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For burgeoning game makers, this aspect of game design can seem daunting. Luckily for them, there exist games that make the path to level creation much more approachable. They give these users a set of tools and set them loose to create to their heart’s content, letting players take on the role of game-maker.
10 Super Mario Maker 2
It is hard to believe that Mario, as a franchise, has been going on for as long as it has. It boggles the mind that over so much time, the series has remained innovative and fun. With the tools in this game, players can have their own chance to capture that magic, or just create rage bait.
The wealth of possibilities is greater than ever, allowing players to utilize mechanics from nearly all of the 2D Mario games and then some. Those with creativity to spare can create platforming challenges to rival the classics.
9 Far Cry 5
This game’s level creator is so impressive that one player was able to recreate the opening level to the N64 classic Goldeneye in such loving detail that it was shut down by Ubisoft for copyright reasons. This incident is a testament to not only the spirit of level designers, but also the utility of the Far Cry 5’s level creator.
With custom objectives and a massive list of assets to draw from, players have shown a real passion for this game’s level editor. Some are genuine attempts at making a Far Crylevel, while others go for more of a silly approach. Still, both cases were only made possible by the tools they were given.
8 Roblox
Without the ability to create custom games, there would be no Roblox. Custom games are its bread and butter. With the promise of making money, albeit a shallow one, users are encouraged to make use of the tools provided to them.
What makes this level creator so unique is that it is more like a game engine in of itself rather than a toolkit. The things that the game editor can do is staggering. Though a lot of people recreate existing games using Robloxs’ editor, many journey into the unknown as well.
7 Portal 2
Portal was always capable of the best marriage of puzzles and customization. With Portal 2’s level creator, along with the funny explanation for its existence, the player can use the inherent modular design of Portal’s levels to make their own puzzles. This includes most of the fun mechanics that the game throws at the user during the campaign.
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The only catch is that a level must be completable. Other than that, a level can be made in any way the player sees fit. All they have to do is start thinking with portals. That, or Valve can finally count to 3.
6 GTA: Online
With a plethora of DLC and updated content, there is no shortage of things to do in GTA: Online. Throw on top of that already massive pile of things to do a custom game maker ,and what is left is a pile to rival Everest. Challenges, races, challenge races — there are more custom game options than one could count in their lifetime.
It helps that the assets available to a creator are numerous and effective. Want to drive up a sheer cliff? There is a game for that. Tron? Covered. There are very few limitations to what the more creative members of the community can create.
5 LittleBigPlanet 3
A level designer for more playful endeavors, LittleBigPlanet 3 has its own laundry list of materials, characters, and control panels for the user to experiment with. It is a mostly physics-based creator that demands ingenuity to get the best out of it. Some material floats, others are heavy. Some are flammable, some are not.
There are also several characters to choose from, who all interact with these systems differently. The things people have been able to create despite a seemingly limited toolbox is astounding. Of course, it can always use more.
4 Minecraft
With near-infinite modular construction in the form of various blocks, Minecraft can quite literally be only limited by the imagination of those who play it. Actual working computers have been built in Minecraft. But is it a level creator?
The short answer is yes. The long answer is that the game includes these things called command blocks that are only available through creative mode. These blocks give players a great deal of power, and with that power, players have been able to script their own custom maps and campaigns. If that doesn’t meet the definition of level creation, then nothing will.
3 Halo 5: Guardians
Forge has been a staple of the Halo games since its release in Halo 3. With its advent came a swarm of unique game modes and custom maps that prolonged the lifespan of any Halo game’s multiplayer. As the series progressed, the forge got more and more robust.
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The game that has pushed it the farthest is Halo 5. Forge now resembles some of the best sandbox-building toolkits out there. An extraordinary amount of creativity can be processed from it. Though people were displeased with the campaign, the forge was one of this game’s saving graces.
2 Skate 3
Skate 3 was an oddball of a game. It did well enough, but its popularity exploded years after release after people realized just how goofy it can be when it is pushed to the limit. A part of what helped people make this discovery was the extensive park building mechanics.
A player can place just about any piece of skating equipment, and then some, just about anywhere in the world. Of course, this was normally abused to freak out the system for laughs, but that hasn’t stopped some people from making some genuinely great skate parks or custom stunts.
1 Doom (2016)
With Doom: Eternal eclipsing the original reboot, many have forgotten the charms of Doom (2016). The map editor, called Snapmap, allows users to create their own Doom experiences and also share them with friends on all platforms.
The series has a long and storied history of custom games and maps that have been built by fans, resulting in a litany of popular shooters. Snapmap has its own impressive list of tools that the player can wield to craft their very own adventure, all without much hassle.
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