Minecraft vs. Fortnite: Which Game Is Better and Has More Players?

Minecraft and Fortnite are some of the most popular games currently. If you plan on exploring every aspect of Minecraft, you’ll need a lot of time. If you plan on catching every Fortnite event, you’ll also need to sink in quite a few hours into the game. This is why most players dedicate themselves only to one game at a time and stick with it. Judging by the fact that you’re here, you’re probably having a hard time deciding which game to choose; have no fear. We’ve prepared this guide to compare Fortnite and Minecraft as objectively as possible, so let’s see which game is better & more popular.

Editor’s Note: This post is regularly updated to reflect the changes happening across both games. It was last updated in October 2023.

Minecraft is for exploration, while Fortnite is for competitive gaming

It’s difficult to compare Fortnite and Minecraft regarding their gameplay because the games are vastly different.

Minecraft is an open-world sandbox game with no specific goals that you need to accomplish. If you’re playing in Survival mode, naturally, your main goal should be to survive, and you can do that by exploring, crafting, hunting, cooking, mining, advancing your technology through Redstone, gathering other resources, and building.

If you decide to play on Creative mode, your main purpose is to build. Ultimately, there is always a storyline that you can follow that eventually leads you to defeat the Ender Dragon, but it’s awkwardly placed in the game, and most players rush through it only to gain the bonuses that come with it.

Fortnite, unlike Minecraft, has some very specific goals, depending on which mode you’re playing. In Battle Royale, you are supposed to compete against other players or teams until you’re the last man standing. You can always engage in building modes and gather resources and loot, which is more similar to Minecraft but far less elaborate. Fortnite is a much more goal-oriented game than Minecraft, so to get into it, you must develop a specific set of skills to be good at it.

Overall, Minecraft gives you total freedom to play as you like, while Fortnite focuses on defined gameplay and, overall, requires more skill to play.

Fortnite is free, but Minecraft has more features

The next factor we’re going to compare is the price tag. The dream is to have an incredibly immersive game we’ll play for years and have fun, all while paying as little as possible for it. In this aspect, Fortnite seemingly wins. Fortnite is a free game that’s monetized through in-game purchases, battle-pass, item shops, and limited-time events. And while you can play the game for free to unlock some cool skins, you will have to shell out quite a bit of money.

Minecraft, on the other hand, requires you to purchase the game before you’re able to play it. You purchase it once and generally have access to all subsequent updates and additional released content unless marked as “DLC” or “expansion.” You also need to buy Minecraft for every platform you plan on playing. For example, having Java Edition Minecraft doesn’t make you entitled to Bedrock Edition Minecraft that runs on X-Box.

The Minecraft Realms subscription and various in-game purchases unlock “mods” for Bedrock players. Mods for Java Edition players are mostly free.

When it comes to the pricing aspect, Fortnite has the edge because it doesn’t necessarily charge for content; it charges for cosmetic items, while Minecraft aims to monetize everything it can.

Both games have a multiplayer mode

The main purpose of Fortnite is to play with or against other players. There are plenty of events and tournaments that you can take part in. The game’s competitive aspect is the most important when everything is considered. You’re also required to communicate effectively with other players because, as they say, no man is an island.

In Minecraft Java Edition, players can host their own multiplayer servers or join existing ones. Servers can be set up as private, where only invited players can join, or public, allowing anyone to connect. Players can also join existing multiplayer servers with unique game modes, themes, and communities.

In Minecraft Bedrock Edition, most players are playing using Minecraft Realms. Realms is a subscription service that provides an easy way for players to create and manage private multiplayer servers. Realms are accessible to invited players; the host can customize settings, install mods, and control who has access.

As you can see, both games have access to a giant community of other players where they can share strategies, tactics, and pretty much everything related to the game.

Which game has a bigger player base?

Players tend to choose popular games because it allows them to connect with like-minded individuals or their friends who were already playing the game, to begin with. And no matter how good a given game is, if its servers are empty, people will avoid it like the plague.

According to our most recent data, Fortnite is played by around 253,000,000 players monthly, which is a huge number. It also boasts an incredible number of registered players, clocking in at 390 million.

Minecraft, on the other hand, has 173,508,871 average monthly players, but keep in mind that Minecraft can be played as a single-player game as well, and it’s difficult to track its stats.

The winner here is clear: if you’re looking for a bigger community, you should aim toward Fortnite.

Minecraft is geared toward everyone, while Fortnite aims to grab the teenage attention

The last thing we will analyze is who is playing the game. Fortnite is designed to appeal to massive audiences. Still, it’s hard not to notice that most of its marketing efforts are usually geared toward children, young adults, and teens, and this is the age range from which the majority of the audience comes from. The game’s colorful graphics, engaging gameplay, and social features make it particularly attractive to players aged 13 to 24.

Minecraft is kid-friendly and family-friendly, but due to its open-ended gameplay, all age groups can find something to do within its world. Minecraft’s simple block-building mechanics and open-world design make it accessible to younger players while offering creative depth that appeals to older players. And while you’re more likely to find an older player in his 40s in Minecraft, it still doesn’t change the fact that Minecraft’s core audience are teens and young adults.

Both games appeal more to younger audiences, although Minecraft has more stuff to offer for older gamers.

So which game is better? Minecraft of Fortnite?

Both games absolutely have their fortes and have a massive and loyal community, but Fortnite seems to be the more popular game, at least currently. If you’re looking for something oriented toward creativity and exploration, especially if multiplayer is unimportant, go for Minecraft. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a competitive game to play with your friends while not shelling out a lot of money, then Fortnite should be a natural choice for you.

What do you think? Which game is better? Let us know in the comments below!