Paper MinecraftGather resources, build structures, and fend off nocturnal monsters in Paper Minecraft, a 2D side-scrolling sandbox that runs free in your browser.
Paper Minecraft
What is Paper Minecraft?
Paper Minecraft is a 2D side-scrolling sandbox game created by Griffpatch using the Scratch engine. Players explore biomes, chop wood, mine stone, craft equipment, and build fortifications to survive monster encounters. Unlike the original three-dimensional voxel sandbox, this adaptation condenses exploration and construction onto a single side-view plane. The game runs free directly in any modern desktop web browser with zero installation required.
Key features
- Dual game styles: Jump between a demanding survival world and an unconstrained creative sandbox.
- Terrain exploration: Traverse side-scrolling biomes filled with rocks, woods, water bodies, and grassy fields.
- Manual crafting: Combine raw timber and minerals into essential tools and defensive weaponry.
- Farming routines: Raise farm animals and nurture field crops to maintain character sustenance.
- Nighttime encounters: Shield your base from dangerous zombies and other monsters that prowl in the dark.
- Scratch technology: Experience a full-fledged sandbox engineered entirely within MIT’s educational development tool.
How to play
- Pick your character appearance and pick your starting world mode from the main screen.
- Walk across the landscape by using the left and right arrow keys or the AD keys.
- Break blocks or position new materials by targeting with the cursor and clicking Left-click.
- Open your backpack and crafting grid by tapping the E key.
- Separate stacked items in the crafting grid by pressing Space.
- Equip edible food supplies and press the F key to restore your character health.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard / mouse |
|---|---|
| Move horizontally | AD keys or left and right arrow keys |
| Jump upward | W or up arrow key |
| Dig or place blocks | Left-click |
| Open inventory or chests | E |
| Eat and hold item | F |
| Split item stack in crafting menu | Space |
Survival and crafting systems
In survival mode, starting without supplies means immediate resource gathering is necessary. Punching tree trunks yields raw timber, which converts into lumber and sticks inside your crafting grid. Combining wooden pieces produces basic work tools for mining subsurface stone and carving out mineral deposits. As you mine deeper, stone and metal components allow you to forge sturdier gear and defensive weaponry to counter nighttime hazards.
Health management demands active farming. Wild animals and planted crops provide edible harvestables. Holding harvested food and pressing the F key replenishes lost vitality. Setting up dedicated storage chests keeps collected items organized and prevents inventory clutter while exploring distant biomes.
Tips and strategy
- Construct nighttime shelter before dusk: Hostile zombies and nocturnal monsters emerge once sunlight fades, so sealing yourself inside walls prevents fatal damage.
- Upgrade from wood to stone tools quickly: Basic wooden gear wears out rapidly, whereas stone implements dig faster and extract tougher subsurface blocks.
- Cultivate crops and herd animals near your base: Regular farming guarantees steady food replenishment so you never starve during extensive digging sessions.
- Use chests to organize resources: Dumping excess soil, cobblestone, and harvested materials into chests safeguards your hoard if an enemy defeats you.
- Split material stacks precisely: Tapping Space in the crafting menu divides bundles cleanly, making tool recipes quick to balance.
Game modes
Creative mode
Creative mode grants unlimited supplies of building materials and tools without survival threats. You can fly freely over biomes including woods, rocks, water, and open fields to build elaborate structures without taking monster damage or monitoring food.
Survival mode
Survival mode begins with an empty inventory and challenges you to endure harsh wilderness conditions. You must harvest materials, cultivate farm crops and livestock for nourishment, build safe shelters, and craft weapons to defend against monsters during the night.
Similar games
Mine Blocks offers another rich 2D mining and crafting experience with deep underground exploration.
Miner Cat 4 provides side-scrolling digging adventures focused on resource collection and underground navigation.
Lurkers Io delivers online multiplayer survival combat where players harvest resources and battle foes in retro landscapes.
Developer and history
Paper Minecraft was developed by Griffpatch and originally launched in May 2013. Built using the Scratch platform created at MIT, the project has received ongoing updates that expand its biomes, crafting options, and survival elements. It stands as one of the most popular community creations within browser-based sandbox gaming.