What Makes The Best Character Creation Games?

Gone are the days of solely playing games as a yellow ball, chomping your way around a maze and dodging ghosts. Today, the best games give players far more control – allowing you to create your own digital doppelganger to walk the wastelands of Fallout or simmer stew in Skyrim.

But what makes the best character creation games? While some enjoy the escapism of a completely different identity, others love shaping a character that feels like a reflection of themselves. Ultimately, many key elements combine to make these games with good character creation so legendary. Let’s dive into them.

THE POWER OF GAMES WITH CHARACTER CREATION

Whether you’re designing your dream self in The Sims or creating a space soldier in Mass Effect, games with character creation have a unique appeal that goes far beyond gameplay. They allow players to step into a new world in a form that’s tailored to them – with experiences that range from creating an idealised avatar or as immersive as crafting a hero’s backstory, experience, and personality from the ground up.

It’s this enchanting creative freedom that makes character creation games so absorbing and unforgettable. So what exactly goes into creating these transformative games?

WHAT MAKES THE BEST CHARACTER CREATION GAMES?

Games with good character creation truly allow players to make the experience their own. But it takes many different elements to make this magic happen. To create truly memorable character creation games, developers and designers consider many components:

In-depth customisation

Character creation games like Saints Row and Cyberpunk 2077 are known for their extensive customisation options. Games that allow diverse self-expression let players of all backgrounds feel included, experimenting with skin colour, gender, body shapes, hair, facial features, clothing, accessories, tattoos and cultural traits.

Realistic visuals

Making the game world feel as realistic as possible is the ultimate goal for game designers. In these high-definition worlds, the ability to make characters look as lifelike (or fantastical) as possible helps players truly immerse themselves. Top-quality artists and detailed animators pay extraordinary attention to every detail, making each character feel vibrant and alive within their setting. 

User-friendly interfaces

The games with the best character creation are those that keep the process as simple as possible, while offering a wide variety of customisation options. Smooth, intuitive design moves, with easy-to-use sliders and menus, make the experience feel effortless and enjoyable –  keeping players in the creative flow.

Storytelling and world building

Great character creation games are also the sum of their parts. In addition to avatar personalisation, the most unforgettable games have stories and worlds that give players agency to think and act how they want – from personal boundaries or moral decisions – these subtle reflections ensure a world of possibilities.

HOW ARE CHARACTER CREATION GAMES MADE?

For those who love escaping into games with character creation options, imagine going even deeper – designing characters from scratch, with rich backstories and a place in expansive worlds. The creative magic behind the best character creation games comes from the artistry of skilled concept artists and designers who bring these virtual beings to life. With a combination of imagination, storytelling, art and technical skills, it’s possible to create immersive experiences that bring joy to gamers around the world – and Escape Studios’ courses offer the perfect pathway.

GETTING STARTED IN CHARACTER CREATION

If anyone knows what it takes to make games with good character creation, it’s the industry professionals who teach our cutting-edge programmes, including our BSc (Hons) / MSci Character Creation for Animation, Games & VFX, MA Character & Creature Creation or our 12 - 18 weeks Character & Creature Creation Short Course.

Building real-world experience and connections, you’ll learn the complete character creation pipeline, from concept to implementation, in a studio environment that mirrors industry standards. We are the first Unreal Engine Authorized Training Center in the UK and an Epic Games Academic Partner.

Inspired? Learn more about our games courses and start building your skills for the character creation career of your dreams.