Minecraft: Story Mode

Story Mode doesn't cast aside Telltale conventions, but it successfully brings story to Minecraft

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"Minecraft: Story Mode" is a five-part episodic game that takes you on a thrilling adventure through the Minecraft universe. With a star-studded voice cast including Patton Oswalt and Brian Posehn, the game allows you to customize your character and team up with friends to save the world from oblivion. Created by Telltale Games and Mojang, it's a must-play for Minecraft fans. Episode 1 is currently available for free.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,338 reviews

story789 positive mentions

stability53 negative mentions

Engaging story that captures the spirit of Minecraft while introducing new elements.
Charming characters and great voice acting, particularly from Patton Oswalt.
Fun and light-hearted adventure that appeals to both kids and adults.

Many players feel misled as the game only includes the first five episodes, with additional episodes requiring extra payment.
Gameplay is mostly limited to quick-time events and dialogue choices, lacking the depth of traditional Minecraft gameplay.
Some technical issues, including audio cutouts and character animations not syncing properly.

story
2,438 mentions
32 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of *Minecraft: Story Mode* has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging narrative and character development, while others criticize its predictability and lack of meaningful choices. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and humor, which make it accessible to a younger audience, but some feel it strays too far from the open-ended nature of the original Minecraft game. Overall, it is seen as a fun, albeit linear, interactive story that successfully integrates Minecraft elements into a cohesive plot, though it may not satisfy those seeking a deeper or more complex gaming experience.
- “The journey was epic and had some genuinely good plot twists, and the ending was heartbreaking (only real ones remember Reuben).”
- “The heart of Minecraft: Story Mode lies in its enthralling narrative, which grips players from start to finish.”
- “It's this immersive storytelling that elevates Minecraft: Story Mode beyond mere entertainment, leaving an indelible mark on those who experience its gripping tale.”
- “Minecraft: Story Mode is a disappointing attempt to shoehorn narrative-driven gameplay into the beloved sandbox world of Minecraft, resulting in a dull and uninspired experience.”
- “Instead of the open-ended exploration and creativity that made the original game a hit, players are forced to follow a linear, predetermined plot filled with forgettable characters and tired clichés.”
- “The narrative lacks the depth and nuance that fans have come to expect from story-driven games, relying instead on tired tropes and predictable twists.”
gameplay
324 mentions
23 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Minecraft: Story Mode" is primarily narrative-driven, featuring simple mechanics typical of Telltale games, such as quick-time events and dialogue choices, which often feel more like an interactive movie than a traditional game. While some players appreciate the integration of Minecraft elements like crafting, many criticize the lack of substantial gameplay and challenge, noting that the experience is heavily reliant on cutscenes and minimal player interaction. Overall, the game appeals more to those who value storytelling over gameplay complexity, with mixed opinions on its execution and replay value.
- “It respects Minecraft, its rules and mechanics, while still introducing new elements into the mix.”
- “The gameplay is fun and action-packed; every single second of it is intense, and if you screw up, anything could happen.”
- “The gameplay deserves a 10/10, for this is an easy system to learn and really enjoyable for the right audience.”
- “Gameplay-wise, 'story mode' offers little in the way of innovation or challenge.”
- “The gameplay is very simple, you move around, selecting stuff and talking to people and using button prompts when told to.”
- “There isn't much in the way of gameplay, but the story is very fitting for a title like Minecraft.”
graphics
199 mentions
33 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Minecraft: Story Mode" are generally described as a faithful representation of the Minecraft aesthetic, featuring blocky, pixelated visuals that appeal to fans of the original game. While some players appreciate the art style and find it charming, others criticize the character models and animations for being stiff and lacking detail. Overall, the graphics are seen as adequate for the game's narrative-driven format, though they may not meet the expectations of those seeking more advanced visuals.
- “A beautiful piece of artwork with stunning visuals, an amazing cast all wrapped in an amazing soundtrack that will make you uncontrollably weep for days.”
- “The graphics reach what all fans have created in awesome animations, but still stays mostly true to the Minecraft universe - 9.5/10.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and the story is captivating.”
- “While the blocky, pixelated aesthetic of Minecraft translates well to the episodic format, the character models and animations feel stiff and lifeless.”
- “The game has the usual Telltale fare of graphical glitches, tons of typos, poor facial animation, and abysmal lip syncing.”
- “The amount of bugs, audio cut-offs, graphical glitches, and sound issues in this game make it very displeasing to play.”
humor
141 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in "Minecraft: Story Mode" is generally described as light-hearted and accessible, appealing primarily to a younger audience with its playful dialogue and comedic moments. While some players found the humor to be juvenile or predictable, many appreciated the clever references to Minecraft lore and the engaging voice acting that enhanced the comedic experience. Overall, the game balances humor with emotional depth, making it an enjoyable adventure for fans of the franchise.
