You can do everything from chipping off big chunks of stone to build a house, chopping down trees to make furniture to put in your home, or even putting together more complex projects like wells, statues, buildings, etc. And when we say 'however you like', we really mean it, as you can collect blocks of any material to use later for whatever you see fit.
You survive in a world composed of blocks – similar to Legos – that you can move around however you like from your first-person perspective.
Minecraft is a game chock-full of adventure, exploring, and creativity.