Which edition of Minecraft is right for you?

By Timothy Lickteig On 2023-08-11

Back in the day, there was just Java edition. Now, there are so many that even I can barely keep track of them. Luckily I have this helpful little guide written to help you. First things first, I will only be listing the main game, and not any of the spin-offs like legends or dungeons because neither of them are the typical sandbox game that you might expect, and they frankly deserve their own articles.

Legacy console editions



The first set of versions that I'm going to mention are the legacy console editions. This harkens back to the early days of Minecraft, back in the early 2010's. This predominantly includes both the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game, although there were also PS Vita and Wii U versions. They are unfortunately abandoned now, but are probably still good for a bit of fun if you happen to dust off your old Xbox. Either way though, most people will not be playing on this version, so lets move on.

Java edition

Next version is Java edition. This version in my opinion is for two different groups of people: Mac users and modders. Unfortunately, Java edition is the only option for Mac users, due to Java itself being cross-platform by design. Luckily the percentage of Minecraft players on Mac is pretty small, and they seem to be doing just fine.



Java edition is also your only real option if you plan to mod the game. Other editions benefit from texture packs and behavior packs, but good luck if you want to go to the freaking moon! That being said, I am not sure I can recommend it for all PC users (especially low end hardware) due to the severe optimization issues that it has accumulated over the years.

Bedrock Edition

The next one is what I would recommend that most people play on, which is Bedrock edition. This edition is what is available for all major mobile platforms, Windows, Xbox one/series consoles, PS4/PS5 and the Nintendo Switch. Written in C++ rather than Java, Bedrock editions of Minecraft are much more optimized for the devices that they run on. The downside is that the game is much less customizable than Java edition, and console users are required to pay for premium online services, but it's not like they have a choice anyways. Nevertheless, it's the version that runs on the most platforms, simple to play, and is perfectly optimized. For that reason, I recommend it for the most people.



Other weird versions

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