Amongst gamers seeking to dive into the blocky, open world, sandbox without having to figure out technical setup first, the term “game minecraft online” has become one of the most searched phrases. From a newcomer who’s not sure what multiplayer actually is, to a parent who finds out what their child is requesting, or a seasoned player who wants to get back into the game, it all takes place here.
What is it about Minecraft that it has been so popular for more than a decade and has no real “wrong way” to play? People build castles sometimes hours long. Others use to hunt Ender Dragon. Some simply want to sit on a server with friends and chat and mine. The “online” bit of the game is what makes it more than just a one-player affair and that is what we will be dissecting here.
What Does It Mean to Game Minecraft Online?
Playing Minecraft online is as easy as logging into a shared world, whether it’s a world hosted by Mojang’s official Realms service, a private server hosted by a friend, or a large public server with thousands of players. The online game mode is not like the single player offline mode, where you can play with other players in real time, trading items, competing in mini-games, or simply exploring the huge world created by other players.
These are the three primary methods in which individuals play Minecraft online nowadays:
- Java Edition multiplayer is available, and can be used to join community-made servers with their own plugins, mini-games and mods.
- Multiplayer for Bedrock Edition (on consoles, mobile and Windows with cross play between devices).
- Minecraft Realms is an official private server from Mojang that is smaller and subscription-based to host friends.
Each choice will appeal to a different type of player, and selecting the right option early on will save a lot of grumpiness later on.
Getting Started: What You Need Before You Play
It’s useful to verify some fundamentals before jumping into a server. Minecraft can be played on an abundance of hardware, however, performance depends on the version of Minecraft being used and whether or not you are playing on a heavily modded or heavily plugged server.
You will need at least a stable internet connection, the latest version of the game that is compatible with the server that you want to join and if you are playing Java, a premium Mojang/Microsoft account as most public servers will block “cracked” or unauthenticated accounts to prevent griefing or account theft.
System Requirements Snapshot
| Component | Minimum Spec | Recommended for Multiplayer Servers |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i3-3210 / AMD A8-7600 | Intel Core i5 or better |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB+ |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics or better | Dedicated GPU (GTX 1050 or better) |
| Storage | 1 GB free (Java) | 4 GB+ (with resource packs/mods) |
| Internet | Stable broadband, low latency preferred | 10+ Mbps, wired connection ideal |
When using an older laptop, opt for smaller and vanilla servers with less mods as it will provide you with a smoother experience than leaping into a thousand-player modded server.
How to Game Minecraft Online Step by Step
Accessing the Internet doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Most players do this in the following way per edition:
- Step 1: Start up Minecraft and go to Multiplayer. Select the multiplayer tab instead of singleplayer from the main menu.
- Step 2: Add the server with the IP address. The IP address that you enter on the “Add Server” screen is published on the public servers (for example play.servername.net).
- Step 3: Wait for the loading of the world. It takes a few seconds longer for larger servers to load your player data, particularly the first time joining.
- Step 4: Read the rules of the server. When logging on to most servers, a welcome message, or rulebook is displayed upon first login — if you just skim them, you may not unintentionally get banned for running unauthorized mods or building too close to spawn.
- Step 5: Start playing. Here you can talk with other players, play mini-games or go out and create your base.
Minecraft Realms does away with all that IP address business, simply allowing you to invite friends to play through your microsoft account, and the world remains online even when you’re offline.
Popular Ways to Game Minecraft Online
Not all online sessions are created equal. Based on your mood, these are the most common ones that players gravitate towards:
- Survival multiplayer (SMP) — collect resources, construct a base and survive with other players in a continuous world.
- Mini-games servers — short games of Bed Wars, Skywars, parkour challenges, and more perfect for shorter play sessions.
- Creative servers — no survival aspect, only unlimited resources to build large and ambitious constructions.
- Creative servers — Communities that are based on certain themes, custom plugins or storylines.
- Educational servers — are used in the classroom and coding programs to learn logic and problem-solving using redstone and command blocks.
A few of these formats are great to try out first to discover what works for you before you make the leap to a large server.
Playing Minecraft online has its advantages and disadvantages
As in all online multiplayer scenarios, there are definite advantages to playing Minecraft with others, but there are some compromises that should be understood prior to getting into it.
Pros:
- Social and collaborative creating, exploring and solving problems together with other people is a large part of the reason why Minecraft is fun and replayable in the long run.
- There is a wide range of servers available, from casual survival games to competitive mini-games, there’s something for everyone.
- Cross-platform support (Bedrock). Friends on different devices can often play together without the need for identical hardware.
- The game continues to change and evolve with regular content updates, both official and from the modding community.
Cons:
- Griefing risk. Other players are sometimes able to destroy builds or steal items if a server does not have the proper protection plugins (open servers).
- Smaller or free public servers often go down unexpectedly, creating downtime for the server that can be frustrating mid-build.
- Learning curve (for younger players). For younger players it takes some time to get the hang of the rules of the server, how to behave in chat, and the basic mechanics of survival.
- Official private servers are available and have a monthly subscription cost, whereas there is no subscription cost for Realms on free public servers.
These can be weighed against your own preferences for the game, whether casual or long-term world, to make choosing the one you want right from the get-go.
One Reddit user said:
“I am able to play Minecraft online without PS PLUS”
Staying Safe While Playing Online
Many people play minesweeper online, such as on public servers, which can include open chat and interaction with strangers, so a few safety habits can go a long way. Well moderated servers with active admins, no giving of personal details in chat and parental controls or whitelisted servers for younger players are all good practices. Many credible servers likewise have chat filters and reporting options especially to make it a good experience for the community.
Learning how to play Minecraft online does not have to be daunting. After picking an ed., checking your system, and finding a server that you enjoy, you’re left to explore, build and enjoy the process at your own speed.
When users of WOW88my are looking for other online entertainment, they should check the rules of the game, conditions for payment and legal requirements and information about playing responsibly before spending money. However, Minecraft offers an open-ended creative experience and casino games are about taking financial risks and should only be played by eligible adults with a controlled budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I have to pay for minecraft to play online?
Yes. Multiplayer servers are open to the public and can be joined for free, provided that you own Minecraft. Subscription to official Realms hosting is required only for the official hosting.
- Which version of Minecraft is used to play online, java or Bedrock Edition?
Both are viable but are associated with different kinds of servers. Java Edition is typically used for the community servers on the PC, while Bedrock supports cross play for consoles, mobile and Windows.
- Is it safe for kids to game Minecraft online?
Doable, particularly on servers geared towards younger viewers and active modding. Parents should review the rules of any server, and set any necessary parental controls and should consider whitelisted and private Realms for additional parental oversight.
- Where to find Minecraft good servers to join?
Official server lists, in-game server browsers and community forums are good places to start. There are plenty of player reviews available these days, so it is worth checking them out to avoid those that have too many downtimes or poor moderation.
- How can I play Minecraft online without Internet?
No, multiplayer will need an internet connection, although singleplayer worlds can be played offline.