- “It's a relaxing, funny, enjoyable game to play after a long day.”
- “The voice acting is great and some of the humor involved hits the right spot.”
- “The story is great, the characters are enjoyable, it's nail-biting, it's targeted for younger kids such as 12 or 13 years old but still great for teens and adults, it's bright and funny, and cute.”
- “The dialogue in this game is hilarious, and the jokes they try to pass off, let's just say they're not funny.”
- “Boring plot, not funny, uninteresting characters.”
- “It is not funny; it is unimaginative crudity masquerading as humor.”
emotional
91 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Minecraft: Story Mode" is highlighted by its ability to evoke genuine feelings, particularly through character connections and impactful moments, such as the heartbreaking death of Reuben. Players experience a rollercoaster of emotions, from joy and triumph to sorrow and despair, with many expressing surprise at how deeply they felt for the characters, despite the game's family-friendly nature. While some critiques mention a lack of emotional depth in certain areas, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers touching and memorable experiences that resonate long after playing.
- “The intensity of the story creates an emotional rollercoaster, with highs of triumph and lows of despair.”
- “From facing seemingly insurmountable challenges to forging deep connections with allies, the emotional depth of the story resonates long after the game is finished.”
- “I cried when Reuben died! Never thought I could be emotional for him!”
- “Boring story with mostly boring characters.”
- “I came in wanting it to be good because I love both games, but it felt like I was forcing myself to finish this boring story.”
music
83 mentions
34 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and fitting integration into the gameplay, enhancing the storytelling experience. Many players appreciate the blend of original Minecraft tracks with new compositions that capture the game's atmosphere, although some note instances of repetitiveness. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive quality.
- “In retrospect, one of my favorite aspects of this game is actually its soundtrack.”
- “A beautiful piece of artwork with stunning visuals, an amazing cast, all wrapped in an amazing soundtrack that will make you uncontrollably weep for days.”
- “The original Minecraft soundtrack has been used, but it seems like there have been lots of new musical scores introduced; all songs used really fit in with the vibe that the game is trying to portray.”
- “Maybe the music in the background could have been better; this is probably the only aspect that wasn't top notch.”
- “You see, Minecraft Story Mode's soundtrack recycles itself to an annoying point throughout the 6-hour campaign.”
- “The music in the game is exactly what you would expect.”
stability
54 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting a variety of glitches, including visual bugs, audio issues, and crashes that can corrupt save files. While some players noted that these glitches did not significantly impact their overall experience, many expressed frustration over the frequency and severity of the problems, suggesting that the game feels rushed and in need of substantial patches. Overall, the consensus indicates that while the game has potential, its stability issues detract from the enjoyment.
- “The only thing I have that I don't like is how short the timer is, but other than that, I have to say this is a well-made game. It runs great with no glitches or lag spikes, so I give this a thumbs up!”
- “The game is not bad in terms of story, but it comes with a bunch of bugs and glitches. In 5 hours or so, the game has crashed around 9 times, and the only way to get out is rebooting my system. On top of that, the language of the text in the in-game choices gets all mixed up with Portuguese, Spanish, and English, making it difficult to pick, which is essential to the game.”
- “The amount of bugs, audio cut-offs, graphical glitches, and sound issues in this game make it very displeasing to play.”
- “There are graphical glitches everywhere, including character models clipping through themselves and each other. Some blocks are stuck into each other, creating a weird clipping effect, which is distracting and kills immersion in some cases.”
replayability
29 mentions
24 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising the variety of choices and different character paths that enhance replay value, while others criticize the limited changes in outcomes, leading to a sense of repetitiveness. Although there are elements that encourage multiple playthroughs, such as different dialogue options and upcoming episodes, many users feel that the overall experience lacks significant replayability, making it less engaging for repeated plays.
- “The story is rock solid and, like other Telltale games, has good replay value because of the way the story develops through your choices.”
- “Some things could change, others couldn't, but it maintains replay value by offering different locales and sometimes entire scenes based on different choices, such as the choice at the end of episode 1 which completely alters the locale Jesse and a friend travel to and explore at the start of episode 2.”
- “These choices in the game really give Telltale games some great replayability, just to see how different the game will be if you play differently from the last time.”
- “The end result is always going to be the same in every playthrough, and that drags the replay value down quite a lot.”
- “Because while other games have replayability, this game does not have that.”
- “There's no replayability in this game; just start anew and it will be incredibly boring because you know that the story is fixed. Even if you make different decisions, everything will go that way.”
