Highlights:
* Minecraft vs Roblox – While both games are tailored for children, there are certain features and benefits that parents must consider.
* Minecraft is designed for a single-player experience whereas Roblox aims for a healthy social gaming environment.
When it comes to sandbox games, Minecraft and Roblox are the most popular titles. A majority of their player base includes children who are captivated by the simplistic gameplay and graphics. Targeting the younger audiences, developers on Roblox create games that incorporate mechanics inspired by popular TV shows and anime. On the other hand, Mohjang Studio’s Minecraft features a 3D world that allows for exploration, crafting, and even survival.
Parents who want the best for their children are often at a crossroads when selecting Minecraft or Roblox. Both games are readily available for young players but there are certain aspects to consider.
Minecraft vs Roblox: Which Sandbox Game Is Better For Children And Why?
Both Minecraft and Roblox stimulate the creative side of children. They can build and explore, making themselves comfortable in the virtual world. Moreover, they develop skills such as strategic thinking and problem-solving as the games are usually objective-driven. Action games in Roblox have enemy waves or boss fights that compel the player to occasionally switch their approach in their gameplay. Minecraft has survival elements so children have to ‘plan’ and be aware of their character’s hunger meter and other gameplay factors.
Compared to Minecraft, Roblox boasts a wider variety of game genres. There is action, adventure, role-playing, and even casual experiences. Developers are encouraged by the Roblox Corporation to create more gamers and UGC codes to enhance the gameplay experience. Minecraft, meanwhile, is primarily a sandbox survival title where players can collect resources, build homes, and fight enemies.
Most importantly, Minecraft is safer than Roblox because it encompasses a single-player experience. In both the Java Edition and Bedrock Edition of Minecraft, the multiplayer option is turned off for children’s accounts. Minecraft can be played offline while Roblox requires an active connection. The latter is known for its multiplayer experience but children can be overwhelmed by the competition and some of the toxic game communities. Roblox has open servers so anyone can join and disrupt the player experience.
Thankfully, Roblox has multiple features for parents to facilitate a kid-friendly experience. There are chat filters, censorship, restrictions based on the age mentioned in the account, and more. Parents can choose whether to toggle the Roblox voice chat. On the other hand, Minecraft’s parental controls are integrated into Microsoft accounts and the device settings. It is generally a single-player experience so online bullies are out of the question.
Whether to choose Minecraft or Roblox depends on what the parents feel is better for their child. Roblox is tailored for children of the ages 5 to 12. Meanwhile, Minecraft is better for older children and aspiring coders. After they hit age 13, they can create their own games on the platform. Parental controls are present in both games but Roblox has more options and has more streamlined accessibility.
Both Minecraft and Roblox offer exciting experiences to the younger audiences. However, players have to purchase a copy of Minecraft while Roblox is a free-to-play. There are also optional purchases in both titles, mostly virtual cosmetics or avatars.
