Minecraft Vs. Roblox: how these Games Compare for Kids
Minecraft and Roblox are extremely popular sandbox-style games. Both allow you to design games, interact with other players and of course play for hours. Each has its own online community that is always available to help. However, Roblox and Minecraft are very different when you dig into the details. Here's how they compare on five essential elements:
THE CONTENDERS
Minecraft. Ideal for ages 8+. Open-ended, exploratory and creation-focused environment where players can design objects and structures from scratch using materials they gather from the world.
Roblox. It is recommended for users aged 13+ A game-creation website where users create and upload their own games and also play other games in a multiplayer environment.
Price
Minecraft has a higher start-up cost ($26.95 for PC and Mac), while Roblox utilizes the "freemium/premium" model.
Roblox allows users to play games and design small numbers for free. However, you must join to enjoy the more fun stuff like customizing your avatar, trade weapons and create new games. Roblox's in-game currency Robux can be purchased on a per-order basis. However it's recommended to sign up for the Builders Club ($5.95 per month), which removes ads, lets you manage more games and gives you daily Robux.
Easy to Use
Both games are challenging but they're also part of the game's unique enjoyment. Minecraft does not provide any instructions, however it offers three levels of difficulty. You can learn to play Minecraft through exploration the game, playing around and watching YouTube videos and reading other fan-made content (there is a lot of it online).
Roblox provides two modes of play that allow you to play and create. Although it offers lots of options however, it can be frustrating as the games are created by users. Roblox provides a lot of information, a wiki , and an active community for children interested in making their own games.
Social Aspects
This is the largest wildcard. Both games support multiplayer play, Minecraft lends itself more to solo play, while Roblox is social from the moment you sign in -- and friends and chatting is a major part of the game. Take a look at our guidelines on social media for children who are in elementary school. Roblox and Minecraft both have lots of user-generated content. Players of all age groups, including teens, play and play in the game. Your child can be exposed to explicit language, violent images, and sexually explicit images via any content created by users. You can control some of these through the game's built-in controls. Roblox allows you to disable chat and block users. Minecraft lets you "ignoreother players, but doesn't restrict what you can talk about.
Safety
There are instances of inappropriate predatory behavior in multiplayer and chat modes. Roblox has expanded its child safety program to include parental controls, human moderators, and other features to deter offenders. You can play Minecraft on your own or with a limited number of friends. Contact with strangers is restricted. However, if your child would like to play on a server that is public, find one that's kid-friendly.
Kid-Friendliness
Both Minecraft and Roblox have huge online followers which means that kids can access a lot of additional content , including websites, YouTube videos, even Reddit forums that can expose them to mature topics when they're searching for information about the games. Also, Roblox lets users embed advertisements into their games, so kids will encounter in-game marketing. Violence can be an issue in both games, but while Roblox's user-uploaded games tend to be more of the shooter/explosion/disaster variety, Minecraft's leans more toward hand-to-hand combat, even though it's depicted in a cartoonish way.
Learning and Creativity
Yes! Both games teach basics of computer programming (Minecraft uses an adaptation of Minecraft to Java, and Roblox uses the Lua programming language) However, Minecraft is the superior game in the sense of being education-friendly. Both games also encourage math skills, thinking and reasoning, problem-solving, and collaboration. Because of the digital content you can make and the interaction with other gamers, both games are becoming more popular in after-school programs, computer camps, and teachers' lesson plans.
Our suggestion? Given the Wild West nature of both of these games, you should consider being with your child while he or she learns to play. You can also check out the forums and videos to find out which game is the most appropriate to your child's age and experience as well as their interests.