Minecraft is an open world, sandbox style game available across multiple platforms including PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox 360/One, PlayStation 3/4, Wii U, iOS, and Android – basically it’s available on any platform under the sun for endless blocky adventuring and fun! The Minecraft world gives you the freedom to become whatever you want and shape your surroundings as you please. Whether you want to be a miner, warrior, smith, cook, builder, enchanter, all of these, or anything in between there is an opportunity available for you in this game!

Business Model: Retail, price varies depending on platform.

Microtransactions: Players may purchase Minecoins in game. Minecoins may then be spent on the Minecraft Marketplace for a variety of cosmetics, adventure packs, minigames and various community created content.

Features:

Endless Replayability: Randomly generated worlds and spawn points make each new world an adventure like no other. You can even travel to other worlds within your world like the Nether or the End.

Two Modes: Test your ability to survive in Survival, or create freely in Creative mode with unlimited resources.

Mods & Skins: Minecraft users may import mods and skins to customize and change their gameplay. There is a massive community out there with tons of content to choose from.

Play Alone, With Friends or Strangers: Play solo, or join local, online, and even massive scale servers to suit your social needs and playstyle.

Expansions:

Pretty Scary Update: Added new boss “The Wither”, anvil, command block, the beacon, and new food items

Redstone Update: Added and improved many blocks that are powered by “Restone”. Most of these blocks have to do with automation and creating circuits to that end.

Horse Update: Added Horses and leads, coal blocks, resource packs, and a new launcher, among other things.

The Update that Changed the World: Improved world generation with new biome generator, new bione variations, new terrain generator, new trees, new spawn system, custom-sized nether portals, new fish and a fishing system with rewards, as well as increased customization options.

Bountiful Update: Features added for mapmakers and new survival features.

Combat Update: A virtually complete overhaul of the combat system.

Frostburn Update: An “auto-jump” feature added which would allow players to automatically jump up to a block that was one block higher than their current block. Prior to 1.10 any vertical movement not on a ramp or ladder required pressing the jump button. Also added mobs and blocks associated with hot and cold biomes.

Exploration Update: Added new spawn eggs, llamas, new enemy type mobs, and explorer maps.

World of Colour Update: Added new colorful blocks, parrots, functions, and dyable beds.

Update Aquatic: New aquatic biomes added, giving variation to water. New pre-generated structures such as shipwrecks, icebergs, and underwater ruins. New mostly aquatic mobs. Added new “buffet” mode, which generates a world containing only a single biome.

Expansion Name: Brief summary of all content added by this expansion

National Geographic’s MMO called Animal Jam is an MMO specifically targeted towards younger audiences, providing them with a safe place to make friends and explore an interesting world. In Animal Jam players can create their own animal friends, customize their own den, complete quests, play games, and most importantly learn a little bit about nature and why we all should try to preserve the natural world around us.

Business Model: Free to Play with premium subscription.

Microtransactions: Yes – Cosmetics for customizing animal and den.

Features:

Strong Customization: From the dens where your animal friends will hang out to actually creating your animal friends, Animal Jam provides an amount of customization that will satisfy the young mind’s creativity.

Safety: Many adults fear that their children may not be safe online, especially in an online MMO that anybody could join. On Animal Jam’s official website there is a list of rules specifying no tolerance for bullying, cheating, or inappropriate conduct, as well as recommendations as to what a child should do if encountered with a situation that makes them uncomfortable.

National Geographic Endorsement: The fact that National Geographic endorses Animal Jam definitely speaks for the educational value that such an MMO has to offer young minds.

On the Go!: Get Animal Jam: Play Wild! for your mobile device! Available for Android or Apple products.

Star Wars Battlefront is a sci-fi shooter taking place on large-scale battlefields where both ground troops and high-impact vehicles battle for control. Join your preferred faction’s ranks and fight for the fate of the galaxy.

Business Model: Retail

Microtransactions: Yes, additional downloadable content is available for sale either by the piece, or as a whole with a season pass.

Key Features:

Classes: Restore order as an Empire Stormtrooper or pledge yourself to the Rebel Alliance as a freedom-seeking soldier.

Planetary Conflict: Firefights aren’t ever too far away with the 20v20 teams.

You and Me Buddy: Brush up on your gun-slinging skills in the pseudo-campaign by yourself, or with a friend.

Charge!: Spearhead the assault with powerful and unique characters such as Han Solo or Chewbacca.

Air-Support: Pilot ships like the Millenium Falcon or a TIE Fighter and rain lasers from above.

