For anyone who has spent hours crafting blocky shelters and mining resources in sandbox games, the arrival of Hytale is a breath of fresh air—albeit one with a few unexpected twists. Released to early access and quickly capturing the attention of the gaming world, Hytale has already sparked a flurry of guides and tips from seasoned players and gaming journalists alike. On January 15, 2026, outlets like GameTyrant, Kotaku, and Polygon published in-depth explorations of the game’s unique mechanics, offering essential advice for both newcomers and veterans transitioning from similar titles like Minecraft.
At first glance, Hytale feels comfortably familiar. The game’s cuboid world, open-ended exploration, and crafting-heavy gameplay echo the formula that made Minecraft a cultural phenomenon. But as Kotaku points out, “Anyone who has ever played Minecraft at any point in its 17 years of existence already has a head start when it comes to playing Hytale.” Yet, that sense of déjà vu can be deceiving. The differences—sometimes subtle, sometimes glaring—are what set Hytale apart and give it a distinct identity.
One of the earliest surprises for new players is where and how to buy the game. Unlike most major releases, Hytale isn’t available on Steam, Epic, or GOG. Instead, developer Hypixel has chosen to distribute the game exclusively through its own website, requiring players to use a bespoke loader. “Why? Because of the fall of man? Or perhaps to avoid paying the 30-percent tithes? I dunno, but it’s annoying to have yet another bespoke loader to clutter up your desktop,” Kotaku quips. Console versions are planned for the future, but for now, PC is the only way in.
Once inside the world of Orbis, Hytale’s sprawling landscapes beckon. Each zone is divided into biomes teeming with life, secrets, and danger. The game’s lack of a traditional campaign means it’s up to players to set their own goals. Polygon describes Hytale as “a sandbox game, which means the idea is to do whatever you want. There’s no campaign guiding your progression, so you’re the one who determines the next step in your adventure.” The best advice? Start with the basics: gather materials, craft items at the Workbench, and build a secure base. The bedroll, which acts as a respawn point, is especially vital in these early stages.
Exploration is at the heart of Hytale, and the Forgotten Temple Gateway is one of its most intriguing features. This magic portal, tucked beneath a ruined temple, teleports players to a peaceful hub where they can register every mob they’ve encountered. Each new creature sends a blue spark called a Memory to the player, and the more Memories collected, the more crafting options become available. According to Kotaku, “As the game develops, it’ll also be the hub for a lot of new content.”
Resource gathering in Hytale comes with its own set of rules. For instance, sticks—an essential crafting component—aren’t made from wood blocks as in Minecraft. Instead, they’re gathered directly by chopping trees and bushes. “They fall plentifully!” Kotaku notes, but warns that the demand for arrows and torches means players will need to stockpile. Trees themselves are affected by gravity, a notable departure from Minecraft’s floating block physics. Chop the lowest part of the trunk, and the whole tree collapses, showering the player with trunks, sticks, and sap (the latter being crucial for crafting lighting items).
Building a home in Hytale is almost a rite of passage, but there’s more to it than just stacking blocks. GameTyrant explains that crafting windows is a unique process: “There is no way to make glass in Hytale, since the game doesn’t feature any glass materials or blocks. Windows are instead directly crafted from particular building materials at a Builder’s Workbench.” This workbench can be made from a regular Workbench using six tree trunks and three stone. Different materials yield different window types, such as Simple Wooden Windows from most wood blocks, Sandswept Windows from Dry Logs, and Light Temple Windows from Marble and Marble Cobble. Placement is precise, and windows can be broken and repositioned without fuss.
But don’t expect to get by with a single crafting table. Hytale features a dizzying array of workbenches—eight essential and four optional—each taking up significant space. “I have since added two entire new wings to my home to fit in the ridiculous array of different workbenches you need to play the game,” Kotaku admits. Planning ahead is key. Fortunately, chests placed near workbenches allow for seamless crafting, as the benches automatically pull materials from nearby storage—an improvement over the inventory juggling required in Minecraft.
Survival in Hytale isn’t just about building and crafting; it’s also about managing risk. The game’s death system is forgiving: players keep about two-thirds of their inventory upon dying, with the rest marked on the compass for retrieval. For those venturing far from home, Teleporters are a game-changer. Crafting them isn’t easy—they require upgrading the main workbench, gathering rare resources like Iron, Azure Logs, and Thorium Ingots, and braving dangerous biomes—but the reward is instant travel across Orbis. “Once done, you’ve got a way to leap around Orbis like a mad wizard,” Kotaku enthuses.
Combat and movement also get a twist. Polygon highlights that using charged attacks with swords or daggers allows players to move faster by pulling themselves forward—a nifty way to speed up travel before Teleporters are available. Enemy difficulty ramps up in new zones, and environmental hazards abound, so preparation is essential. Players can enable enemy health bars in the settings for better threat assessment, and an arachnophobia mode thoughtfully replaces spiders with crabs.
Resource farming requires strategy. Establishing routes for collecting materials from enemies or animals ensures a steady supply of essentials like linen scraps and leather. Ores, too, are scattered throughout the world, and unlike other games, even the most valuable can be mined with basic tools. “You can mine even the most valuable ores, such as gold, using only a crude pickaxe,” Polygon reveals, though skipping zones without proper gear is risky.
For those seeking a shortcut to creativity, Hytale allows players to switch between adventure and creative modes at will. A quick command enables creative mode, letting builders unleash their imagination without grinding for resources. And for those who’d rather not build from scratch, friendly villages like the Kweebec settlements in the Emerald Wilds offer ready-made homes, beds, and resources, all free for the taking—as long as you don’t harm the animals.
Ultimately, the best advice for new players is to embrace Hytale on its own terms. As Polygon puts it, “Forget what you learned in other games. Hytale is its own game and functions a little differently when compared to other sandbox games.” With its blend of familiar mechanics and fresh innovations, Hytale offers a world ripe for exploration, creativity, and adventure.
With so much to discover and countless ways to play, Hytale’s early days are already proving that sometimes, the best adventures are the ones you craft for yourself.