Minecraft Dungeons going arcade

How do you play Minecraft Dungeons? Curled up on a comfy couch? At your desk with a mouse and keyboard? Locked up in a bathroom while your annoying sibling desperately yells at you? The possibilities are endless, which is why I hope you don’t mind us adding another one to the list. Don’t worry – it’s better than the bathroom option, but there is a risk that a line will form if you take your time!  

We recently teamed up with Play Mechanix – unrivaled experts in the ancient arts of arcade gaming and cabinet crafting – to use their knowledge and expertise to create the blockiest dungeons crawler in the history of arcade machines. They didn’t disappoint in creating an amazing stand-up version, and today we’re excited to unveil the result: Minecraft Dungeons Arcade.  

Besides being a four-player co-op experience with a fresh approach to the standard version, Minecraft Dungeons Arcade is also built into a ridiculously cool cabinet that can make even the sternest, most pessimistic Minecraft.net writer cry tears of joy. I could probably write a book or two on the sheer beauty of it, but since my keyboard is waterlogged from my joyous sobbing, let’s settle with this awesome image instead.

A limited number of Minecraft Dungeons Arcade cabinets are currently being distributed across North America for testing, and more will be released later this year. In the meantime, we’re making sure that these cabinets will be tested in arcades that follow local health guidelines in order to mitigate the risk of the ongoing pandemic.

A NEW EXPERIENCE

While the arcade version still contains the familiar multiplayer, dungeon-crawling gameplay you know and (hopefully) love, it also offers a new take that is made available through fundamental differences between consumer games and arcade games.

“If you take a step back, you can see the similarities between the two, but when you take a step into [a consumer] game, it’s like a waltz,” says Will Carlin, creative director at Play Mechanix. “An arcade game on the other hand is some kind of super break-dancing speed experience – it’s about intensity of the moment, and surviving as long as possible – an intense burst of fun!”

Sounds like quite the challenge, especially if you’re a two-left-foot foxtrot dancer like myself. However, the Dungeons Arcade gameplay is easy to understand. There are nine levels in total, and each player only needs to focus on three specific buttons: Melee, Dodge, and Range. That’s easier to count than foxtrot steps!

“My advice is to use every button that’s on that control panel to survive,” Will tells me. “It’s not just hack and slash – there’s strategy in there. If you want to get the most out of your play, you’ll want to use all the possible abilities the player has available.”

CARDS AGAINST MOBANITY

Now, Dungeons wouldn’t be Dungeons without the humongous arsenal of pixelated gear you can collect throughout the game. In the arcade version, there’s a unique take on this system: instead of save files, the player uses physical cards earned through each play session to empower their character with weapons, pets, skins, and items.

“When you play the game, you collect gems and [defeat enemies], which fills your card meter,” Will explains. “Once card meters are full, they activate, and you can use them to defeat enemies all around you. Every time you play the game, a card will be given that is yours to keep.” 

There are 60 cards to collect, and each player can scan up to five cards per session with the help of a scanner positioned on top of the arcade machine. And as Will mentions: you still get to keep the cards you earn so that you’re able to both collect and use them in future game sessions.

Ready to build your team and climb the leaderboards? Just keep your eyes, ears, and noses open and stay tuned for more news on the Minecraft Dungeons Arcade!