Imagination is the only restriction to what can be made. That and the deadly monsters that appear at night, blanketing the world in a coat of danger.

This fully summarizes Minecraft, a blocky world many have come to adore. Whether one is a spelunker hunting for diamonds or a farmer herding cattle into a pen, Minecraft captures one’s heart while releasing their creativity.

Released as recent as 2009, Minecraft has amassed a loyal following, largely due to its simple freedom, even in its earliest forms. At many schools, including Rocklin High, a club is devoted to the game. They meet on a schedule, gathering exclusively to experience what the game has to offer, over and over again. Every world is random, every expedition different. The game never loses that feeling of new territory.

First of all, there is the aboveground life. Farms, pastures, and animals spread across deserts, jungles, tundras, forests and so much more. Chop trees with your bare hands, build a house and live happily.

But something is missing. The sense of adventure is nonexistent as one sits on the surface, cowering inside when monsters arrive. One must steel themselves and venture into the murky depths of the world below the surface. With the pixelated graphics and blocky terrain, it seems like caves can’t be scary. But inside is a mix of terror and fun. Boiling lava, monsters galore, and caves full of the ores necessary for progress.

Minecraft is a game about, well, anything. It questions the player as to what they want to do. Go explore, climb, dig or build. The choice is not made for somebody. Build a shack, a castle or anything between the two. If this isn’t the choice of the player, they can brave the night and survive as a nomad.

No matter what is wished, everything has to be earned. If somebody wants a farm, they must find seeds, gather wood, till the ground and build the aesthetics. If mining is appealing, one must build a pickaxe to gather stone which allows iron to be harvested. This then allows diamonds to be collected, often serving as a players wealth.

Whether one is digging, fighting, exploring or building, Minecraft is a perfect choice for people of all ages. Inside, one is only limited by what they can think of. No matter what you want or what you have, something is possible. One can only begin to see what is available by playing the game. Maybe somebody doesn’t feel so much joy seeing their first finished house. Maybe they don’t enjoy finding those three diamonds a mile under the surface. But for anyone looking for an adventure, Minecraft is definitely the option best suited.