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If you are looking for a block-builder to play together.
Luanti is a good option.
No spyware, free cost, no AI, heaps of mods/gamemodes, helpful community, and fun.
I've seen 80 kids easily learn and play cooperatively with Luanti(previously called minetest).
* One keybind not mentioned at the bottom is V for minimap views.
** The Mineclonia game mode tries to be similar to the MineCraft way of gameplay.
I will add:
Minecraft is so wholesome. Whatever is said about the effect on video games on health, I think Minecraft is a net positive.
Also, you might look into modpacks. They be wholesome, too. But not mods, specifically modpacks, preferably recently updated and with higher download counts, and it’s basically like a Linux distro where it’s good to have someone else doing the curation and maintaining for you. I need to think about this, but there are many mods (Minecolonies? Create? Animal mods? Factory mods?) that your kid may like, depending on what other stuff they are into.
Separately, you might look into “Minecraftlikes” like Hytale. This may be where the future population or modders go.
Update: I took the plunge and loaded Minecraft on my laptop.
Got him in a creative world for now First attempt he chose his own blocks and made me build a small house for him.
I'm happy to take the step and if he gets into it I'll get him his own account.
Lessons learned though
I need to find a way of making the keys more accessible.
A smaller mouse so his hand can reach the buttons again I need to get one that is more accessible with some texture for him
I'm blown away by the suggestions on here thanks everyone
java modded servers are insanely easy, can be run as local instance from your pc and whitelisted for security. just use atlauncher or whatever modloader you feel like. modpacks are so easy to setup these days. resist the urge to play bedrock, its not real.
The easiest route is to just download the game and show them how to play. It's a simple enough game it should be easy to pick up the controls. Maybe set the game to peaceful for a while until they get the hang of basic movement and mining and stuff. The combat can be a bit difficult even for a regular gamer depending on what RNGesus throws at you your first night.
That sounds great; I'm glad you have this bonding opportunity. I would advise that you help him get started and explain a few things, but let him figure some stuff out on his own as well. Kids need to explore and find out for themselves what they like and what they're capable of, but as a parent you should probably also give some guidance when appropriate. Like many things in life, balance is key. If you're too overbearing, he'll grow to dislike it. But if you're too hands-off, he might not see it as a father-son thing. Try to find the happy medium.
Everyone is different. My friend's son is autistic but is an amazing gamer.
My son has down syndrome and was gaming with a controller at about 3. Kids pick stuff up fast
Get a second device, host a game on one of them, and play together with him. When he's ready to solo he can start his own local game, and later you guys can start a server for longer term plans.
If you have two PCs you can easily play together. At least with Java Edition. One of you just has to make their game available in LAN. Then the other should be able to find it in the multiplayer menu. That way you don't have to make a Minecraft server. Been a while since I've done that so I can't remember what everything is called.
My kids started in creative mode without any monsters and just built stuff. In time that expanded in complexity. Sometimes inspired by YouTube videos.
Eventually they started playing on community servers. When your kid is at that point definitely talk often with them about the dangers of online life, privacy and so on. Minecraft servers are not as bad as Roblox servers but you still have to watch out. My kids already met some trolls who destroyed everything they had built.
Trolls? Sounds more like bullies/assholes/... But for it also depends on their age. Like children love to destroy sand castles, both their own and others, and they are usually neither of those things. It is also usually malicious even for younger kinds, they know it is not "right", but it is not trolling or anything serious.
GREAT! I think he might enjoy mopre discovering it by himself/youtube tutorials with the option to ask if something doesnt go right.
I have an Autist of 14 at home and he does love minecraft.
The use of the laptop, mouse, keyboard will improve his eye/hand coordination.
*Bonus points: you can put audiobooks or documentaries as background so he grows while he plays.
When my son started playing, I got him an rgb keyboard that was programmable. So only the basic keys for moving, jumping etc. we're lit, the rest he figured out himself.