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Minecraft vs. Roblox

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Some games are made to be played, completed, and then put away. Other games are meant to be played continuously for years upon years. The latter type have been gaining a lot of popularity, with just about every big studio attempting some sort of persistent game that can drawn players in and keep them playing for years, or in some cases upwards of a decade. However, of all the attempts that have been made, there are a select few that stand above the rest as massive successes in terms of popularity. Two of which are quite similar on the surface, but also have a lot of differences once you dig into them: Minecraft and Roblox.

These two titles are massive hits among kids in particular, and each offer ways to keep them engaged and playing for as long as they want. They’ve both enjoyed many years of updates and improvements, which is great for those who are already entrenched in these games, but can be intimidating for anyone new who is curious about which one is right for them. To help break down these two massive games, we’ve compared Minecraft and Roblox so you can pick which one is right for you or your child.

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Further reading

Similarities between Minecraft and Roblox

Minecraft Medieval Castle
Cortezerino

Let’s start with how Minecraft and Roblox are similar, because there are a lot of ways these two games overlap.

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At their core, both of these games can be classified as sandbox experiences, which mean that they both are fueled mainly by the player, or other player’s, creativity. Both games are open ended to the point where players can essentially create any game they want within their framework. One person could make a racing game, another a hide and seek game, and anything and everything in between. Because of this inherent flexibility, both Minecraft and Roblox are able to be played nearly endlessly by finding new creations to try out.

With this, another major similarity between the two titles is their applications for education. While Minecraft has become a much more featured game in classrooms thanks to its dedicated education version, Roblox also offers just as much opportunity for learning as well. Each has amazing potential for not only artistic expression, but also science, math, and computer programming lessons to be done in the games themselves.

The best way to play each of these games, whether for fun, to create, or learn, is with other people. Both can be played online with multiple others either cooperatively or competitively.

Finally, an obvious similarity is how the two games are presented. They are both very stylized and cartoony in nature, and even sharing the blocky characters that look more like toys that real humans. Neither feature explicit gore, however both do include various weapons and basic combat. This makes them suitable for players of all ages.

Differences between Minecraft and Roblox

Characters hang out by a fountain in Roblox.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The main differences between Minecraft and Roblox are in how the games are actually played. They each have their own unique mechanics and systems, plus modes of play.

For example, the core game of Minecraft lets you loose in a randomly created world that you need to survive in. This mode can be played with others, but is also a completely solo experience as well if players want it to be. Roblox, on the other hand, has no real single-player experience built in. The only way to get something similar would be to find a game that someone made to be single player, though it would not nearly be as robust or fleshed out as Minecraft‘s Survival mode, which features tons of enemies, weapons, bosses, and secrets in randomly generated worlds.

Minecraft also offers a creative mode that takes all survival and “game” mechanics out of the equation and just let players fly around building whatever they can imagine. The game is heavily supported by the developers that constantly add new features and content to the game in the form of updates.

Roblox has no single player component, as mentioned, and is almost exclusively fueled by player support. That being said, the sheer amount and easy at which you can find and jump into any of these creations is far easier. If there’s any style of game you like, there’s likely at least half a dozen high quality games just like it in Roblox. While Minecraft does have a flourishing mod scene as well, they’re not as easy to browse and instantly jump into as they are in Roblox.

In that same train of thought, Roblox is also built as a platform for creation more than Minecraft is, at least in terms of making games. Where Minecraft lets you do almost anything in the game itself, if you don’t go into modding, Roblox lets you make it almost anything you want it to be.

Multiplayer

In terms of multiplayer, both games offer it, with Roblox being far more open.

In Minecraft, you need to connect to the same server as other players to play together, which the owner can decide whether or not they want other people to be able to join, or only let specific people in. Roblox servers are, typically, open to anyone to join as long as there is enough space.

Cost

The vast number of games and experiences within Roblox.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Minecraft is a more traditional game in terms of how it is monetized. You simply buy a copy, and are given access to all the content, developer and user created, that has been released so far.

Roblox is a bit different. For one, you can choose to play the game for free, however there is also a premium membership that gives players a monthly supply of Robux, the game’s unique currency, as well as some new features. You can get premium memberships at three different price points: $5, $10, and $20 which give you 450, 1,000, and 2,200 Robux each month respectively. You will also get a 10% discount on any additional Robux purchased, as well as sell or trade their items in game.

Because some items, and even entire games, require Robux to be purchased, Roblox can end up costing far more than the initial one-time purchase of Minecraft due to the microtransation model.

