I'm pretty sure you can't play Minecraft on a Chromebook. That's the reason we bought my DS1 a Windows laptop way back when he was younger and playing Minecraft.
Otherwise, I've been extremely happy with the 4 Chromebooks (of all different brands) I've owned over the years. I've had my current Acer Chromebook R11 for 2.5 years now with zero issues or complaints.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J42JPJG/
And yes, you can download apps on it. All my smart home apps that I have on my phone I also have on my Chromebook.