I imagine the phrase "Minecraft is not free" is the first thing that comes to mind after reading the title, and of course, you are absolutely right. Microsoft asks various amounts (depending on the region) to access one of the most popular video games on the planet, and I must admit it's worth every cent. However, I also know that many users out there are looking for alternatives that get them (at least a little) closer to the concept of "Minecraft for free". Today I invite you to explore some of them.
Minecraft: 600 million reasons to enter its universe
Impressive and admirable at the same time: the latest Minecraft statistics date back to November 2020, but we're talking about 600 million players, young and old, who every day celebrate the abundance of voxels, parallel worlds... and creepers that destroy everything (?). Without a doubt, that number has grown, but the official price of the game exerts some influence.
If memory serves me right, Minecraft costs 27 euros in European territory, and although I'm the first to admit it deserves every coin, many users need to think a little longer or postpone their purchase. So... "Minecraft for free". Is it possible? Not entirely from Redmond's side, but if you're willing to accept alternatives like clones or reduced versions, the answer is yes. Let's see:
Best resources to play Minecraft for free before buying
Don't forget: Minecraft has a demo...
... and all you have to do to get it is visit the Microsoft Store on Windows 10. As expected, the demo has several limitations (a single world, 100 minutes of play, single player, etc.), but it's an excellent starting point, and it also lets you check how Minecraft runs on your computer.
... and the classic version is online
The news is a couple of years old, but its most important aspect hasn't disappeared: while celebrating Minecraft's first ten years, its creators put online version 0.0.23a_01, much better known as Minecraft Classic. 32 blocks, bugs everywhere, and an interface that gives you the chills define this proto-Minecraft.
Minetest
Perhaps the best free Minecraft clone, with over 800 open source mods, frequent updates, and the support of a large player community. You can connect to servers, enjoy pre-designed games, or create your own adventure with its API. Minetest is open source and works on the main operating systems.
Terasology
It started as a technical demo inspired by Minecraft, and today Terasology is a clone of excellent quality, with flexible licenses that allow us to modify and extend its content as we please. It still has work ahead, and it's likely not as friendly if you just want to play, but it definitely deserves a place on this list.
TrueCraft
Its developer Drew DeVault shares a clear message: TrueCraft is a cleanroom implementation of Minecraft beta 1.7.3, and compatible with its clients and servers. Why 1.7.3? Because according to Drew, everything that came after was mere decoration, a 'life support' so to speak. In essence, TrueCraft seeks to reproduce the original spirit of Minecraft. The project is archived, but you can compile its code, or search for binaries...
In summary
If you were looking for a way to play Minecraft for free, I think with these suggestions you have your hands full. It doesn't matter if you choose one of the clones or download the demo, the end goal is the same: Enjoy!
