Michael Scroggins
The Mindcraft Meal has recently arrived to McDonald´s. Students have mixed reviews. Art was a collective effort by sophomore Zoe Sinsigalli, junior Kade Hutcherson, junior and Te'Shawn White.
On April 1st, 2025, McDonald’s released their limited-edition A Minecraft Movie Meal to coincide with the release of the new A Minecraft Movie. The movie was released only 3 days after the Minecraft Movie Meal hit the menus, but McDonald’s plans to sell these meals until May 6th, 2025. There are many new things and surprises with the improved meal.
The Minecraft Movie Meal comes in many different options, but it is important to remember that these meals are seen as ‘adult’ Happy Meals. You will receive a full-sized meal with a toy. You can choose between a Big Mac or a 10-piece McNugget meal. This comes with fries and a drink of your choice, like always, but they also added some new items to pick from. For a drink, there is a limited edition Hi-C Orange Lavaburst, which appears to just be Orange Hi-C with a new name. The other new item is a Nether Flame Sauce. The sauce is made from crushed red pepper and cayenne pepper. This is by far the spiciest sauce I have ever tasted from McDonald’s.
Not only did they change some food items, but the packaging is also different. The meal comes in a big golden box to play into the theme of it being an adult Happy Meal. Moreover, the McDonald’s M logo is in 8-bit graphics, along with all writing and almost everything else. The fries also have the 8-bit M logo on the container. The nugget container, however, has 8-bit nuggets on it instead of just plain cardboard. The drinks now have 8-bit bubbles on them, just like in the game. Last but not least, the new Nether Flame Sauce is in all red packaging with more 8-bit designs, specifically flames!
Because this is seen as an adult Happy Meal, of course there are toys included. With a total of 6 collectables, you can win any of the following: Big Mac Crystal, Soda Potion, Fry Helmet, Birdie Wings, Grimace Egg, or the Zombie Hamburglar. All of the toys are in an 8-bit design to stick with the Minecraft theme.
McDonald’s has begun to face some familiar issues as more Minecraft Movie Meals sell. Back in 2022, McDonald’s released adult Happy Meals as a collaboration with Cactus Plant Flea Market (CPDM). McDonald’s managed to run out of specialty toys within a month. Currently, 2 weeks after the release of the Minecraft Movie Meal, McDonald’s is struggling to get toys inside the meals. They are currently telling customers that they are temporarily out of toys.
Junior Trayson Murphy recently was informed at the McDonald’s on HWY 107 and Oakdale that they were out of Minecraft meal toys when he drove through to purchase. Murphy then decided not to purchase.
McDonald’s always seems to disappoint. While the packaging was beautiful, the food was still the same. The nuggets were dry, and there was absolutely nothing different with the food. Personally, I felt the Nether Flame Sauce was overwhelming and too spicy to show the “hints of savory garlic and subtle sweetness” that the website promises. The Hi-C Orange Lavaburst tasted the same as Flashy Fruit Punch Hi-C, and it was an immense letdown.
All in all, A Minecraft Movie Meal is pretty in the packaging, but a mess inside. The meal seems to be doing a great job promoting A Minecraft Movie, but it fell short of my expectations. Although McDonald’s plans to sell these until May, I do not believe they will last that long. Toys have already begun to run out, and I am already seeing the downfall of this limited-time offer.