Minicraft

Minicraft is a small, freeware 2D action-adventure game created by Markus Persson, better known as Notch. Released in 2011, it presents a simplified, Minecraft-inspired experience focused on exploration, mining, and crafting within a procedurally generated world. The game is written in Java and distributed as a standalone executable, playable on Windows, macOS, and Linux. A version of the source code was made available for study and modification, reflecting its origins as a prototype and learning project.

Gameplay in Minicraft centers on navigating a top-down, tile-based world to gather resources, craft tools and items through a basic inventory and crafting system, and confront hostile creatures. The game emphasizes quick, compact play sessions and features a day-night cycle, with players required to repair or defend their shelter while advancing through the game’s objectives. Its mechanics are intentionally streamlined compared with Minecraft, prioritizing core ideas such as mining, crafting, and survival in a approachable, runnable package.

Development and legacy: Minicraft was produced by Notch as a demonstration of 2D crafting mechanics and game-design techniques, and it circulated widely as a freeware release. While it is a smaller project, it is frequently cited as an early influence on the design philosophy of Minecraft and on the broader indie game scene. Minicraft remains a point of reference for discussions about the evolution of crafting-based gameplay in the early 2010s.

See also: Minecraft, Markus Persson (Notch), Mojang, Ludum Dare.