It plays very much the same, the first thing you do is punch trees, leaves, rocks and stuff, to get stuff. Of course, making stuff is easier, but I think the game is harder than it looks, and it takes more time to get stuff depending on the object. You can build stuff too, however, you can't place land and it takes time to do some stuff (including eating).
I guess its kinda the realistic version of minecraft, but from the past I guess.