

It’s a bit like a LEGO project, as these blocks can be removed, rearranged, and used to build something entirely unique. The study also suggests that graduate skills may be improved in a relatively short amount of time, with the gains reported here achieved over a period of eight weeks and representing just 14 hours of game play.”įor children particularly, it could be said that the activities in Minecraft can make them smarter and even get them ahead at school.įor example, when starting a new game on Minecraft, players will be presented with a randomized map, made up entirely of blocks. “Playing commercial video games can have a positive effect on communication ability, adaptability and resourcefulness… suggesting that video games may have a role to play in higher education. One of the researchers behind the Glasgow University study also believes this, and made the following statement to the Daily Mail newspaper: We believe Minecraft can help your brain. With no real storyline and limited direction on how to play, children are mostly free to decide how they want to interact with the game. Most of these benefits are owing to how the game is structured. Their research found that people who played the game were able to show increased communication, adaptability and resourcefulness scales, compared to the control group – all skills that are seen as being key for graduate success. It can teach kids the fundamentals of programming skills, teamwork, problem-solving, project management, and offers a fantastic environment to foster creativity and “out of the box” thinking.īecause of this, there have been various studies and opinion pieces that point towards the idea that Minecraft can make you smarter.įor example, a study in 2017 conducted at Glasgow University linked playing video games and Minecraft to future university success.

Here’s our take on things… Does Minecraft make you smarter?Īs far as non-violent, educational games go, Minecraft is arguably one of the best. A particular concern could be whether Minecraft has the capacity to make kids smarter, be an IQ booster, and ultimately good for their brain. With video games making up a large proportion of this screen time, it’s no wonder so many parents want to know more about the popular Minecraft game. If that’s to be believed, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be, it’s crucial to make informed and conscious choices about the type of media our kids consume. According to research conducted in 2018, most UK kids will spend an average of four hours a day looking at screens.
