16×16 resolution offered at this time you won’t feel the need for more pixels.

4. Default 3D

Another pack with over 2 million downloads from Planet Minecraft, Default 3D is easily rising up the charts. It’s a few years older than both LB Photo Realism and Sphax PurecBDCraft, yet has nearly as many downloads. This pack is great because there are different versions based on the specifications of your machine. If you have a lower-end machine you may opt for the Default 3D Low. These texture’s give you smooth edges with connecting faces of models that appear seamless. If you have a higher-end machine you’d want to go with Default 3D High. It includes all block and item modifications with eye-pleasing texture without leaving out specific blocks like it’s Low version does. If you’re looking for something in between, you can try out the Default 3D Medium.

5. Modern HD Pack

If you’re a fan of the modern look, then the Modern HD Pack should fit your needs. This pack gives every block in the game a new look while also adding new items, mobs, and font. If you’re trying to build cities, schools, and skyscrapers then this pack provides you with all the tools you need. There are also updates to underwater that can add corals and kelp to make swimming a bit more of an experience. With a resolution of 64×64 most computers should be able to run this pack without trouble.

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The Best Minecraft Texture Packs

Now that you know how to install texture packs which ones should you go for? There is an endless supply that you can find online, and we are positive that you can find something that fits your style. However, we have a handful of options that we recommend you give a try.

• X-ray Minecraft texture pack
• HD Minecraft texture packs
• Realistic Minecraft texture packs 
• 3D Minecraft texture pack
• 4096×4096 Minecraft texture pack

X-ray Minecraft texture pack

The X-Ray Ultimate Resource Pack has a very unique style. In fact, after everything we’ve explained to you about texture packs enhancing the visual aspects of your game, the X-Ray Ultimate Resource Pack does the opposite! 

When you first install it, you may think it looks terrible and broken, however, understanding what it does is where it really shines. It makes most blocks transparent so you can’t see them, but it highlights important blocks for you. You can easily see lava, mobs, and ores exactly where they are in the world. This can help your mining and resource collection while staying safe. This is a great pack to have in your resource folder that you can toggle off and on when you feel a need for it.

HD Minecraft texture packs

HD texture packs come in all shapes and sizes from cartoony to realism but offer a “high-definition” set of textures. In fact, the HD stands for high-definition. 

Unlike the X-Ray Ultimate Resource Pack, HD texture packs are often elegant, charming, and pleasing to look at. They allow players to build creative structures and large cities where each building or block has its own character. You can easily build a castle down the street from a modern hospital if you so choose. One really popular HD pack the Serene HD Resource Pack. 

Realistic Minecraft texture packs 

As the name implies, realistic texture packs focus on making each block in Minecraft looking more realistic. If you’re not a fan of cartoony texture packs then realism is the way to go. 

Each block has a high level of detail with a lower color palette to help represent the real world. Realism texture packs benefit dramatically with a higher resolution, so it’s recommended you have impressive hardware to help your game run smoothly. A highly recommended realism texture pack is CMR Extreme Realistic Resource Pack. 

3D Minecraft texture pack

Minecraft is definitely a 3-dimensional game. However, if you look at each block closely, you’ll notice that most of them do not have any 3D effects. Each block consists of six-sides of 2D textures. 3D texture packs try to alleviate this issue. 

In 3D texture packs, blocks are created with attractive textures that give a depth-effect. This can give your game an authentic feel to make you think twice about where you take your next step in the game. A great pack that achieves this very well (although, it’s not complete yet) is Slight Depth Resource Pack.

4096×4096 Minecraft texture pack

While 4k texture packs are not common at the moment, it’s something many Minecraft players are waiting for. There are a few people who have made some of these packs for the novelty, but they will take an extremely high-end computer to run that most people do not have. It can also be very difficult to find these packs that can run on the newest version of Minecraft. Although these very high-definition resource and texture packs are not viable at the time of this writing, they are something we are all looking forward to in the future. With the way technology grows every day we don’t believe we are that far away from everyone having their own opportunity of running Minecraft in 4k.

