Summary
After the success ofMinecraft, it would make sense that Mojang and Microsoft would want to further tap the IP. So, theMinecraftspin-off games were born with the likes ofMinecraft Story Mode,Minecraft Dungeons, and the recently releasedMinecraft Legends. Each of these games has taken the blocky world ofMinecraftinto brand-new genres, with varying results. And although they all seem to have strong initial success, none of them seem to stick around for awfully long.
Minecraft Legendsis the latest in a long line ofMinecraftspin-offs that have experimented with the concept. This game takes the IP to the RTS genre for a unique experience that may be worth a try or two. Yet even though it can be fun, it seems to have failed to reach the heights of its predecessors. As such, the game may not be around for very much longer. While there may still be a few good updates in store for fans, the final days ofMinecraft Legendsmay already be on the horizon.
Minecraft Legends Does Not Have the Staying Power of Minecraft
Minecraft Legends Failed to Impress Critics and Players
Nothing really compares to the success ofMinecraft, which means that these spin-offs are already at a disadvantage. Players come to the blocky world for a massive sandbox adventure that lets them run wild with their creativity.Games likeMinecraft Legendslet players experience that world from a different perspective, but since they are different genres, the creative aspect of the concept is not there. Because of that, these spin-offs feel like they are lacking something, which makes it harder forMinecraft Legendsto excite the fanbase.
Minecraft Legendsis not a bad game by any means, it just is not really whatMinecraftplayers are looking for. TheMinecraft-themed art style is cute, the classic RTS mechanics are fun to play, and fighting against other players can be a blast. However, the AI is lacking, the game is not very deep, and it can be rather tedious at times. Since Mojang aims to deliver more family-friendly experiences, the game also streamlines the RTS experience drastically, which makes for a pretty bare-bones adventure. While thatmakesMinecraft Legendsa good starter RTS, it never really goes further than that.
Because of all of this,Minecraft Legendsfailed to really excite criticsor players. The game may have amassed 3 million players within its first two weeks, yet the reviews were pretty mixed. Some of the post-launch updates have helped improve the experience overall. However, it still leaves much to be desired, which could mean that players are already looking for something else.
Most Minecraft Spin-offs Have Small Lifespans
Not only didMinecraft Legendsfail to impress audiences, butMinecraftspin-offs as a whole already have relatively short lifespans.Minecraftmay be getting consistent updates since 2009, and will likely get even more for years to come, yet its spin-offs do not get that same treatment.Minecraft: Story Modewas a two-season-long thing that has not been expanded since 2019,Minecraft Earthwas shut down two years after release, and Mojang released the last major update toMinecraft Dungeonsthree years after it hit store shelves.
Minecraftspin-offsdo not seem to have that same longevity. Because of that,Minecraft Legends' final days may already be on the horizon. While the studio has released a couple of major updates for the game, there will likely only be a couple more in the pipeline before the studio cuts off support. It may not happen tomorrow; however, there is a chance it could happen in a year or two. But even if it does shut down soon, anotherMinecraftspin-off will probably rise in its place.
Minecraft Legends
WHERE TO PLAY
InMinecraft Legends, you play as the hero! You might think that means you’ll be doing all the fighting, but actually: you’ll be doing all theleading.InLegendsyou’re not the only fighter, and in fact, your allies are better equipped to deal with the piglins than you are. Your task is to summon new friends and lead them in battle to defeat the rampaging piglins. You will have to defend villages, destroy piglin bases, and more to push back the piglins’ Nether corruption. Different allies have different strengths and weaknesses, which when used wisely can give you the edge in battle. In true Minecraft fashion, you must also make sure that you don’t run out of resources, so that you’re able to keep spawning allies and building defensive or offensive structures. Exploring the Overworld is also important: it’s how you meet new friends and discover new resources, and even treasure! Plus, you’ll get to experience a new Overworld each time you play through the campaign, because every playthrough generates a unique map.
