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

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,452 reviews

story643 positive mentions

stability41 negative mentions

Engaging story that captures the essence of Minecraft.
Great voice acting and character development.
Fun and light-hearted, suitable for all ages.

Requires additional payment for episodes 6-8 after purchasing the base game.
Limited gameplay with many cutscenes, making it feel more like a movie.
Choices often feel inconsequential and do not significantly impact the story.

story
1,945 mentions
33 % positive mentions
63 % 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 humor and emotional moments, particularly in relation to character interactions, but some feel that the story is too linear and lacks the depth found in other Telltale titles. Overall, it is seen as a charming, family-friendly adventure that successfully weaves a narrative within the Minecraft universe, despite some shortcomings in gameplay and pacing.
- “The story was actually pretty interesting!”
- “The story itself isn't something that'll amaze you or have you tensely sitting at the edge of your chair, but it focuses on allowing the game's characters to evolve and be comprehended throughout the story.”
- “The story is incredibly corny and you can play though it in just over an hour.”
- “The story was kind of bland and predictable.”
- “The story doesn't appear to be strongly impacted by the choices the player makes as is the case in other Telltale games.”
- “The final nail in the coffin for Telltale Games was this: a horrible story and its cheesy dialogue makes this game look like Telltale didn't care.”
gameplay
273 mentions
24 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Minecraft: Story Mode" is primarily narrative-driven, featuring minimal interactivity that consists mainly of quick-time events and dialogue choices, making it feel more like an interactive movie than a traditional game. While some players appreciate the storytelling and character development, many criticize the lack of substantial gameplay mechanics and the short duration of playtime, often feeling that the experience does not justify the price. Overall, it caters more to fans of narrative experiences rather than those seeking deep gameplay engagement.
- “It's incredibly simple gameplay but very compelling storytelling, and it's weirdly irresistible.”
- “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 too for the right audience.”
- “If you have some money to burn then go for it, but there isn't enough gameplay to warrant the price.”
- “The gameplay consists of quick-time events (QTEs) in which you will press Q or E or motion a move command to dodge, attack, or make an action happen within about three to five seconds before you either fail or achieve the action that was required.”
- “A lot of the gameplay is realistically you sitting back and watching a playable movie.”
graphics
158 mentions
32 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as faithful to the Minecraft aesthetic, featuring blocky and simplistic designs that resonate with fans of the original game. While some players appreciate the artistic interpretation and improved visuals over standard Minecraft, others criticize the animations and occasional graphical glitches, suggesting that the overall quality may not meet expectations for a modern title. Despite mixed opinions, many agree that the graphics effectively capture the essence of Minecraft while providing a unique storytelling experience.
- “The game has a very defined art style that both stays close and true to the source material, but also deviates due to its differing engine and in service of gameplay.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and the story is captivating.”
- “The graphics reach what all fans have created in awesome animations, but still stays mostly true to the Minecraft universe - 9.5/10.”
- “Bad acting, poor graphics, boring characters and story.”
- “The animation quality and graphics style looks like it was done with the same software that people make those Minecraft YouTube music videos, and the animation feels too robotic and lacking personality.”
- “This game has nothing to do with Minecraft besides its graphics and name somehow.”
humor
118 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its light-hearted and often juvenile jokes, while others find it lacking in depth and sophistication. The voice acting and character interactions contribute to some genuinely funny moments, though the humor can sometimes feel forced or aimed at a younger audience. Overall, while the game has its share of amusing scenes and clever writing, opinions vary on its effectiveness and appeal, particularly for adult players.
- “It's a great story experience, with very good voice acting and a lot of humor... sort of like a great visual novel with quick-time events.”
- “The humor, the story, the characters, all creative and interesting and funny.”
- “Witty humor, good dialogue, and surprisingly well-done voice acting abound in a story limited in scope, but full of personality.”
- “The dialogue in this game is hilarious, and the jokes they try to pass off are just unfunny.”
- “Boring plot, not funny, uninteresting characters.”
- “It is not funny; it is unimaginative crudity masquerading as humor.”
music
71 mentions
35 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its emotional depth and fitting integration into the gameplay, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature. While some noted that the music can be repetitive at times, the overall composition is described as beautiful and well-suited to the game's atmosphere, enhancing both the storytelling and player experience. However, a few critiques mention glitches and a lack of variety compared to the original Minecraft soundtrack.
- “In retrospect, one of my favorite aspects of this game is actually its soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing as well; I've been listening to it since it came out. The DLC (episodes 6-8) are all wonderful, if not even better than the main game.”
- “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.”
- “The music in the game is exactly what you would expect.”
- “Music in this game is rather repetitive.”
- “You see, Minecraft Story Mode's soundtrack recycles itself to an annoying point throughout the 6-hour campaign.”
emotional
67 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players expressing deep connections to the characters and moments that evoke strong feelings, such as grief over character deaths, particularly that of Reuben the pig. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a heartfelt narrative filled with moral choices that resonate emotionally, making it a surprisingly impactful experience, even for a title based on Minecraft. While some found parts of the story lacking depth, the overall sentiment is that the game successfully delivers an emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impression.