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Enjoy your textured Minecraft experience!

You now have the skills to edit how your own Minecraft game looks. Adding new textures to your game can really help Minecraft feel like a brand new game again. If you want to go straight medieval then, there is a texture pack for it. If you want to act like you’re playing the old NES, then there is a texture pack for it. If you want a frightening atmosphere then, you guessed it, there is a texture pack for it.

You can also read our article on how to install Minecraft mods to add even more features.

Kids and teens can also join a Minecraft coding camp this summer to learn about programming with Redstone. It’s a fun and engaging way to personalize your Minecraft experience while gaining a valuable life skill.

The post Best Minecraft Texture Packs appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

Minecraft is arguably the best-selling game of all time, depending on what kind of statistics you are looking at and who is doing the research. Regardless of its exact placement on the list, there is no doubt that it is one of the most popular games downloaded. There are a handful of reasons for this. 

1. Minecraft can be downloaded on nearly any gaming platform including, but not limited to, PC, Mac, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, mobile, and tablet. 
2. Single-player gives you a perpetual amount of possibilities on how you can play Minecraft and alter your world. However, this alone isn’t enough reason for Minecraft nearing the top of the list. The real answer lies in its multiplayer capabilities. 
3. Minecraft provides you with the option of enjoying your gameplay experience with friends.

For most people, connecting with friends through multiplayer gameplay is the best way to play.  What’s even better is that there are multiple options you can use to play Minecraft with friends including:

• Split Screen
• Local LAN
• Servers
• Minecraft Realms

It’s highly recommended you understand the difference in each option and what they offer because choosing the best course of action can greatly enhance your gameplay and help you tailor your game to your needs. I’ll explain each below and give you a few pros and cons to help.

Split-Screen

Prior to internet gaming, split-screen was one of the most popular ways to play games with friends. Although most games nowadays do not offer split-screen capabilities, Minecraft has added that feature into every console edition. 

As the name implies, split-screen will split your screen into multiple smaller screens so each player has his or her own section to look at. Think Rocket League with two to four players. This means if you are playing with one friend, your TV will be separated into two separate images, but if you are playing with four players, then there will be four separate images. 

How to Split Screens

1. Log into Minecraft with your username and password
2. Log into a single player world
3. With your second remote press the Start button. You should see a new prompt on your game asking you to join as a second player. 

4. Press Start one more time to see a new screen pop up with a list of player options to join as. You’re done! You and your friend can now both play on the same screen together! 

5. Tip: If you do not like horizontal split-screen, you can adjust it to a vertical-split screen in the settings. 

Pros/Cons of Split Screen

Split-screen is warranted for many reasons. It allows you to play with a friend without any internet connection, it offers highly cooperative gameplay by allowing you to know exactly where the other person is and what they are doing, and it provides a shared experience of playing in the same room as your friend. It’s also a nice way to get someone interested in playing if they don’t own a console or a copy of Minecraft.

However, like many things in life, split-screen has some drawbacks. Many people find sharing a screen with someone else a bad experience. If you are splitting your screen with one other person, the aspect ratio changes, while splitting with four people keeps the aspect ratio, but decreases the size of your view to a quarter of its normal size. Both options can be cumbersome and drop visual quality. 

In addition, if you’re playing against each other you have no way to prevent the other person from looking at your screen unless you decide to hang a sheet in between both sides of the TV and trust me, we’ve done that and it’s not ideal. It’s also easy to get distracted, especially with audio. When you inevitably hear the creeper about to blow up is he near you or your friend?

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LAN

There is another option you can use to play with friends in your home without sharing a screen. This is called using a LAN network. 

LAN means Local Area Network, so in order for someone to connect to your game, they must be using the same internet network that you are using. This is as simple as making sure you are both either connected to the same wifi or directly connected to the same internet modem. 

