Creating a video game is one of the greatest feats of artistic creation. With years of painstaking work from multiple different skilled creators, it’s a miracle that the end product isn’t a jumbled cacophonous mess.
This becomes exceedingly clear when you try to create a game of your own. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, then here are a few games that let you try your hand at the art of making video games.
Super Mario Maker Series
The Super Mario franchise is known the world over for its platforming gameplay. The idea that Nintendo would give the world access to the tools to create Mario levels was unthinkable before the Wii U release.
Thank Iwata (or any other deity) that they did, because Mario Maker is one of the best level creation tools out there. The first title was great and the upgrades in the second only made the franchise better.
Despite the fact that the finite pool of assets can be limiting, the best creators have proven to be exceptionally resourceful. And even though you’re slightly limited, the tools at your disposal are still numerous.
Dreams
Dreams is a highly ambitious PS4 game that plays host to many incredibly impressive creations. From new interpretations of existing games to original ideas, you can find almost anything on Dreams.
The creation tools are unparalleled when it comes to game building on consoles. Nothing comes close to not only the sheer volume of assets but the community behind the game is constantly pushing the limits.
The best thing about Dreams is that it doesn’t matter if you’re not great at level design. If you tend to be more artistic, then you can create assets for other players to use in their games.
Little Big Planet Series
Little Big Planet is a great platforming game to play with a friend, but there’s an equally as good creation mode that many people sadly skip over. To this day, there’s a committed creative community that’s still going strong.
Most of the creations you’ll find in Little Big Planet games are fun user-created levels, but then there’s also the unthinkable. One user was even able to recreate Mario Maker in Little Big Planet.
Even though this mode is often overlooked by many players of this series, it’s clear that Little Big Planet has some powerful game creation tools. If you’ve never checked them out, then give them a try sometime soon.
Doom 2016
Nothing is more metal than a game creation mode that teaches you the basics of ‘if this then that’ programming. Snapmap in Doom 2016 is one of the most powerful and most underrated creation tools out there.
It takes all the creativity and intricacy of Doom WAD creation and wraps it into a neat little package that’s easy enough for a beginner to understand, but deep enough for an expert to thoroughly enjoy.
Snapmap never received the same amount of activity that the original Doom modding scene still has, but it’s still the home to some of the most creative Doom levels that you can find in that game.
Garry’s Mod
Who needs Half-Life 3 when you can have endless fun with the Source engine? Garry’s Mod started as a mod of Half-Life 2 and eventually was published by Valve as a full game release.
This Source engine sandbox lets you do just about anything that you can think of. On top of the creative tools built into this title, there’s a massive modding community that continues to support the game with new assets.
Since Garry’s Mod is published by Vale and uses their engine, there are tons of assets from their most popular titles included. If you really want to you could even take history into your own hands and finally make Half-Life 3.
Wargroove
Wargroove‘s following mainly consists of people who have been starving for a new Advance Wars title after a decade-long wait. Wargroove’s strategy gameplay makes it feel like a spiritual successor to the beloved franchise.
However, what sets this title apart is a map creation mode. You can build and upload your own battle maps for other players to try out. The console versions have plenty of tools to build fun and challenging maps.
When it comes to Wargroove on PC, the modding scene makes this building mode explode with creativity. These mods aren’t on the scale of a game like Skyrim, but there are plenty of mods out there to keep PC players busy.
Minecraft
Minecraft is the best selling game of all time and with the endless creative possibilities, it’s no wonder why. It also helps that it’s an incredibly inexpensive game available on consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices.
With numerous add-ons for consoles and user-created mods on PC, the amount of creativity possible with Minecraft is nearly limitless. The main focus is on designing buildings, but many players focus on game creation.
You can create a wide range of game genres like racing, adventure, and platforming just to name a few. Thanks to the ridiculously powerful creation tools in Minecraft the only limit is your imagination.
RPG Maker Series
This game gives you everything you need to build your first RPG and then some. Multiple add-ons, tons of user-created content, and the option to upload your own assets make this toolset virtually limitless.
The only major drawback is that the RPG Maker Series is stuck in two dimensions. However, many of the best games of the genre haven’t relied on stunning 3D visuals to be considered worthwhile.
Just like many of these other creative games, there’s an active and massive community that’s always willing to help answer questions. If you’re just getting into game creation, then this is a great place to start.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Assassin’s Creed isn’t typically the first franchise that comes to mind when I think of user-created gameplay. Yet, the story creator mode in AC: Odyssey has completely changed that narrative.
Sure, many players were creating EXP farming quests that Ubisoft quickly caught wind of and smashed, but there are also plenty of well thought out quests that are more than just stat boosters.
The community behind this creative mode isn’t massive since it’s only a few months old. Yet, with proper curation from Ubisoft and enough interest from hardcore AC fans, it’s likely to continue growing.
Published: Aug 20, 2019 03:00 pm