- “The story is interesting, but I cried when Reuben died.”
- “This game is an emotional rollercoaster; it is a spiritual journey of friendship and sacrifice.”
- “A very touching game with characters that possess real, relatable personalities and backgrounds.”
- “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.”
stability
42 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting various glitches, including graphical issues, audio problems, and occasional crashes. While some users noted that these bugs did not significantly impact their overall experience, many expressed frustration over the frequency and severity of the glitches, suggesting that the game may require patches to improve stability. Overall, the consensus indicates that while the game has potential, its current state is marred by instability issues.
- “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!”
- “There are graphical glitches everywhere (character models clipping through themselves, and each other. Some blocks are stuck into each other which has a weird clipping effect. One character, Ivor's, beard has that same effect which is distracting and kills the immersion in some cases.”
- “Telltale, fix your broken game; there are so many buggy mechanics.”
- “The opening voice was robotic and fuzzy too; I made my way past most of the opening before the game freezes and crashes my graphics card.”
replayability
28 mentions
29 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The reviews on replayability for this game are mixed, with some players praising its potential for multiple playthroughs due to branching storylines and character choices, while others criticize it for lacking significant replay value, feeling that the experience becomes repetitive despite different dialogue options. Overall, while some find it infinitely replayable and engaging, many others believe it offers limited replayability, making it less appealing for repeated playthroughs.
- “The story is rock solid and, like other Telltale games, has good replay value because of the way the story develops through your choices.”
- “I also loved how Telltale added replayability by splitting up the path to recruit two important characters where both are completely different.”
- “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.”
- “Because while other games have replayability, this game does not have that.”
- “This game has no replay value and I believe I wasted 12 dollars on it.”
- “There's no replayability in this game; just start a new game and it will be incredibly boring because you know that the story is that way. Even if you make different decisions, anything will go that way.”
monetization
18 mentions
17 % positive mentions
-11 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing disappointment in the reliance on microtransactions and DLCs that feel more like advertisements than meaningful content. While some players found enjoyment in the game despite its monetization tactics, the overall sentiment suggests that the game prioritizes profit over quality, leading to a perception of it being a shameless attempt to capitalize on the Minecraft brand.
- “The game is free to play, but it does include microtransactions.”
- “While the game is free, there are optional microtransactions available.”
- “It's great that the game is free, although it does offer microtransactions for those who want to enhance their experience.”
- “The game is nothing but a shameless cash grab.”
- “Overall, I don't think you should buy the game in its entirety, as I believe the base game itself (episodes 1-4) are the best part of this game, whereas the DLCs are just there for the cash grab.”
- “Telltale seemed to have created this because Minecraft is such a popular title and they saw the potential cash grab.”
character development
13 mentions
31 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some praising its depth and integration into the story, while others criticize it for being inconsistent or lacking altogether. While certain characters are well-designed and contribute to the atmosphere, many players feel that the development is either rushed or superficial, failing to create meaningful connections. Overall, the game showcases potential for character growth but often falls short in execution.
- “From in-depth story to insane character development, it truly has something everybody can enjoy.”
- “Amazing game and character designs; the story was written out wonderfully.”
- “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.”
- “Only a select few of the characters were remotely likable, and that, my friends, is bad character design.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its faithful capture of the Minecraft essence, with well-crafted settings and character designs that enhance the overall experience. While many appreciate the cute and immersive environment, some critiques highlight that certain animations and fixed-screen mechanics detract from the intended sandbox feel. Overall, it successfully appeals to Minecraft fans with its charming aesthetic and attention to detail.
- “The creators have captured the Minecraft atmosphere so well; I'm sure it's a joy for every Minecraft fan.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The last place you look maintains the momentum, introducing an experimental side of Minecraft that manages to carry the atmosphere.”
optimization
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it generally runs smoothly and loads quickly, players have reported occasional music glitches, crashes, and issues with audio cutting off. Some users feel that the game is poorly optimized, particularly for Windows 10, and requires significant performance improvements to meet expectations for a general release.
- “Otherwise, the game is solid, loads quickly, and runs smoothly.”
- “Game runs smoothly and it's fun to have control over what happens in the game.”
- “From time to time, the last word of the player character gets cut off; no idea whether this was bad audio editing or a performance issue.”
- “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.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant investment to progress. While some enjoy a slower pace to mitigate the grind, many feel that the lack of engaging story and character development exacerbates the experience. Overall, grinding is seen as a major drawback that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Just tedious; the story isn't interesting, characters don't really have arcs, and the whole story is a mess.”
- “It can be a bit slow and tedious at times.”