How to Set up LAN (Java Edition)

1. Verify you have an active internet connection on the computer you are playing on 
2. Open Minecraft and log into your account
3. Click the Single Player option
4. Log into an existing world or create a new world
5. Press esc to open the Game Menu
6. Click Open to LAN

7. Choose an option for Game Mode (Survival, Spectator, Creative, Adventure)
8. Choose an option for Allow Cheats (On/Off)
9. Click Start LAN World. At this point, you should see a message on your screen that says “Local game hosted on port XXXXX” with a random number filled in. You can verify that your game is connected online now by pausing the game. If everything else pauses with you then something went wrong. However, if villagers and mobs still move even with your screen paused then you have successfully opened your game using local area network. 

How to join a LAN Minecraft game (Java Edition)

1. Verify you have an active internet connection on your machine
2. Open Minecraft and log into your account
3. Click the Multiplayer option
4. Wait a few moments and you will see the LAN world show up

5. Click Join Server and you’re good to go!

6. Tip: You may not see your friends LAN World show up. If this happens, click Direct Connect and type in your friends’ IP address, followed by a colon, followed by the port number written in the chat when your friend created their LAN world. For example, if your friends’ IP address is 12.123.123.12 and their port number is 55555, you would type in 12.123.123.12:5555

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How to Set up LAN (Bedrock Edition)

Step by step guide on how to get a LAN set up.

1. Verify you have an active internet connection on your machine
2. Open Minecraft and log into your account
3. Before logging into your world, click the pencil icon next to your world to go to Game Settings.

4. Click the Multiplayer tab and verify both Multiplayer Game and Visible to LAN Players are checked.

5. Log into your game. That’s it! Now other players can connect to your game as long as they are on the same network as you.

How to join a LAN Minecraft game (Bedrock Edition)

Step by step guide on how players can join a game together. 

1. Open Minecraft and log into your account
2. Press Y to open LAN settings. Note that this button may be different depending on what platform you are using. You can verify by looking at the bottom of the home screen.

3. You’ll see a new screen pop up asking if you’d like to join the online network or a local network. Remember, LAN stands for Local Area Network, so let’s select the Local Network option.

4. Finally, go to the Friends tab and scroll down towards the bottom. You should see your friends’ world pop up. Your message may be a little different. I get a cross-platform message since I’m logging onto my Windows 10 hosted game from my Nintendo Switch.

Pros/Cons of LAN

There are many reasons you’d want to choose to play Minecraft using a LAN connection. The first and most obvious is it allows you to play with your friends. However, unlike split-screen, you each get your own monitor or TV to play on. This prevents skewing your aspect ratio and or decreasing the size of your view by over half. Contrary to using a server, a LAN network is much safer and easier to set up. You don’t need to provide your IP address or port-forward your router. You also don’t need to pay any fees for someone else to host your server.

The downside of using LAN is you will still need an active internet connection and your friend will need to be within range of accessing that internet connection through either Wifi or by direct connection. This also means that your game will run based on the speed and quality of your internet connection. Slow internet? Laggy game. Choppy internet? Be prepared to be disconnected periodically. Performance can also be affected because the host of the LAN game must use and play on the same computer from where they are hosting the game unless they have a second account which can put stress on their machine.

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Minecraft Server

A Minecraft server is the most advanced option of multiplayer Minecraft. It has all of the same features as connecting with LAN with a few additions. First of all, it allows anyone to connect to your server regardless of where they are instead of limiting access to only those on your network. Second, it gives you the option of dedicating a machine to run the server while you can log on to your account from a separate machine to ease up on resources. 

You can either make your own Minecraft server or you can have a third party host one for you, with each having its own benefits. If you’re interested in having someone else be in charge of your server check out our article on how to make a Minecraft server using hosting. 

How to make a Minecraft server

Running a server yourself means you are in charge of everything such as downloading the resources you need, configuring how the server acts and behaves, and using your own hardware. If making and running a server yourself sounds interesting to you then it’s possible with just a short series of steps.