FPS/TPS: First-person mode not quite your style? Switch it to third-person mode even from within a match on the fly!

Different Sides, Same Coin: Try out both factions and discover your true calling.

Other Ways to Play: Sink your teeth into a variety of other rule-changing multiplayer game modes.

Eye Candy: Get the fans running and marvel at the beautiful visuals on display.

Expansions:

Jakku: Enjoy some new locations and a game mode for free.
Outer Rim: Take the engagement to the home planet of Jabba the Hut.
Bespin: Drop by the city in the sky with a few more maps and a game mode.
Death Star: Go back to original trilogy’s most iconic set piece.
Rogue One: Celebrate the release of the high-flying adventure with characters and maps from the movie.

Clash of Clans brings strategic base raiding RTS action to Facebook and mobile devices. Build your base, gather resources, and carefully plan your army as you prepare to tackle foes in an intense single player campaign or raid rival players’ bases to speed up your resource acquisition. With real progression, fantastic graphics, and competitive clans and leagues, Clash of Clans changes the way we are looking at mobile gaming.

Business Model: Free to Play

Microtransactions: Yes – Players may purchase gems in game, which may be used to purchase a variety of defenses, resources, and troops, or maybe be used to decrease production times by buying the item being produced immediately. Can be earned by in game play via achievements.

Key Features:

Base Customization: Space is limited and expansions are expensive. Choose carefully how much real estate you utilize on barracks, walls, defenses, and supplies.

Diverse Units and Strengths: Clash of Clans takes a humorous approach to a mix of fantasy and Viking inspired units. With varying strengths, defenses, damage, and target priority, building the right force for each base takes real strategy.

Leagues and Clans: Join a clan and utilize shared units to defend your base while offline. And climb the ranks by acquiring trophies from PvP base raiding to become a world champion.

Battle Recap: Raided while on the go? Watch recaps to see how effective your base defenses are holding up and properly plan for future attacks.

Single Player Campaign: PvP not your thing? Take part in an expansive single player system to acquire additional resources and troops.

Expansions:

The folks at Supercell are constantly adding new content to Clash of Clans in order to offer the most balanced and enjoyable game possible, as well as adding new troops and defenses to keep the game fresh. For a full list of updates check the wiki here!

Poptropica is a single-player adventure with various MMO and educational elements designed to be enjoyed by players of all ages. Go on an incredible adventure across dozens of islands battling nefarious enemies, completing objectives, discovering mysteries, and collecting a wonderful wardrobe of cosmetic options for your personal avatar.

Business Model: Free to Play

Microtransactions: Yes, various cosmetic items are available for sale.

Key Features:

Unstoppable Warrior: Fight decaying zombies, futuristic robots, and high-sailing pirates -among many others- along your journey across Poptropica.

Talk the Talk: You don’t have to get caught up in the content grind, take the leisure route casually exploring the game world at your own pace chatting with others as you see fit.

Paradise: Claim an island as your own and work to build it up to suit your needs.

Expansions:

Island Creator Kit: Follow along on a interactive journey through the developer roadmap for creating a new island.

Poptropica Adventures: Take Poptropica on the go with your Nintendo DS.

Poptropica: Forgotten Islands: Poptropica comes to even more devices with the iOS and 3DS versions.

Poptropica Worlds: Port over your character into a new universe filled with additional features and locations.

Welcome to a new age of competitive online gaming. Take your place as a powerful Summoner, calling forth and controlling brave Champions in battle. Join forces with your closest allies as you unite to defeat your foes in deadly multiplayer battle arenas. League of Legends combines elements from both strategy and role playing games to bring you a unique and dynamic player experience. Select your champion from over 100 already in the game, and head down to Summoners Rift or the Howling Abyss to do battle. The ultimate goal is to take down the enemy Nexus, starting from your side of the map and working together. Pushing down the enemy towers, tackling Baron and Dragon, placing wards, these are all key to victory. Choose your allies wisely, for the stakes are high. In the League, every battle means more than life or death as the balance of power shifts with each victory or defeat.

Features:

Champion Roles: Champions come in the following forms: Assassin, Fighter, Mage, Support, Tank, and Marksman. Each role has its own responsibilities in terms of team-play. Figure out what classes you like to play and are best at!

Summoner Ranks: Advance your Summoner in rank and power to gain useful skills and abilities that will give you an edge in battle. Find out what abilities you want to use with what champions to really push your playstyles to their limits.

