There are three ways to play multiplayer in "Minecraft: Java Edition:" through an online server, a LAN server, or a "Minecraft Realms" server.

A port may sometimes need to be provided for players to join your Minecraft LAN game (Image via Mojang) At its core, hosting a LAN game in Minecraft isn't quite like hosting a server or realm.

Setting up a multiplayer game in Minecraft is a simple process, but it varies slightly based on which platform you're using and the location of other players.