monetization
20 mentions
15 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers highlighting the reliance on microtransactions and DLCs that feel more like advertisements than meaningful content. While some players found enjoyment in the base game, the additional episodes and in-game purchases are viewed as unnecessary and exploitative, particularly targeting younger audiences. Overall, the game's monetization strategy has left a negative impression, overshadowing its potential.
- “The game is free to play, but it does include microtransactions.”
- “Be aware that if you want to fully complete this game, it does have in-game purchases.”
- “I got the game for free, but the new episodes (which are DLC/microtransactions) aren't worth the extra money.”
- “The game is nothing but a shameless cash grab.”
- “So buyers beware, if you want to finish this game, it does have in-game purchases you have to get to complete it.”
- “Including episode 5, which is the start of a brand new adventure for the protagonists, feels like a built-in advertisement for the adventure pass DLC instead of a nice bonus.”
character development
17 mentions
35 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly polarized among reviewers; some praise its depth and emotional resonance, while others criticize it as inconsistent or nearly nonexistent. Many players feel that character arcs are either rushed or poorly executed, leading to a lack of emotional investment. Overall, while some aspects of character design and voice acting are appreciated, the consensus indicates that character development is a significant weakness in the game's narrative structure.
- “From in-depth story to insane character development, it truly has something everybody can enjoy.”
- “The game's unparalleled character development, captivating landscapes, and poignant moments collectively form a shocking masterpiece.”
- “Lastly, character development and the main character: the characters seem to bring in the whole atmosphere, and the design of the characters allowed for each of them to feel like they belong in that given scenario.”
- “Character development is nearly nonexistent, and what little development you do receive is ignored in later actions inconsistent with the characters.”
- “Character development is a far-off myth, and any relationships you might have damaged go quickly back to being good in a scene change.”
- “The biggest thing about a story-based game is the character development, which simply does not exist in this game.”
optimization
13 mentions
23 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly and loads quickly, some users report issues with voice performance and dialogue delivery, suggesting a need for improvements in audio editing and voice direction. Additionally, there are concerns about compatibility with Windows 10, indicating that further optimization may be necessary for a better experience.
- “Otherwise, the game is solid, loads quickly, and runs smoothly.”
- “No performance problems.”
- “Game runs smoothly and fun to have the control of what you can have happen in the game.”
- “I initially thought that it needed a bit more optimization, but that never came.”
- “In its current state, at least for me, it is poorly optimized and needs some major performance fixes.”
- “I read in the forums that this is not yet optimized for Windows 10, but I find that a bit baffling.”
atmosphere
12 mentions
33 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its faithful capture of the Minecraft aesthetic, with well-designed settings and character integration that enhance the overall experience. While many appreciate the charming and immersive environment, some critiques highlight that certain design choices, like overly cartoonish animations and fixed-screen gameplay, detract from the intended dramatic tone. Overall, the game successfully appeals to Minecraft fans with its vibrant and engaging atmosphere, despite some inconsistencies.
- “The set builders for each area have done their job well, creating atmospheres and settings that fit the theme perfectly.”
- “Awesome atmosphere, super cute story and a nice look in the typical Minecraft style, yet different.”
- “Any Minecraft player will enjoy the atmosphere and all the little touches put into this game.”
- “The animations seem too cartoony for a supposedly dramatic storyline, and it ruins the atmosphere.”
- “For one thing, it does that 90's adventure game thing where the environments are one fixed screen that your character has to move around in, which really doesn't lend itself to the sandbox atmosphere of Minecraft.”
- “Finally, the game itself is clearly aimed at a younger audience, but Telltale have tried to give it the atmosphere found in their other games.”
grinding
11 mentions
18 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking in immersion, with many noting that it can feel slow and drawn out, particularly in the early stages. While some appreciate the slower pace as a way to enjoy the game without excessive grinding, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, especially when the story and character development fail to engage. However, a few players mention that the game does not require extensive grinding for achievements, making it more accessible for casual play.
- “No grinding to do; 90% of the achievements are completed just by playing through it normally. A few require some extra effort, but that's about it.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Not awful, just doesn't have very immersive gameplay and often feels tedious.”
- “The story starts off kinda interesting, but gets increasingly tedious, until you reach a point where you realize this is like a TV show that goes on way way way longer than it needs to.”
- “The first two episodes feel very slow and grindy as the main characters and setting are established, and it's clear that Telltale Games were not quite sure the direction they wanted to take in regards to plot and gameplay mechanics.”