I mean this quite literally. Starcraft 2 is taking a hiatus from my most played games list for this gem of a game that I found. Minecraft isn't even a finished game yet, its in alpha as of this entry, but it is without a doubt one of the finest games i've ever played. Minecraft belongs to the genre of games that can only be defined as a sandbox construction game. Imagine your lego collection gaining attributes, a finely tuned crafting system, a day and night setting (where baddies come out only at night), and put the imagination and creativity on overdrive. That is Minecraft. The game has a myriad of tools at your disposal to make anything you please, so long as you can survive. During the day it's a collect-a-thon to craft items to make buildings, I use this term loosely, harvest logs, acquire hides and meat, and just generally use every aspect of the world to make a home for yourself. And at night you just need to survive. Enemies populate this strangely charming world, and they are out only to see you dead. Once day comes back though your free to run around the overworld. Although that's only part of the joy of the game. One of the first things I took up in Minecraft is what I called a mining expedition. Underneath my burgeoning castle I began a search for rare ores and minerals to continue making my fortress. There is no 'money' in the game, so everything comes at your own hard work and expertise with what is around you.  
 
Minecraft has primarily simple graphics in order to accomplish the amazing feat of being able to manipulate everything in the world. It's like looking back at a PSN or N64 era game, and it reminds me of cubivore. But underneath the simplistic graphics it has a stunning sort of breadth to it. Everything is colorful and stylized, and when you stare down a valley to see large imposing cliffs ripe with mineral veins, and animals frolicking along the plains you will feel a sense of awe with this game. Couple this with the fact that you can tunnel down anywhere, or build your home anywhere, and you have something incredibly special.  
 
Minecraft is only in alpha and im willing to call it one of my favorite games of all time already. Rarely does a game come along that can acquire my attention so thoroughly as this game does. Enveloping the experience is an atmospheric tone that can make the game creepy at times, and at other times quaint and wonderful. The soundtrack is also really good, and it makes me look forward to what the finalized copy will hold.  
 
Right now Minecraft is out for sale for roughly $13 (9.00 euro), and when the game is released it will sell for roughly $25. This is a steal because the game gets updated regularly for bug patches, and various other add-ons, but the game is fully playable. Admittedly I lost a bit of progress during a strange crash, but this was hardly detrimental to the entire experience. I really can't emphasize this enough. If you like your Oblivions, Fallouts, Grand Theft Autos, Dungeon Keepers, or any other remotely sandbox game then you owe it to yourself to give Minecraft a shot. It'll hook you. 
 
  http://www.minecraft.net/ 
 
As a side note the game comes in several flavors. You have a downloadable and web browser version, and a multiplayer and singleplayer. The single-player is much more stable than the multiplayer, but the thought of playing this game with thousands of people makes me salivate.