The game was never good at explaining stuff, you basically HAVE to read the wiki: https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Minecraft_Wiki
There's various play styles you can choose from - building a base, more travelling / exploration focused, cave exploration and not getting killed, mining, settling in a village and trading with villagers, hunting treasures from shipwrecks, hoarding loot, or simply trying to beat the game (find a stronghold, kill the dragon). But nothing will push you in any direction, it's always your game to play any way you prefer. You can also switch to creative mode and play it like a big lego set
@piggo @FailForward
It is the utter freedom of the game that makes it so great. You wanna fight? Sure, go hunt mobs, kill the dragon, visit the nether and haunt those ghasts. Wanna build? Great! Go mine the materials you need for it, and start creating your most fantastic contraption! Wanna explore? You're all set! Make some gear, some supplies, food and such, and just roam roam roam around.
For those who get bored with vanilla Minecraft (like I do, actually) there's countless modpacks that add extra dimensions to the game! It can make the game easier, harder, give you some direction (there are questing mods), and give you some more goals.
In essence Minecraft is one of the best sandbox games around.
And I agree, with friends it's even more fantastic.
For me the fun is exploring for a great place to start, and then build build build expand build build build.
@piggo @FailForward
I play the java version as well. It might load a bit slow, but ye gods, the amount of modpacks is staggering and there's a lot more freedom how you want to set up your game.
It does mean that it is not available for mobile and switch. I also doubt it's crossplatform compatible.
I've never tried the other versions than the java one. I know my nephew plays it on his switch, so probably the bedrock one there. Vanilla the java and other versions are largely similar.
