How to play Minecraft for free
You could play Minecraft for free on an impressive number of platforms!
The massive hit Minecraft may be the best-selling video game of all time, but there are still a surprising number of ways to play for free.
It may seem like everyone already owns the sandbox sensation, but if you're curious about the hype and don't want to part with the cash just yet then we have some good news for you.
While there are several paid-for versions that will offer more content, there's at least one way to play absolutely free and a few more cheap options available too.
We'll explain all below on how to get Minecraft for free - and soon you'll be building with blocks rather than stacking your coins!
How to play Minecraft for free
How can I play Minecraft without buying it? How can I play Minecraft for free without downloading? If you've been asking yourself questions like that, we've got all the answers you seek here.
You can play Minecraft for free on your web browser by heading to classic.minecraft.net, with no need to download or install anything. This free version is the original Minecraft creative mode from all the way back in 2009, originally made available as part of the tenth-anniversary celebrations but still fully playable.
Once a level has automatically been generated, you'll be given a shareable link allowing you to play with up to nine friends. From there you simply create a username and press start, and left-click on the mouse to place or mine blocks, right-click to toggle between the two and move using WASD.
However, as this is the original 2009 creative mode, it comes with all the game's limitations from the time. There are no mobs present at all, there are only 32 blocks to build with, and all the original bugs are still present. There's also seemingly no way to save your game, so if you close the tab you'll lose all your retro recreations.
However, you have to bear in mind that this is a completely free game, intended as an anniversary novelty rather than a fully-fledged platform for the sandbox game. It's also a rare chance to see a live service game in its original, unpatched form, sure to bring on a wave of nostalgia for those who have played since the very beginning.
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Is there a Minecraft free trial?
If you want to play the full-fat Minecraft game, as opposed to the free anniversary version we just discussed, you might be wondering if there is a way to obtain a free trial of Minecraft.
We're pleased to tell you that, yes, there are a few ways to get a free trial of Minecraft. If you click over to the free trial page on the Minecraft website, you'll be able to peruse your options.
At the top of that page, the developers explain that a free trial of Bedrock (the main version of Minecraft) is available on Windows 10, Android, PS4, PS3 and the PS Vita. There are also links on that page which will take you to the storefronts in question.
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If you scroll a bit further down that page, you'll see that there is also a free trial of Java (the slightly simpler version of Minecraft). That particular free trial is available on Windows PC, MacOS and Linux.
Is Minecraft Dungeons free too?
Alas no, Minecraft Dungeons is not free to play. If you want to try the dungeon-crawling spinoff game that is Minecraft Dungeons, you will have to buy a copy of the game for your Switch or PS4. Feel free to browse the current Minecraft Dungeons prices on Amazon!
However, if you're an Xbox or PC player, there is a way to play Minecraft and Minecraft Dungeons without breaking the bank. Find out more below.
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Is Minecraft on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes! Minecraft is available on Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass for PC. This means that, as long as you're a paying Xbox Game Pass member on your platform of choice, you should be able to download Minecraft without having to pay anything extra on top of your usual subscription.
On the Xbox Game Pass app, search for Minecraft and you'll see that you can install Minecraft to your Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S or Windows 10 PC.
Minecraft Dungeons is also available on Xbox Game Pass, so that's another bonus for Minecraft-loving members of Microsoft's gaming subscription service. That's the next best thing to playing it for free!
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