Every time a new blocky game shows up that has a few similar sandbox mechanics, the internet blows up, slapping the same “Minecraft 2” label and calling it a day. Ever since Hytale was announced, it has been stuck with that title. But to everyone’s surprise, it highly exceeded the expectations, and is actually doing more than good. Not only does calling Hytale “Minecraft 2” set the wrong expectations, but it also oversimplifies it.
There are tons of differences between Hytale and Minecraft. Therefore, players who are expecting it to be a direct upgrade, or even those who are expecting Hytale to kill Minecraft, are going to be heavily disappointed. Hytale is neither a sequel nor a replacement to Minecraft, and this guide will explain all that in extensive detail.
Beyond the Blocky Art, Hytale Is Its Own Game
First of all, let’s address the most basic fact that yes, Hytale looks familiar to Minecraft. Hytale is voxel-based; it has blocks, and the very first thing that any Minecraft player like me would do after creating a new world is punch the trees. But that is where the comparison ends for players who haven’t explored the game further, and this is where the problem arises.
For some reason, most of the blocky sandbox games are treated like there can be only one king in this genre. Even when a completely new game comes out that has a slight similarity to Minecraft, it gets labelled as “Minecraft with mods.” We have seen this before, when Terraria was called “2D Minecraft” due to its blocky aesthetic and survival elements.
And, this is not something new; ages ago, first-person shooters were tagged “Doom clones“, while platform fighters were labelled “Smash clones.” But nobody says these anymore. Gamers do evolve, and there is hope that they start judging such sandbox games based on what they actually do rather than who got there first.
Hytale Leans More Into RPG Adventure Than Pure Sandbox Play
Minecraft’s magic is that it is directionless. You get thrown into a randomly generated world where you have to figure everything out. If you’re playing for the very first time, you will obviously have to look up Minecraft wikis or help articles to find out what to do in this game, or do the basic tasks, like how to make a crafting table.
But Hytale takes a different approach, and this is another reason why calling Hytale “Minecraft 2” sets the wrong expectations. As you step into the randomized blocky world, and try to wander around, interacting with the environment, exploring structures, you’ll understand the game has a structured progression alongside the unlimited freedom.
As someone who enjoys both these titles, I see you make your own story in Minecraft, whereas Hytale’s world already has a story waiting to be discovered. My point of view doesn’t have to be the same as yours, and you are free to let us know that in the comments.
What I’m trying to convey is that Hytale leans more into RPG mechanics; there are factions, a greater combat depth, handcrafted encounters, and most importantly, a rich lore waiting to be uncovered. We also don’t see any redstone engineering in Hytale, but rather have some great magic-based mechanics that surely will attract more fantasy players worldwide.
Minecraft’s Cultural Legacy Is a Bar Few Games Can Reach
Minecraft isn’t just a game; it’s a cultural feat. For more than 15 years, Minecraft has been one of the best-selling games of all time. We just saw how huge the success of A Minecraft Movie was last year. It almost seems like catching a unicorn that Minecraft attracts generations of players all around the world. And, expecting any game to just replicate Minecraft seems like any new open-world action RPG game to be the next Skyrim.
You can’t just compare the game mechanics, find slight familiarity, and suggest that it would obliterate something that has a huge cultural impact and nostalgia. Especially when Hytale hasn’t even released in a stable version yet.
We have noticed a similar trend in games before. Where the hype grows, expectations inflate, and when they aren’t met, suddenly the next best ‘X game‘ isn’t what they thought would be a miracle. A very basic instance is Cyberpunk 2077, where all of us were hoping to get massive customization options, but eventually ended up with a buggy release.
Although the game improved heavily later on, the initial disappointment stuck with gamers’ minds. This point adds to why calling Hytale “Minecraft 2” sets the wrong expectations and feeds the same hype machine. The irony here is that these are the same people who said Minecraft is losing its nostalgic blocky world when the newer world-changing updates like Trail Ruins or Trial Chambers were introduced.
The “Minecraft 2” Comparison Overshadows What Makes Hytale Unique
My final thoughts would be that these labels, like “Minecraft 2” and “Minecraft on Mods,” are shortcuts for the brain that eventually kill the curiosity of a hopefully good game. I’ve seen a few of my friends not try a game outright just because it seems like something else. Even if a few would try, they would play for a little while, point out the most obvious similarities, and never touch the deeper systems.
Among all of this, a healthier take emerges among the gaming community. Players who love Minecraft might not like Hytale, and that’s completely fine. People should give this game a little room, let it breathe, and find its own audience. It should be treated as a separate or even a sibling game instead of being compared and called a sequel.
Hytale has a huge collection of blocks, weapons, mechanics, workbenches, and its own RPG style. There will also be a time when Hytale has tons of bugs, but similar to how Minecraft improved over the past decade, if we allow the same for Hytale, it can be another massive hit.
So, do you think Hytale can ever be a second Minecraft or replace it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Bipradeep Biswas
