Minecraft
© 2011 Microsoft Studios
5/23/2017 Purchased from Mojang by Microsoft. Here's the original 2011 review: When does good social game play trump good graphics and sounds? Here's a poster-child example. Minecraft is a game about breaking and placing blocks. The simplicity is it's main strength. Combining a building theme with a tag-game mechanic, Minecraft lets you create underground caves that you can hide in, while other players try to find you. Because the game is time sensitive, conditions can change based on the time of day. Note that the original game was free (when in "beta" phase) but it is now "finished" and sold for $27. Created in Java by Markus Persson, aka Notch, who is no longer with the company.
$26.95, Windows, Mac OSX, Internet Site, iPad, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox One
Teaches: social gaming, spatial relations, maps
CTR Rating: 96%