In our latest adventure, we downloaded the World in a Jar map

First we downloaded the java version of the map, created by GTawesomesauce,
 and a group of 3 played in it opening it to LAN so several people could explore and work together in the map.  We also downloaded and installed a lucky dog plug in.  The participants soon learned that you really do need plenty of torches in a jar world or the creepers will soon destroy much of your bottles. 

This is map is great fun and we had so much fun with it that our friends with the PE version of minecraft were extremely jealous.  After a little searching, I found that someone had ported World in a Jar to a PE version and after a little tinkering we were able to download and open that world to our group.  This meant that everyone could play together because the Minecraft windows 10 and tablet and phone versions could all enter the same shared world.

If you are looking for something different and challenging, World in a Jar is an excellent choice.  We have created and played in several copies, because each member of our group of 10 wants to be the 'owner' of the world and control the rules of play for their world and still have the fun of a team.

Adventures in Minecraft: Lichcraft

Lichcraft is a server that offers many versions of play: Factions, Prison, Skyblock, Skygrid, Survival and Hard core survival.  There are also mini-games like paintball and Skywars.  This is a fun server which at its peak had thousands of players at once.  The numbers have dropped somewhat but that actually allows you a little more freedom to explore and play on the servers with a little more chance to build up your skills and supplies before being crowded out by other factions or players.

Worried about OP pay to play advantages?   Just drop into the hardcore survival server where the playing field is quite level.

http://www.lichcraft.com/forums for the social side, questions and reporting issues.

To play:  us.lichcraft.com or eu.lichcraft.com

Adventures in minecraft: ChristianCity

There are several servers I have found very enjoyable to play.  I especially like the skyblock and survival servers, but also like prison and factions.

Currently I am playing on a server called ChristianCity which has a very nice survival server with a mcmmo plugin.  It is nice to build levels as I enlarge and beautify my claim.  This server also has a factions world going and is working on setting up a skyblock server.  The chat is nice because the mods keep things friendly.  Voting allows you to get ig cash.    This server allows you to purchase kits with in game money.

The world has a nice variety of biomes.  So far I have run into only helpful and friendly people on this server.

Minecraft is now available on a variety of platforms and in a variety of versions.

XBOX 360

• Static version that does not update to larger worlds due to hardware limits.  
• Does allow seed world generation.
• Local multiplayer allows up to four players and online allows you to play up to 8 players.  The settings have to be correct to allow this option and you must have an HD tv, with HDTV settings at 720 or better.
• Able to choose creative, peaceful, survival, or hard settings.
• Does not require a mojang account if the game disk is owned.  Any player on the console can play without having an account.  Online play may require an XBOX live or microsoft account.

XBOX One

• Upgrades as new releases are made for the console version.  
• Able to use custom seeds for world generation but not as flexible in customizing the world as the PC version.  For example, a friend was able to set the frequency of desert and lava to nearly 100% for a particularly nasty survival world on the PC platform, but we could not duplicate these efforts on the XBOX One.  
• Has capacity for larger worlds than XBOX 360 platform.  
• Able to import worlds from XBOX 360 play.
• Able to choose creative, peaceful, survival or hard settings.
• Does not require a mojang account if the game disk or download was purchased. Any player on the console can play it as long as they have an XBOX live account or microsoft account.

PC

•  Upgrades as new releases are available for the PC platform. 
• Able to customize the characteristics of the created world, including the depth, overall frequency of specific biomes, frequency of mob spawning, whether the setting is creative (allowing access to all materials without 'working' for them) or survival (where the player must gather or make supplies.)
• Contains the latest additions to mobs, tools and allowed potions. 
• Able to open LAN world to others in your wifi area to play together.
• Able to setup server for multiple players through wifi and even over the internet.
• Able to get mods to add features or customized texture packs.
• Must have a mojang account in order to play.

portable/phone
limited as to what can be crafted or made, but the interface to making items shows what is allowed as opposed to the trial and error or researching required in the PC version.  I have not played this so I have only 'hearsay' about this minecraft version.