Parental controls

Minecraft versions of the Spongebob cast.
Mojang/Spark Universe

Minecraft is packed with parental controls since its developers are well aware of their primary audience’s age. They have gone out of their way to make the game as safe as possible for everyone, such as disabling chat, multiplayer, and block specific people.

Roblox has arguably a even more fleshed out suite of parental controls on offer. You can customize the game to dictate who can send messages to the account, who can chat with them in the game or in the app, who is allowed to invite the player to games, who is allowed to join the player, and more. The most impressive, and important, feature, however, is the Account Restrictions setting. This setting allows parents to set up restrictions on what type of content their child’s account can access, such as only allowing them to see games that have been deemed child appropriate.

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Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox has been a writer at Digital Trends for over four years and has no plans of stopping. He covers all things…
The best weapons in Lords of the Fallen
A knight with a large sword prepares to stab a dragon in Lords of the Fallen.

While you technically could get through a game like Lords of the Fallen bare-handed and wearing no armor, most people will have a far better experience using real weapons and armor. Weapons in particular are key to soulslikes since the weapon you want, or at least the type, is key to how you will want to build your character and distribute your stats. Just like a FromSoftware game, every weapon has different stat requirements and scaling grades that make some objectively better than others. While it isn't terribly difficult to compare the weapons you find, Lords of the Fallen gets crazy with just how many different weapons there are across all the different types. Rather than build using the wrong stats for a weapon that will be outclassed, here are some of the best weapons in Lords of the Fallen for any build.
The best weapons in Lords of the Fallen

With hundreds of weapons across all the different types, we've narrowed our list down to some of the best that cover all the major builds you would consider running.
Pieta's Sword
Swords are going to be one of the most popular weapon types in this game. Not only are they kind of the default weapon for soulslikes, but Lords of the Fallen has an almost overwhelming number of them to pick from. This shortsword can be purchased fairly easily from Molhu at the Remembrance of Pieta for 40 Umbral Scourings. This is a boss weapon that comes from none other than Pieta herself and is one of the best zoning swords in the game. It is made for Radiance builds, and comes with the Smite status effect of 100. You need your Radiance stat to be 25 or higher to wield it, and it scales starting at a C and ends at an A- rank with that same stat after upgrades.
Hallowed Praise
To throw a second short sword into the mix for consideration, we turn to another early-game option. Unlike the last pick, this sword is more traditional and works best for agility-focused builds, but with the added effect of 80 Bleed on each hit for some spice. You only need 12 Agility to equip it, again making it great early on, and it scales starting at C, but can go up to A with Agility.
Bloodlust
Despite the name, Bloodlust actually isn't as focused on Bleed as Hallowed Praise. That said, it has both 60 Bleed and Burn damage on hit. What pushes this to a top-tier sword, though, is the special effect of restoring a small amount of HP for each kill. You'll need to build to at least level 3 in both Agility and Inferno to use it, but it's more than worth it. Bloodlust scales with both Agility and Inferno, starting at a C in both and ending at an A-.
Hushed Saint's Halberd
Polearms are a more niche choice, but those who know how to handle them are almost untouchable. The Hushed Saint's Halberd is another weapon you should save up to buy from Molhu for 20 Umbral Scourings if you are going for a Strength and Agility build. It admittedly doesn't scale as high as other weapons on this list, but it does come with an insane 150 Poison effect that can easily make up for the lack of raw damage. You'll need a decent 19 Strength and 16 Agility to make use of it, and its dual scaling for those stats starts at C and D, but works up to B+ and C+, respectively.
Iron Wayfarer's Hammer
Another boss weapon that you can claim, this time by beating the Iron Wayfarer, is that character's hammer. If you are anything like us, seeing how deftly this boss utilized it against you will inspire you to try it out for yourself, and boy is it worth it. If you're using a Strength build, this could be the last weapon you ever need. It will take a huge 31 Strength to even hold, but this is a powerhouse. Despite scaling with Strength, Agility, Radiance, and Inferno, you really only need to pay attention to Strength. It starts at a B- but turns into an S by the time you hit +9 with it, while all other characteristics only go from E to D at best.
Charm of Fortune's Sight
We haven't forgotten you mage builds out there! Sure, catalysts aren't technically "weapons" in the strict definition, but they serve essentially the same purpose for spellcasters. Again, pay a visit to everyone's favorite vendor Molhu in Skyrest to buy it off him. What's so special about this catalyst in particular is that it lets you use four different spell types at once, in addition to boosting their power. You will need to be a bit of a mixed build as it requires 12 Radiance and Inferno, which are the two stats it scales with as well. To start, you get C- scaling in both, but end up with B when at +9.
Bow of the Convert
Spellcasters might be a small percentage of players, but archers are even less popular. However, they're a completely viable build in Lords of the Fallen, especially with the Bow of the Convert. Just looking at the stats, it might not seem all that special, but it has an 80 in Bleed, Burn, Poison, and Frostbite. If you add on elemental arrows, you're likely to hit an unsuspecting enemy with four or five status effects in a single shot. You only need 16 Agility to equip this bow, and the scaling isn't even that bad once you upgrade it. It starts at a C and ends at a B+.

