Although many of today’s popular titles are free-to-play games, it might surprise you to find out thatMinecraft— the best-selling game of all time — isn’t one of them. Its price varies depending on your platform of choice, but it’ll always cost you something to pick up and play the hit title. However, it is possible to playMinecraftfor free using a limited-time trial of the game.
Difficulty
What You Need
Eligible platform (Xbox, PlayStation, PC)
Trial version of Minecraft
It’s not available on every system (and there are a few limitations), but it’s a good idea to take advantage of the demo before buyingMinecraft. There’s also a way to access an old version of Minecraft from 2009 for free, so long as you don’t mind being more than a decade behind the times.
Play the Minecraft demo on PC and Mac
Anyone looking to test outMinecrafton their home computer just needs to create a new account and download Minecraft from theofficial website.
That’s really all there is to it. This will give you access to the full version ofMinecraft, but it only lasts for “five in-game days.” A day in Minecraft runs for about 20 minutes, so you’ll have just over an hour and a half to decide if the game is for you. It’s also a good way to check if your older laptop can handle the procedurally generated worlds and sprawling landscapes of one of the best PC games and Mac games.
Play the Minecraft demo on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
While the demo for the console is more restrictive than PC/Mac, it still allows you to experience the world ofMinecraft. Here is where you can access the demo for consoles:
Xbox One owners can locate the demo on the Xbox Store after searching forMinecraft.
PlayStation 4 owners can find it on the PlayStation Store after searching forMinecraft.
You won’t be able to save your progress or go past the trial levels, but this is the only way to get a few minutes withMinecraftwithout dropping any cash.
It’s also worth pointing out thatMinecraftis included with Xbox Game Pass. The subscription service isn’t free, but if you’re already signed up, you may install the full version ofMinecraftwithout spending additional money.
Play the Minecraft demo on iOS and Android
Unfortunately, there isn’t a demo version ofMinecraft: Pocket Editionavailable. Instead, it might be worth your time to check out one of the manyMinecraft-inspired titles floating around both the Google Play Store and the App Store.
For a detailed list of alternativeMinecraftgames forAndroidsandiPhones, check out our current guides.
Play Minecraft Classic for free
If you don’t mind missing out on a few decades' worth of updates, you can check out a free version ofMinecraft Classicon PC. This free version of the game lacks most ofMinecraft’smore modern features, but players can still interact with friends and poke around in Creative mode.
Minecraft Classicis also run directly from your browser, making it suitable for older laptops or rigs with an overflowing hard drive.
If this sounds appealing to you, you can check out the game onMojang’s official website.
