Still one of the most influential, popular, and successful video games out there,Minecraftis nothing short of a cultural phenomenon, and it has been since its beta release all the way back in 2011. Despite being over 10 years old,Minecraftis still one of the most played video games today, comfortably sitting right alongsidemodern juggernauts likeFortniteandCall of Duty. It only makes sense, then, that developer Mojang would want to capitalize on theMinecraftbrand as much as humanly possible, and its range of spin-offs, like the upcomingMinecraft Legends,do just that.
Beginning with Telltale’sMinecraft: Story Modein 2015, Mojang has attempted several times to expand theMinecraftlicense beyond its standard building and survival gameplay mechanics. WhileMinecraft: Story Modeused Telltale’s distinct, interactive drama gameplay, andMinecraft Dungeonswas aDiablo-like dungeon crawler, Mojang’s upcoming spin-off,Minecraft Legends, is choosing a new route altogether - one which isn’t often seen in the modern video game landscape.
RELATED:Lessons That Minecraft: Legends Should Take from Mojang’s Prior Spin-Offs
Minecraft Legends' Action-Strategy Gameplay
Adding another string to Mojang’s bow,Minecraft Legendsis once again bringing a new type of gameplay to the franchise. This time, the series is delving into the action-strategy genre, which is a bit of a rarity nowadays. While the strategy genre is still one of the biggest in the gaming industry, with titles likeAge of EmpiresandCrusader Kingsconfirming their popularity, the action-strategy genre doesn’t often make an appearance, probably because its mechanics are quite hard to nail down.
By blending two genres together, the action-strategy genre can offer some incredibly unique gameplay opportunities, but if a developer isn’t quite skilled enough, then it can easily lead to a disappointing experience, where both types of gameplay feel half-baked.Double Fine’sBrutal Legendis probably the most infamous example of this. While the game began with the player using simplistic hack-and-slash mechanics, a few hours in it introduced a plethora of strategy mechanics whereby the player had to command troops and place towers all while attacking enemies on the ground. This proved to be fairly divisive, but in the right hands, this gameplay can be a breath of fresh air.
Minecraft Legendslooks like it’s going to follow the staples of the genre pretty closely. Based on the few trailers released so far, it seems as thoughMinecraft Legendswill have the player commanding armies of villagersagainst the opposing Piglin forces, all while participating in the large-scale battles themselves. It also seems as though players will be able to construct various buildings and towers that will likely aid the player’s army in some form, whether that’s supplying the player with more troops to command or an extra line of defense with a turret building.
While this type of gameplay is quite a departure from the mainline experience, there’s someneat crossover in bothMinecraftgames' mechanicsthat help to cementMinecraft Legendsas an authentic extension of the main game. For instance, being able to craft weapons, armors, and buildings is ripped straight fromMinecraftproper, and while combat will probably feel quite different to the main game, the same weapons will be used against the same type of enemies fans have grown accustomed to over the years.Minecraft Legendshas the potential to be one of the most unique games of next year so long as it balances out its action and strategy elements equally.
Minecraft Legendsis set to release in 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:7 Great Games To Play If You Want To Lose Track Of Time
