Most games have hand-crafted levels that showcase the expertise of the developers who worked on the project. For example, a lot of love, care, and imagination went into the design of Super Mario 64, one of the most beloved 3D platformers of all time. Would it have been as beloved if it used a randomized generator?
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How about if Nintendo allowed players to create their own character instead of using the mustachioed plumber? It’s hard to say whether the game would have been as iconic, but regardless, there are great games that do feature procedurally generated worlds or dungeons to great effect now. Some even have robust character creation systems, and these are just a few examples.
Minecraft
Fun For All Ages
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
Minecraft is the ultimate experience for anyone who just wants to start a game and then be given the freedom to do anything they want without any story restraints. Because the world is blocky, the character customization options are minimal, but there are cosmetic skins in Minecraft that can make players look more unique, including a new set featuring Dragon Ball characters like Goku.
In the world, which will randomly generate, players can get to work exploring and gathering materials. Gathered materials can be used to craft gear like swords, or they can start building a home and making a life wherever they wish.
Terraria
2D Minecraft
Terraria
- Released
- May 16, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Terraria is like a 2D version of Minecraft with randomly generated worlds. Players can create their character in Terraria with a few pixelated options, and then they can start exploring vertically or horizontally.
Because the space is in 2D, players will have limitations in what they can build, but over the years, some have proved themselves capable of much more online with elaborate creations. If anyone is stuck coming up with a cool design for their home or base and needs some inspiration, then there are dedicated subreddits to Terraria to look into.
No Man’s Sky
Boldly Go Where No Man Has Before
No Man's Sky
- Released
- August 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
No Man’s Sky won’t let players create their character down to their human visuals, but they can shape how their suit looks, and further customization options will open up as players gather new materials and gear. This is a next-level procedurally generated game, because players can fly to a seemingly infinite number of planets, all of which will be different in subtle ways.
Players can fly, in real time, to these planets, land, and then start scanning for life or gathering materials. Plus, it's a great game to play with friends. It’s one of the most chill space-sim games ever made, with a little bit of danger thrown in if players decide to be rebels.
Starfield
Fallout But In Space
Starfield
- Released
- September 6, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Starfield is a mix of randomly generated planets and handcrafted experiences. There may be key locations to visit that will not change between playthroughs, but the terrain may be altered. It’s like a more narrative and combat-focused space game from the minds of the Fallout and The Elder Scrolls franchises over at Bethesda.
Players will have much more detailed features when it comes to creating their space explorers, along with how they can customize their gear from guns to ships. For anyone wishing No Man’s Sky felt more like a game and less like a sim, Starfield is the answer.
XCOM 2
Stop The Alien Scourge
XCOM 2
- Released
- February 5, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, RPG
XCOM 2 is a strategy game wherein players will go on missions that will be randomly generated based on scripted events. How players establish their base and allocate resources will depend on what alerts will pop up on the world map.
When going into a mission, these maps will be randomly generated so that each map feels a bit more unique against the alien invaders. Players can craft their team even after they are randomly assigned, and they have to be careful about using units in battle, as they can die permanently.
Spore
Breeding Aliens
Spore
- Released
- September 7, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation
Spore was designed to be the next big leap in sim-based games when it was launched in 2008, as the creator, Will Wright, also designed SimCity and The Sims. Players could create a creature that would then spawn other creatures and have them evolve over time on their planet.
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The creation tools were seemingly infinite, but the game didn’t catch on to create a widespread franchise, unlike SimCity or The Sims when it launched in 2008. It’s not quite on the level of having a Pokemon creator game, but players can get pretty crafty about their alien designs if they have the patience.
Dwarf Fortress
Off To Work We Go
Dwarf Fortress
- Released
- August 8, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Strategy, Simulation
Dwarf Fortress is one of the most complex city-builder sim games ever made, with simple graphics but hard-to-understand controls. It’s basically a fantasy version of SimCity as players will pop into a randomly generated world, tasked with establishing a new dwarven society. Players can create homes, resource management centers, and more, and assign NPCs to do tasks.
Watching the digital characters zoom around player-made structures is rewarding, but it takes a long time to understand what’s going on. For players who want full immersion and control, Dwarf Fortress is it.
.hack//fragment
A Forgotten MMO
- Developer: CyberConnect2
- Publisher: Bandai
- Released: November 23, 2005 (Japan)
- Platform: PS2
.hack//fragment is a PS2 spinoff to the .hack quadrilogy, which features both an online and offline mode. In either mode, players could create their character and choose a class, like a Wavemaster, which was like a mage. In HUB towns, players could go to gates, enter random wards, which would then generate a dungeon.
Besides the player-created character and the ability to go online, .hack//fragment was similar to the main games except that it was like the ultimate fan game, which featured characters from across the universe, from games to anime. Unfortunately, it never left Japan like so many other PS2 games.
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