User-generated content allows players to flex their creative muscles and create unique experiences within their favorite games. While many games offer some form of customization, only a select few make player creation the heart of the experience. If you’re looking for imaginative worlds where you control the narrative, here are some of the best games for user-generated content.
Minecraft
With its sandbox gameplay and blocky graphics, Minecraft has become the quintessential game for unleashing your inner architect. The core of the game is exploration and crafting, but where things get really interesting is when you start building.
Minecraft gives you endless materials and landscapes to construct anything you can imagine. Want to build a giant castle? A working computer? How about recreating the entire Game of Thrones world? With Minecraft, the only limit is your creativity.
The thriving Minecraft community has created mind-blowing builds, adventure maps, and custom game modes using in-game mechanics and mods. Moreover, with the Minecraft Marketplace, players can purchase content from talented creators around the world, bringing even more possibilities to the game.
Roblox
Similar to Minecraft, Roblox is a game creation platform disguised as a game. The kid-friendly sandbox gives users simple yet powerful tools to design their own experiences.
With its own scripting language and physics systems, you can make almost any type of game imaginable in Roblox. Roleplaying games, tycoons, obbys, simulators – Roblox developers have created them all. Additionally, creators can monetize their games by selling in-game perks and features.
The social aspect is a core part of the Roblox experience. Not only can you play the millions of user-created games with friends, you can also collaborate and learn from other creators in the community.
Super Mario Maker
Nintendo brought user-generated content to one of gaming’s most iconic series with Super Mario Maker. As the name implies, this game lets you create your own Super Mario Bros. levels using assets from multiple Mario games.
With intuitive editing tools and a wealth of elements like enemies, power-ups, and traps, you can craft the Mario courses of your dreams. Want bowel-clenching platforming challenges? Relaxing automatic music courses? Mind-bending puzzle levels? You decide.
You can also play through the countless player-made levels, with new ones added daily. Nintendo regularly holds contests for creators too, meaning there’s always new and innovative Mario courses to try.
Tabletop Simulator
Traditional board, card, and roleplaying games come to life (digitally) in Tabletop Simulator. The physics sandbox mimics a tabletop gaming experience, with full support for creating your own games.
Design everything from chess boards to RPG dungeons using in-game tools and the Steam Workshop. You can even script logic and behaviors using Lua to make truly advanced fan creations. Plus, playing your homebrew games with friends is as simple as starting an online session.
Tabletop Simulator boasts official DLC for popular tabletop brands like Gloomhaven and Scythe too. However, the player-made mods showcase the incredible talent of the community.
Dreams
Dreams empowers creators through accessibility and depth. The PlayStation exclusive makes game development inviting for beginners, while packing robust options for experts.
Crafting visuals and logic is as easy as dragging, dropping, and connecting pieces. Yet with time and practice, you can make remarkable games, art, and music. The polished tools, tutorials, and community allow anyone to turn their dreams into reality.
Since launching, fans have constructed everything from platformers, to music albums, to fully voiced stories. Moreover, creators own what they make, meaning they can sell their Dreams projects commercially.
Core
For user-generated content on the go, there’s Core. This free-to-play game lets you build multiplayer games right from your browser. Developing is as simple as dragging visual nodes into a flowchart.
Test your creation in real-time to ensure the gameplay logic works. When ready, publish your game with one click for others to play. Core also features an asset store for purchasing 3D models, environments, and special effects to enhance your projects.
While accessible for beginners, seasoned developers can use Lua scripts for advanced behaviors. Core takes the complexity out of game creation, allowing anyone to become a developer.
User-generated content allows gaming communities to thrive by giving players ownership over their experiences. If you’re seeking imaginative, expressive worlds where you control the narrative, these games offer some of the best avenues for creativity. Just grab the tools and start dreaming – you now have the power to build the games you wish to play.