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The best classes in Lords of the Fallen
A warrior stands in an Umbral hallway in Lords of the Fallen.

Choosing your class at the beginning of an RPG is by no means an uncommon task. What makes it especially vital in a soulslike title such as Lords of the Fallen, though, is just how impactful that initial decision is. Your choice of class not only determines what weapons and armor you begin the game with, but even more importantly, your starting stats. Some are easily understood like Strength and Vitality, while Agility is a little more ambiguous. And Radiance and Inferno are downright incomprehensible if you have no prior knowledge of them. What class you want to take is entirely dependent on how you want to focus your build, so we will run through a few picks for the best class no matter what type of player you want to be in Lords of the Fallen.
The best classes in Lords of the Fallen

Lords of the Fallen offers you nine classes to choose from by default, or 10 if you have access to the Dark Crusader class, plus three more you can unlock. We'll focus only on the base nine since those are the only ones everyone will have access to when first starting the game.
Hallowed Knight
For less experienced soulslike players, or those who just want to start off with a reliable, but basic class to get a feel for Lords of the Fallen, the Hallowed Knight is the most friendly class. It starts off with a decent sword and lots of defense thanks to a shield and heavy-class armor that will help you survive some early mistakes, while still staying in the medium equip load range. This is a class most equipped to go for a Strength build with, but you could spec a few points into Radiance as well if you want to have some backup magic on hand. Here are the Hallowed Knights starting stats:

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The best rings in Lords of the Fallen
The Lords of the Fallen trailer.

Magical rings are nothing new to fantasy or games, and Lords of the Fallen makes good use of these little pieces of jewelry. Unlike armor or weapons, rings are an accessory that gives you passive bonuses as long as you're wearing them. While not as immediately noticeable as other gear can be, some of these rings are quite strong and can do a lot to improve your build and playstyle. Some give straight attribute buffs, while others have more conditional effects, but with dozens to pick from and find, you'll be spoiled for choice. No matter what build you're going for, these are the best rings to bling out your character within Lords of the Fallen.
Best rings

There are well over 50 rings in Lords of the Fallen, and despite your character having 10 fingers, or at least 8 if you don't count thumbs, to wear them on, you have to choose only two at a time. Rings can be found either in chests or by beating special enemies or bosses.
Ring of Nourishment
Health is your most valuable resource in Lords of the Fallen, as is the case with all Soulslikes. You have limited healing options normally, so getting through a tough or new area can wear your character down over time as you run out of healing. The Ring of Nourishment can't replace your default healing but is a great supplement to keep you going and save a few charges. Each enemy you kill while wearing this ring will restore a bit of your health. If you play carefully and smartly, you can use it to completely undo some mistakes. This ring won't do you much good in boss fights, though.
Ring of Gnawing
For the more spell-focused builds, mana is always tough to manage. Unlike stamina, which will automatically replenish itself over time, but require you to rest at a checkpoint or use a consumable item. If you have the Ring of Gnawing, you can get a bit of mana back every time you hit an enemy with a normal attack. This is ideal for builds that spec in both strength or agility and a magic focus since you can swap back and forth as you regain and spend your mana.
Ring of Duty
This is a somewhat boring pick, but if you're a more traditional build focused on hitting things hard and fast, then the Ring of Duty is an easy one to slap on. This simply buffs both your VIT and END attributes to make you that much harder to kill.
Queen Verena II's Ring
If the Ring of Nourishment is a bit too risky for you, you can always fall back on the Queen of Verena II's Ring. This is a simple HP regen ring that slowly ticks up your health over time. If you are patient enough, you can take a break after each encounter to get back to full health before moving on, though that can be quite boring.
Ring of Bones
Lords of the Fallen breaks down your equipment load into four categories: light, medium, heavy, and overburdened. Most players will feel most comfortable at either medium or light burden levels for a more fluid feeling combat flow, but keeping yourself that light is tough without forgoing some armor or weapons. The Ring of Bones can help you sneak under these thresholds by increasing your character's maximum equip load.
Mineowner's Ring
As an alternative to the Ring of Duty, or complement to it if you wear both, the Mineowner's Ring is focused only on stamina. Not only is it a better stamina buff, but it also increases the rate your stamina recovers so you can get back on the offensive as fast as possible.

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