Clans: Join up with clans and teams to compete with other players in tournaments and organized leagues. Trade helpful tips with other clan members to help each other improve.

Ranked Matches: Battle in ranked matches to become ranked for the current season or to improve your current ranking. Strive to improve and gain honor in Runeterra!

ROBLOX is a free 3D multiplayer virtual playground and workshop available on PC, Mac, Xbox One, iOS, and Android. It’s unique in that everything in the game has been designed and constructed by individual members of the ROBLOX community. There are no levels or goals in Roblox, but instead creativity and socializing are encouraged. Put your free-thinking and creative skills to the ultimate test and take part in the massive Roblox community!

Business Model: Freemium

Microtransactions: Yes – Nearly everything in Roblox revolves around Robux. Earn them by purchasing directly, joining the builder’s club, or by having people visit your Place. Spend them on a variety of cosmetic items to improve your avatar, or in game (Place) upgrades.

Key Features:

Your Own Place: Each player gets their own piece of undeveloped real estate along with a virtual tool box with which to design and build anything desired – be it a navigable skyscraper, a working helicopter, a giant pinball machine, a multiplayer “Capture the Flag” game or some other, yet-to-be-dreamed up object or activity.

Create Items: Buy gear from other players to customize your character to your liking. Become a Builders Club member so you can create things like shirts, t-shirts, and pants. Become an admin and you can sell hats, gear, and other various packages on the platform!

Cash Out: By participating and by building cool stuff ROBLOX members can earn specialty badges as well as ROBLOX dollars (“Robux”). In turn, they can shop the online catalog to customize their avatars and to purchase premium building materials which they can use to build even cooler environments!

Expansions:

Roblox is constantly updating, both by player participation and by developers improving the engine and capabilities of the platform.

World of Warcraft is a 3D fantasy MMORPG offering massive amounts of immersive and engaging content ranging from narrative-intensive quests and challenging dungeons, to relaxing skilling and pet raising. Azeroth is an expansive world packed with stories, but none are as classic as the Alliance versus Horde rivalry – which side will you pick?

Business Model: Free to Try, Monthly Subscription, Paid Expansion Releases

Microtransactions: Yes, real world money can be spent to access brand new content as well as a variety of in-game items.

Key Features:

Races:

The Alliance: Humans, Gnomes, Night Elves, Dwarves, Draenei, Worgen, & Pandaren
The Horde: Orcs, Trolls, Undead, Tauren, Blood Elves, Goblins, & Pandaren

Classes:

Druid: Bend nature to your will for offensive and defensive assistance.
Hunter: Fight from afar with piercing arrows and debuffing traps.
Mage: Blast away foes with devastating magics.
Paladin: Tank damage and support friends as a virtuous knight.
Priest: Control the flow of battle from the backlines healing allies or dealing massive shadow damage to hostiles.
Rogue: Utilize stealth to scope out locations and create havoc from behind enemy lines.
Warlock: Summon terrifying demons and cast damage over time spells.
Warrior: Hold the frontline as the first in and out of combat.
Death Knight: Flex into several roles depending upon your build as an undead servant of the Lich King.
Monk: Soak up damage and dish out just as much.
Demon Hunter: Convert the powers of the wicked into the fuel for devastating tanking and damaging abilities.

Adventurer: Explore the thousands of activities scattered across the world.

Engarde!: Hone your skills and challenge another player to a duel to the death.

Page by Page: Follow along the many storylines crafted throughout the years.

Bounty Hunter: Take on increasingly difficult dungeons and defeat the boss waiting at the end.

Work Life Balance: Farm reputation and materials alongside questing and raiding.

Handyman: Train skills and reap the various benefits

Blue vs. Red: Represent and fight for your faction!

Role Play: Build out your character exactly as you see fit with a wealth of customizable options.

One for All: Chat with guildmates work to raise your renown.

Expansions:

The Burning Crusade: Meet the Blood Elves and travel to the ravaged world of Outland where you will come across the legendary Demon Hunter Illidan.
Wrath of the Lich King: Take a stand against the fearsome Lich King.
Cataclysm: The evil dragon Deathwing the Destroyer is back and has brought about catastrophic levels of destruction.
Mists of Panderia: Explore a new continent and race based on Chinese culture.
Warlords of Draenor: Travel to Draenor and put an end to their destructive war-lust.
Legion: Follow the Demon Hunters into battle against the vile creatures from the Burning Horde.
Battle for Azeroth: The trust between the great factions crumbles and war looms on the horizon.