Terraria was released a little more than a decade ago on May 16, 2011. Since then, Terraria has repeatedly been called “2D Minecraft” or “a Minecraft copy” despite branching off what most people call a builder game. So if it’s not “just a clone,” then what is it?

The game can be played two different ways: building structures in a fun environment where mobs and bosses are easy or testing your might and giving it your all to defeat the first of many bosses in the game. If you want a very chill and laid back experience, Journey or Classic mode is the way to go. It has a lower spawn rate for enemies and smaller health bars, but if you want the intensity to be high, Expert or Master mode can give you that and more. The more includes higher amounts of loot and venders, but with higher damage taken and harder enemies to fight.

The main way to play Terraria is to grind equipment usually found in caves or dropped by bosses. Even though this may sound like Minecraft, progressing through the story will cause a revelation to occur and change your outlook on the game. 

Although there isn’t any lore set in stone, it doesn’t matter because the game’s main focus is not to entertain with a story, but to entertain with the battling aspect in which it certainly delivers. Every boss fight feels fresh, and they all require new game plans in order to get through them, especially if you increase the difficulty.

For example, a boss that I look forward to fighting every playthrough is the Wall of Flesh because of the infinite amounts of ways you can beat him. Whether you want to hit him with a sword or through multiple amounts of beenades (a type of weapon that spawns 4-8 bees to fight for you per beenade thrown), the Wall of Flesh is practically a sandbox of imagination. That doesn’t mean the Wall of Flesh is a pushover though. He has the ability to two-shot you if you get too close to him— nice balance between fun and hard.

Another awesome thing about the Wall of Flesh is once you defeat him, hard mode comes into effect, which introduces new enemies, makes old enemies harder, and adds new bosses and events. Of course, that means more loot and better items. 

Something else that’s amazing about Hard mode is the introduction of four different trees, or distinct ways of playing: Melee, Ranged, Mage, and Summoner. These four “classes” have individual ways of dealing damage and different types of weapons and armor that are farmable. 

One problem I have in every playthrough is the amount of time it takes to obtain some of these main items. A vast amount of the process is luck based, so the time differs depending on the seed (world generated number) given. Although this seems annoying, it plays into the game, and once you finally finish the grind, the pay out is grand. 

One thing Terraria excels at is making the player feel strong. Getting a strong weapon and progressing through the game or getting a perfect dodge that literally means life or death feels like nice, fresh air. 

After beating the game multiple times, I still get chills looking at the final boss and its health, not to mention the sense of accomplishment that doesn’t cease to exist after I complete it. However, my standard of beating the game is crafting the final weapon, needing different swords that you acquire throughout the game.

I have never had a bad experience with Terraria. The sheer amounts of fun I have while playing shadows over some of the frustrating events. Terraria is available on every platform with fluctuating costs. Fortunately, it goes on sale frequently for 50% off. I recommend everyone experience Terraria before they label it as just another Minecraft.