You will need to download the proper files then set up your server configurations. You will also need to set up port forwarding if you want people to access your server from outside your network (remember, this is something you cannot do on a LAN network!). After the networking portion is set up and you edit your server properties as you see fit, you can launch your game. Read our step by step instructions on how to setup your own Minecraft server. 

How to join a Minecraft server

1. Verify the server is set up and running. Verification for this can be achieved by having the server host look at their server.jar file after it’s opened. It should show something like this:

Alternatively, the host can verify by logging into Minecraft then navigating to the Multiplayer option and look for a green signal bar next to their server showing an active connection. If you see a red “X” and error message then it means the server is not running.

2. Ensure that both players are using the same version of Minecraft
3. Log into Minecraft with your username and password
4. Click the Multiplayer option
5. Click Add Server

6. Type in a server name
   1. Note: the server name can be anything you want and does not have to match what your friend named their server
7. Type in the Server Address. If your internet provider gave you a reserved IP address then use that. If not, use your friends’ IP address from where the server is being hosted.

Pros/Cons of Minecraft Server

Hosting a server yourself gives you a handful of benefits such as complete control without relying on someone else when you need to make changes, the ability to use your own hardware to increase performance as desired, and not having to pay someone else to do it for you! You can configure your server however you like and there is no limit on what type of mods you can support.

Its drawbacks consist of needing the hardware to run the server which can get very expensive if you don’t already own it. It might open you up to cybersecurity risks by allowing someone to access your network. It’s also nearly impossible to host your own Bedrock server at this time, so realistically speaking, it’s only available for Minecraft Java Edition. However, if you’re paying another company to host the server for you then getting a Bedrock edition shouldn’t be an issue. Finally, setting up the server is more technically advanced than any of the other options that Minecraft offers for multiplayer.

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Minecraft Realms

Minecraft Realms are servers that are hosted by Minecraft itself. It’s similar to third-party server hosting, except the third-party is Mojang, the creators of Minecraft. 

There are two versions you can use depending on if you’re playing on Minecraft Java Edition or Minecraft Bedrock Edition. If you are playing on Minecraft Java edition, you will need need to purchase a subscription for Minecraft Realms: Java Edition, but if you are on Bedrock Edition (mobile, Windows 10, Xbox consoles, PlayStation consoles, and the Nintendo Switch) then you will need to purchase a subscription for Minecraft Realms Plus.

How to join a Minecraft Realm

If you and your friends are planning on trying out Minecraft Realms then only one of you will need to purchase a subscription. You can do so by going to the Minecraft Realms: Java Edition or  Minecraft Realms Plus website and following through with a credit card. Alternately, you can navigate directly to Realms Plus from the marketplace on your machine. After that, it’s as easy as sending your friend an invite to play. 

Logging into your Minecraft Realm Server (Java Edition)

1. Log into Minecraft with your username and password
2. Click the Minecraft Realms Option
3. Click “Click to start your new realm!” if this is the first time logging on.

4. Give your Realm a name and description and click Create

5. If you desire, choose a world template from the list of available options.

6. Voila! You’re done! Depending on the world you picked it may take a bit of time to generate. You should now see your new server and can click Play to login.

Logging into your Minecraft Realms Plus Server (Bedrock Edition)

1. Log into Minecraft with your username and password
2. Click Play
3. If you haven’t signed up for Microsoft Realms yet you should see an option for a free trial. You will, however, have to enter your credit card information, but you will not be charged until after 30 days. If you have already signed up, you should see your world available under the Realms category.

4. Once logged in (or by clicking the pencil in the previous screenshot) you can edit your world and invite players.

How to invite people to your Minecraft Realm

No one can join your realm server unless they are specifically invited. Luckily, this process is very easy to do and does not cost any extra money. 

