> I can't understand the appeal of this game or Minecraft

You can do things from smashing zombies' skulls with a sword to building a replica of your own house to building an ATARI emulator in Minecraft. How is that not exciting?

Possibly because there is no goal and your friends aren't there in person. It's too open ended and over the internet.

Not feeling like I'm really with friends just from talking to them online might be my problem because really anything can be fun when you are with people you enjoy spending time with.

I'm an oldie, but I accidentally got caught up in Minecraft in the year or so it came out and have fond memories of infecting a friend who came over with his laptop so we'd play at my place, drunk as hell.

Entire days and nights disappeared one Christmas, 'til we decided it was dangerous to keep on... . Suffice to say, if you wnated, you could play in the same room, or across the internet. Or both.

Sandboxes and jungle gyms are also open-ended activities, but kids (and presumably you at some point) love them.

Minecraft appeals because it’s a huge, yet simplified, world full of mystery where you can build anything you can imagine. It’s infinitely flexible because you create your own goals. If you want a structured experience with story and someone setting your goals for you then you simply play another game.

Some of the best experiences I've had playing Minecraft have been with a bunch of friends in the same room, getting drunk, and just building whatever we felt like building.

But in general, imo, almost every game is improved with split-screen/local co-op.

Minecraft is just a game focused on user created content. The concept isn't new. It's not too far off of something like Mario Maker, Gary's mod, Second Life, or even excite bike.

i didn't get it either. i found the large blocks wierd, until i started playing myself when my son got old enough. we are playing minetest, and i have to say, it feels like virtual lego. as a lego fan, i am now sold on it.