Many games feature carefully designed levels created by the developers to highlight their skills. A classic example is Super Mario 64, a hugely popular 3D platformer that benefited from a lot of creative effort. Would it have been as well-loved if its levels were created randomly?
Imagine if Nintendo let players design their own character instead of always playing as Mario. It’s tough to say if the game would have become as famous, but many modern games successfully use randomly generated worlds or dungeons, and some even let you create detailed characters. These are just a few examples of how that works.
Minecraft
Fun For All Ages
Minecraft offers unparalleled freedom – you can jump right in and play however you want, without being tied to a specific storyline. While the game’s blocky style means character customization is limited, players can use skins to personalize their appearance. Recently, Minecraft added a new skin pack based on the popular anime Dragon Ball, letting players play as characters like Goku.
Players begin in a randomly created world where they can explore and collect resources. These resources can be used to craft equipment, such as swords, or to build and establish a home anywhere they choose.
Terraria
2D Minecraft
Terraria is a 2D adventure game similar to Minecraft, featuring worlds that are created randomly each time you play. Players customize a pixelated character and can then explore expansive worlds by digging and building both downwards and sideways.
Since the game takes place on a flat surface, building can be challenging. However, players have consistently created amazing and complex structures online. If you’re looking for ideas for your house or base, there are helpful Terraria communities on Reddit where you can find inspiration.
No Man’s Sky
Boldly Go Where No Man Has Before
In No Man’s Sky, you can’t fully customize your character’s appearance, but you can change how their spacesuit looks. You’ll unlock even more customization options as you collect new materials and equipment. What makes this game special is its incredible procedural generation – players can travel to what feels like an endless number of unique planets, each with its own subtle differences.
Players can travel to different planets in real time, landing and exploring to find life or collect resources. It’s a very relaxed space exploration game, and even better when played with friends, though players who choose can also find some exciting challenges.
Starfield
Fallout But In Space
Starfield combines the excitement of exploring randomly created planets with carefully designed, fixed locations. While certain important places will remain the same each time you play, the surrounding landscapes can change. Think of it as a space adventure with a strong story and plenty of action, created by the team behind Fallout and The Elder Scrolls.
Okay, so in Starfield, you can really make your character your character – way more detailed customization options than I’ve seen in other space games. And it’s not just about the character, either. You can tweak everything from your weapons to your spaceship. Honestly, if you ever thought No Man’s Sky was a little too much about just… existing, and you wanted something with more actual gameplay, Starfield is totally it.
XCOM 2
Stop The Alien Scourge
As a huge fan of strategy games, I’m really into XCOM 2. What’s awesome is that every mission feels different because they’re randomly created, but still tied to the overall story. Building up your base and managing resources is key, but you’re constantly reacting to things that pop up on the world map – it keeps you on your toes and makes every playthrough unique!
As a fan, I’m really excited about how each mission will have a completely new map – it sounds like no two playthroughs will be the same when fighting off those aliens! Plus, you can still customize your squad even after the initial assignment, but you’ve gotta be strategic because your units can actually die for good. It adds a real sense of tension and makes every decision matter.
Spore
Breeding Aliens
When Spore launched in 2008, it aimed to revolutionize simulation games. Created by Will Wright—the mind behind SimCity and The Sims—the game allowed players to design a creature, then watch it reproduce and evolve on its home planet.
Although the game offered incredibly extensive creation tools, it didn’t become a major franchise like SimCity or The Sims when it was released in 2008. While it doesn’t quite reach the popularity of a game where you create Pokemon, players who are willing to spend time can design some really unique aliens.
Dwarf Fortress
Off To Work We Go
Dwarf Fortress is an incredibly detailed city-building game, though it has basic graphics and can be tricky to learn. Think of it like a fantasy SimCity: you start in a randomly created world and are responsible for building a new dwarven civilization, including homes, workshops, and assigning jobs to your dwarves.
It’s satisfying to see your little characters running around inside the forts and buildings you create, though it can be confusing at first. If you’re looking for a deeply detailed and controllable game, Dwarf Fortress is the one to choose.
.hack//fragment
A Forgotten MMO
- Developer: CyberConnect2
- Publisher: Bandai
- Released: November 23, 2005 (Japan)
- Platform: PS2
.hack//fragment is a PlayStation 2 game connected to the .hack series. It offers both online and offline play. In both modes, players create and customize their characters, choosing a class like the Wavemaster, which functions similarly to a mage. Players gather in central town areas and use gates to access randomly generated dungeons called wards.
.hack//fragment offered a player-created character and online play, much like the core .hack games. However, it stood out as a kind of dream fan experience, bringing together characters from across the entire .hack universe – including both the games and the anime series. Sadly, it was never released outside of Japan, joining many other great PlayStation 2 titles that didn’t make it overseas.
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2025-12-04 05:35