Minecraft Legends is a real-time strategy and action twist on Minecraft, from developers Mojang Studios and Blackbird Interactive. Players assume the role of the classic Minecraft hero, sent on a journey to rescue an Overworld under siege by piglins. Aside from the campaign, Minecraft Legends also offers a Versus Mode where teams of players can battle each other online.

Minecraft Legends has prioritized the most accessible features of the RTS genre, and as a result, compromised a lot of its potential enjoyment. Its core simplicity is both its greatest strength and weakness, and will largely determine whether or not players invest long-term.

Overall, the gameplay is basic enough for newcomers of all kinds, including younger players. That also means that Minecraft Legends feels more like a novelty compared to the likes of Minecraft Dungeons, and redundancy will become a serious issue for most.

Although PvP matches can make for a good party game, there aren’t enough layers for each team to get really creative and outwit each other. Instead, fundamental mechanics in other RTS games are the central mechanics in Minecraft Legends. It’s odd when the most compelling aspect of a game is not the main campaign.

However, all of this doesn’t necessarily mean it is unenjoyable altogether. The world itself resembles Minecraft, but adds the same kind of polish and refinement fans would expect from a full-blown RPG. 

Further, some of the RTS mechanics let you interact with the world in interesting ways. You’ll keep up the fast-paced action with devices that automatically acquire resources, and you can get wild animals to follow you around just like the allies you spawn.

The highlight of the game is probably the campaign, which includes some well-staged cinematics and strong performances. It’s a delight to simply progress the story and watch events unfold, in a world that lives and breathes. But none of these Minecraft follow-ups have compared to the freedom and creative spark of the original game.

Final Thoughts

Minecraft Legends is best reserved for playing with friends, and you may not get enough mileage out of that either. While the genres blend well, the features are too limited for extended gameplay, despite a charming story and striking visuals. If the IP and simplicity don’t win you over, you will likely be disappointed.

Score: 7/10