Inviting a Player to your Realm Server (Java Edition)

1. Log into Minecraft with your username and password

2. Click the Minecraft Realms option

3. Next to your realm server, click the wrench symbol to configure your realm.

4. Click Players

5. Click Invite player and type in your friend username

Accepting an invite to a Realm Server (Java Edition)

1. Log into Minecraft with your username and password
2. Click the Minecraft Realms option
3. Look for the jumping New Invites icon and click it. It’s in the top-middle of the screen.

4. You should see an invite from your friend. Click the green checkmark to accept.

5. Navigate back to Realms and you’ll now be able to log in and play!

Inviting a Player to your Realm Server (Bedrock Edition)

1. Log into Minecraft with your username and password
2. Click Play
3. Next to your realm server, click the pencil icon. Alternately, you can go to Settings while logged into the game.

4. Click Members
5. You have a handful of options here. You can either click invite next to your friends’ name. If you are not their friend, you can click Find friend at the top. Or, the easiest way in my opinion is to click the Share link button and give that to your friend over text, email, snail mail, or word of mouth!

Accepting an invite to a Realm Server (Bedrock Edition)

1. Log into Minecraft with your username and password
2. Click the Friends tab
3. Click the Join Realm button

4. Type in your invite code that your friend generated for you. Note: you only need to type in the last 11 characters, ignore the realms.gg/. That’s only for if you are clicking the link directly.

5. You’ll see a new screen popup. Click the Join button.

6. You’ll then see another new screen pop up (a bit redundant, I think) asking you to join one last time!

7. Finally, you’ll see your friends’ realm pop up on the Friends tab. Click the realm and log in!

Pros/Cons of Realms

If you’ve done enough research there’s no doubt you’ve run into an article or two that will tell you how terrible using Minecraft Realms is. And to be fair, Minecraft Realms used to be terrible. 

It was very expensive for what you got when it was easy enough to use another third-party to host a server for you. However, more recently, Mojang has really improved Minecraft Realms where it may be something worth considering. 

If you’ve never used Minecraft Realms before, you get a free trial for 30 days. This in itself is completely worth it because, in my opinion, it’s more than enough time to decide if you and your friends will like it. Even though it costs money, so does using third-party server hosting. And Mojang is definitely someone we can trust considering they are the creators of Minecraft. 

It’s also very easy to set up and log on, no crazy IP addresses or port-forwarding involved, just throw them a credit card and send an invite! Minecraft Realms Plus also comes with many advanced features such as a curated catalog of a plethora of Marketplace packs, monthly updates with new content, and support for local play that also has cloud storage.

Even though Minecraft Realms has gotten much better over the years, it’s still home to a handful of drawbacks. The biggest drawback is the player limit. Even though you can invite as many players as you want, only up to 10 can play at a time. This may not be an issue for you, but if you’re expecting a large server you’ll need to look elsewhere. 

One small trick for groups of 11; if you have every player log on first aside from the owner, then the owner can log on and be an 11th player. Yay for hacks! 

The second biggest drawback (or first for some people!) is the lack of mod support. While the Java Edition has custom maps and minigames and bedrock edition has add-ons from the marketplace, full modding support is currently unavailable. If you’re a fan of modding Minecraft, once again, you’ll need to look elsewhere. 

Lastly, even though $7.99/month is not very expensive, it’s quite costly for what you get. You can use third-party server hosting for as little as a few bucks a month with full mod support and playing with a greater number than 10 or 11 players at a time.

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Start Playing Minecraft with Friends

If you’re enjoying Minecraft and looking for ways to play with other people there is no doubt that one of the options discussed here will work for you. You can choose to play cooperatively with a sibling using split-screen, you can avoid sitting in the same room with that same sibling using LAN, you can have someone else do all the heavy lifting for you, or you can even the boss and control everything. 

If you want to experience a taste of social interaction while gaming why not join our Discord Channel and CodeWizardsHQ server? Our subdomain is mc.codewizardshq.com (server address). If you attach your Discord to our server you’ll even get some bonus benefits. Send a direct message to CWHQ Minecraft Server#9605 on Discord to join. 

