While a lot of today's most popular titles are free-to-play games, it might surprise you to learn that Minecraft the top-selling game of all time - isn't one of them. Although the price of Minecraft is different based on the platform you choose however, it will always cost you some money to download it and begin playing. However, it is possible to play Minecraft without cost by using a trial-version of the game.
Play the Minecraft demo on PC and Mac Play the Minecraft demo on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
Try the Minecraft demo on iOS and Android
Play Minecraft Classic for free
Difficulty
- Eligible platform (Xbox, PlayStation, PC)
Minecraft Trial Version
It's not available on every platform (and there are some limitations), but it's a good idea try the demo before buying Minecraft. There's also a way to download an old version of Minecraft from 2009 for free, so long as you don't mind being more than a decade behind times.
You can play the Minecraft demo on Mac as well as PC.
Anyone who wants to try Minecraft on their computer at home just needs to create a new account and download Minecraft from the official website.
That's all there is to it. This will let you access the full Minecraft version however, it's only valid for "five in-game day". A day in Minecraft runs for around 20 minutes, which means you'll have just over an hour and a half to determine if the game is the right fit for you. This is a great way to test your older computer's capabilities to handle the vast procedurally generated worlds and vast landscapes of some of the most well-known PC and Mac games.
Play the Minecraft demo on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
Although the console demo is less limiting than that for PC and Mac however, it does allow users to explore the world of Minecraft. Here's how to access the console demo:
Xbox One owners can locate the demo on the Xbox Store after searching for Minecraft.
After searching for Minecraft, owners of PlayStation 4 can find it in the PlayStation Store.
MINECRAFT
While you won't have the possibility of saving your progress or pass the trial levels it is the only way you can play Minecraft for only a few minutes and not spend any money.
It's important to note that Minecraft is part of Xbox Game Pass. While the subscription service isn't free and you're already registered for an account, you can download the full version of Minecraft for free.
Play the Minecraft demo on iOS or Android
There isn't a demo version of Minecraft: Pocket Edition available. It's worth your while to explore one of the many Minecraft-inspired games available on both the Google Play Store or the App Store.
Check out our latest guides for a complete list of alternative Minecraft games that you can play on your phone or tablet.
Play Minecraft Classic for free
If you're not afraid of being left out of several decades of updates, you can check out a free version of Minecraft Classic on PC. This version, which is free, isn't equipped with the majority of Minecraft's modern features but players are able to play with their friends and poke around in Creative mode.