Gameplay

Gameplay in Minecraft consists mainly of adding and destroying blocks in a randomly generated world. There are several different types of blocks, some of which perform special functions like spreading or falling down because of gravity.

With these blocks, players create large constructions such as castles, roads, buildings and skywalks, along with forms of artwork. A chessboard or giant picture rarely goes amiss on a server. Not only have users designed buildings, Pixel Art, and caves, but also mini-sports. Using the current in-game features, users have put them to clever use. An example of a Minecraft sport is Spleef.

Notch has added a Survival mode, and is planning on adding Adventure mode and other modes to give Minecraft more gameplay. Minecraft is currently considered purely a sandbox construction game. Users who have bought the game have access to the in-development version, currently known as Beta. Beta was previously known as Alpha, Indev, and Infdev. This version contains bugs, but features the most recent work on Minecraft, including dynamic lighting, crafting, farming, new blocks, and a more configurable map generator.

Game Modes
There will be multiple types of modes in the game. According to this post, the following modes should be anticipated:

Classic
Most placeable blocks will be provided and players will have an infinite amount of them. Players can die here and there are no mobs around. The only objective of the game is to build. And players may play for free

Survival
In this mode, players will have to gather all their materials to build things, craft things and gain exp points. There is a health bar, a hunger bar, an armor bar, and an inventory. Players are able to get more items in this mode rather than classic, however they will need to purchase the game.

Creative
The player will have access to an infinite amount of all blocks and items available in the most recent beta update. Players are invunerable and do not have health, armor, hunger or experience, and can fly without the need for mods. There are mobs in the world, as opposed to the original classic version.

In the creative mode, the only way for the player to die, is to fall into the void

Adventure
Not much is known about this mode except that there will be a health bar and an inventory, speculation is that blocks cannot be destroyed or placed. Only items can be used. However, Adventure mode seems to be replaced by survival in the full release of Minecraft.

Hardcore
In this mode, which plays in the same way as Survival mode, the difficulty level is permanently set to "Hard" and the map must be deleted upon the player's death. Hardcore was introduced as part of the beta 1.9 pre-release and is playable in the full version of Minecraft.

Table of game modes
Below is a brief summary of the different available features in each game mode.