Most things are more fun with friends and that includes Minecraft. If you have any tips or questions about playing Minecraft with friends, share in our Discord!

The post How to Play Minecraft with Friends appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

Out of the box, Minecraft offers a sense of adventure that most games can only hope to deliver. With the tools provided by the game, you can create, explore, and survive in the Minecraft world in a multitude of ways. But, if you’re bored with the basic game settings and want a more unique experience, you can also enhance your gameplay by installing Minecraft mods.

The beauty of modding with Minecraft is that you can customize your gaming experience by adding mods that allow the use of new tools, blocks, and armor as well as other features such as textures, lighting differences, new creatures, and even game modes.

I’ll show you how to install Minecraft mods, where to download new mods, and how you can even make your own.

What are Minecraft Mods?

Minecraft mods are user-made modifications that alter your Minecraft gameplay experience in various ways. Mods are used to add custom features and items to the open-world Minecraft game. These can be purely cosmetic or even change how the game is played. 

Different types of Minecraft mods include:

• Performance mods: improve performance aspects of your Minecraft game like better graphics and shorter loading times. Render your chunks faster, load your servers smoother, and improve frame rates for a smoother gameplay experience.
• World mods: attempt to customize the natural elements in Minecraft and get more control over graphical features.
• Technology mods: adds an assortment of contraptions that help the player automate the production of in-game resources.
• Mob mods: elevate gameplay difficulty or add new animals and mobs into your worlds.
• Building and item mods: add structures and buildings with your own design. Get useful contraptions and automate processes.
• Quest mods: get hundreds of quests for players to explore, with varying themes and objectives.
• And many more!

Where to Download Minecraft Mods?

There are many Minecraft mod websites that let you browse released mods. You can search through various dedicated community websites and forums to find the perfect mod for your game. There are thousands of mods to choose from.

Some of the most popular mod websites include:

• Minecraft forums
• Minecraft Mods
• CurseForge
• Planet Minecraft

Can You Make Your Own Minecraft Mods?

Yes! You absolutely can make your own mods.

There are a handful of ways to make your own Minecraft mods, such as using MCreator or Java Development Kit (JDK). While downloading mods that other people have created is a great experience, being able to make and deploy your own is rewarding in its own right.

Can You Uninstall Minecraft Mods?

Yes, you can easily uninstall Minecraft mods. What happens if you download a mod and you decide you don’t like it? Do you have to start your game over? No, definitely not! But, depending on the mod itself, it may alter your gameplay experience.

If you uninstall a texture pack then the only difference you will see is how the game looks. However, if you install a mod that adds new blocks, build something with it, then uninstall the mod, you’ll notice that parts of your world are missing.

We recommend uninstalling one mod at a time and seeing how it affects your game before moving on to the next. 

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How to Install Minecraft Mods Using Forge

1. Download Minecraft Forge
2. Install Minecraft Forge
3. Find The Mods Folder
4. Download Mods
5. Close and Relaunch Minecraft

What you need:

• Minecraft Java edition

Minecraft Forge only works with Minecraft Java edition so ensure that is the edition of Minecraft you are using before proceeding. Minecraft Java Edition runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

If you’re looking to get mods for Bedrock edition (consoles and Windows 10) then you can go directly to the Minecraft Marketplace and download them. However, most of them will need to be purchased.

1. Download Minecraft Forge to Install Mods

• First, download Minecraft Forge. 

Download the version of Forge that matches the Minecraft version you have installed. The latest version at the time of this article is 1.19.

You may also notice two different options you can download latest or recommended. We recommend downloading the installer from the recommended section otherwise, you may run into bugs from the newest version.

Be careful in this section. There are ads on the website if you are not using an ad blocker and it may trick you into downloading something you didn’t mean to. You may get an ad in the middle of the screen telling you that your download is ready. Do not click that one. 

