Break a block, pick it up, carry it elsewhere, put it down. This simple, almost boring mechanic sits at the heart of Mojang’s Minecraft. So, why can I not seem to put it down?

Minecraft has been a long-dominant staple of PC gaming, but was finally brought to home consoles earlier this summer. Since then, it has become one of Xbox Live Arcade’s most popular titles.

There is no “story” to Minecraft. You are “Steve,” and you live in a world composed of cubes, all of which can be manipulated to your will through pick, axe, shovel and hoe. By mining these cubes, you can collect raw materials (such as iron or diamond) to craft various items. You then set out to remake the world as you see fit.

Essentially, Minecraft is a virtual, infinite set of building blocks. The game itself imposes few limitations on you; the only limit is your own imagination. I have built a Grecian temple, an Aztec pyramid, a Gothic castle, a lighthouse, a pirate ship and, finally, a huge “colossus” version of my character, bestriding the river that runs through my map.

If limitless building is too sedate for you, the higher difficulty settings introduce monsters. After dark or in the dark tunnels underground, skeletons snipe at you with bows and spiders nip at your heels. Minecraft’s most infamous enemy moves silently through the dark until he is in striking distance. By the time you hear the fuse light, it’s too late. The explosion rips through the landscape, damaging or possibly killing you. You’ve just become another victim of the Creeper.

Minecraft provides a nice respite from the sports and shooters. A time-limited demo is available for free via Xbox Live, so anyone can give it a chance. This weekend, escape into the world of Minecraft for a while – just make sure you come back out for class on Monday.