Click the large red button that says “Skip” at the top right when the ad finishes. 

The file you are looking for is titled “forge-(version you are using).jar”. 

So, in our example, it would be called “forge-1.16.4-35.1.0.jar”. If you download something else that does not look like this, delete it and install the correct section.

2. Install Minecraft Forge

• Open the Minecraft forge file and follow the install directions.

Once you finish downloading the correct .jar file, you need to run through the install process.

You can start this by double-clicking on the file you downloaded. Ensure that you have “Install Client” selected then click “OK”. This could take a few minutes. 

When it’s finished, you’ll see a message saying the install was successful.

3. Finding Your Mods Folder

• Close and relaunch Minecraft.
• Select “Forge” and click “Play”.
• Click the new “Mods” button
• Click “Open mods folder”

If you have Minecraft open, please close it now.

When you reopen it you should see a new profile towards the bottom left of the screen titled Forge. Make sure that is selected then click “Play”.

Note: It may take a bit of time for your game to load everything.

Once you log on, you’ll see a new section you didn’t see before. Click on the “Mods” section, but you won’t see any mods yet. That’s because we haven’t downloaded any. However, you will find a button called “Open mods folder”. Click this button to open the folder. 

Any mods that you want to find must be dropped inside this folder in order for your game to access it. If you installed Minecraft in its default location then the directory path will be something like C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft\mods.

If you chose a different location then your path may look different. That’s why it’s best to go into Minecraft and click the “Open mods folder” button because it will find it no matter where it is.

4. Download Your Mods

• Download a mod from a mod website (we recommend Minecraftmods.com).
• Download the mod directly into the mods folder OR drag and drop the download into the mods folder you opened earlier

You’ve downloaded Minecraft, installed Forge, and even found your mods folder. So, how do you actually get mods?

There are multiple places you can download mods from, but we recommend Minecraftmods.com because it’s generally safe for all users.

When downloading mods it’s highly recommended you download and install one mod at a time because sometimes two different mods can interact with each other negatively.

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Download An Example Mod

1. Go to https://www.minecraftmods.com/lucky-block-mod/ and scroll down until you see a “Download” button. The Lucky Block Mod puts a new block inside the game that will randomly generate something when broken open. It can be something good or something bad!

2. Now, visit luckyblockmod.com. Scroll down on that webpage until you see another “Download” button that takes you to a third webpage! I know this can get exhausting, but many mods work this way by taking you through a few different web pages, so it’s good to see it in action. 

3. Finally, you’ll come to a section with a ton of download links for different versions of Minecraft. Once again, choose the correct version based on the version of Minecraft you are playing and hit “Download“. 

4. When you download the mod you have a couple of options. You can either

• download directly into the mods folder or you can drag OR
• drop the download into your mods folder you opened earlier

I find the dragging and dropping easier, but it doesn’t matter which one you choose.

5. Close and Relaunch Minecraft

• Close and relaunch Minecraft
• Check the mod install in your mods folder
• Your new mod is installed!

When installing new mods, you’ll have to restart your Minecraft game. Close it out completely and log back in. Go into your mods folder and you should see your shiny new mod installed.

In case you’re wondering what I got out of my lucky block, it was something good. A bunch of rainbow sheep! However, on the second block, I got TNT. Sorry, I couldn’t get a picture fast before it blew everything up! 

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Enjoy Your Modded Minecraft Experience!

And there you have it! You have successfully added mods to your Minecraft game. If you thought the possibilities of Minecraft were endless before, mods give you an endless amount of endless possibilities. If that’s even possible. There are a ton of different mods you can choose from and it’s a game itself just trying them out. 

Just remember to download mods only from highly recommended sources so you don’t accidentally download a virus. You also need to be aware that too many mods can cause a lot of stress on your computer and may require you to invest in better hardware as the amount of mods you have increases.

The post How to Install Minecraft Mods Using Minecraft Forge appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.