World of Warcraft: A massively popular role-playing game where you can explore existing worlds and create your own using mods like Epsilon. The Sims 4: Build your own house, start a family, and battle with your neighbors in this classic life simulation game. Sim City: One of the original world-building games, there are versions of Sim City for all platforms that allow you to create, run, and even destroy your own cities. No Man’s Sky: Explore distant solar systems, build elaborate bases, collect resources, and make friends in this world-building game available for consoles and Steam. Entropia Universe: Travel between planets, hunt, mine, trade and sell items, and create your own virtual business with a chance to earn real money. [1] X Research source
Second Life: This famous virtual world platform allows you to create a virtual version of yourself (or whoever you want to be) and create an entire virtual life for your avatar. Activeworlds: One of the oldest virtual world-building platforms, which allows you to design your own world and explore existing worlds with other players. Sansar: A world-building platform from the creators of Second Life that allows you to use virtual reality headsets and body trackers to enhance your experience. [2] X Research source IMVU: A 3D avatar-based social media platform that offers lots of customization and the option to meet people all around the world. Smeet: Is a virtual world game platform where you can design an avatar, hang out in 3D, raise pets, create gardens, and more.
Minecraft: One of the most popular games for kids 7 and up, Minecraft lets players build landscapes and buildings, craft and use tools, and more with other players all around the world. Roblox: One of the most popular virtual worlds for kids, Roblox offers kids of all ages the chance to make friends, play games, try their hand at creating their own games. Check out our Roblox guide to learn more. Habbo: A vintage pixel-art style world where kids 13 and older can build rooms, play games, make friends, and design their own personal avatars. Fortnite: This popular world-creation game lets kids 13 and older create virtual islands and games, engage in battles against other players, and make friends all around the world. [3] X Research source WoozWorld: A social-focused virtual world that’s also educational, focusing on teaching kids of all ages skills like writing, design, budgeting, and money management. [4] X Research source Poptropica: A game-based virtual world full of fun quests, stories, games, and educational opportunities no matter your age. [5] X Research source World of Jumpstart: Kids of all ages can join virtual neighborhoods, create custom avatars, raise virtual pets, and complete fun missions. Whyville: Kids 8 and older can create their own virtual characters, chat with new friends, design and play games, and explore a virtual universe.
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You will be asked to create a username in order to sign in. You will need to log in with this name after checking its availability. You may be asked to download the game to your computer before you can use it. Some sites, like Smeet, are browser-based and don’t require downloads. You don’t always need to use your real name as your username, although it depends on the game. Many people don’t do so because they are trying to explore being a character other than themselves. Write down your username so you don’t forget it because you will need to use it to log back in. You will likely be asked to create an account using a real email and will perhaps be asked your date of birth and other information.
Some people choose avatars that are very similar to themselves. Others decide it would be more interesting to role-play as a completely different person. It’s really up to you (and the site you choose) when it comes to how far you want to make your avatar deviate from yourself.
Learn the rules of the specific game by reading the materials provided before you enter the virtual world. For example, many virtual world games provide frequently asked questions and other instructional materials. In some games, you simply use keys on your computer keyboard to move the avatar and can choose functions that enable your avatar to run, walk, fly or teleport into a new world. Spend some time getting to know the virtual world before you change anything in it. Figure out how it works, and go on a journey to see what’s in it! Some virtual worlds, like those in WeeWorld and Roblox, allow you to play games. Some virtual worlds even have a space within the simulated environment where you can go and ask questions about using the virtual world. In real life, you would want to scope out and acclimate to your environment before changing anything in it. The same is true in a virtual world. Virtual World. com is an example of an online game that allows you to visit a main street, beach, saloon, and skatepark, among other environments.
You will see a text chat box pop up with the usernames of other people currently in the world. People have made virtual friends through such worlds. Some people feel more confident in virtual worlds because they are shy in real life. Some virtual worlds also supply maps that show you who else is in the world and where to find them. Follow the rules set by the virtual world game for interaction with others. Always be respectful. Just because it’s a virtual world doesn’t mean you can do anything you want. Most likely, there will be rules and community guidelines for you to follow. Some apps, like Second Life, have areas where adult content is allowed, and other areas where it is not allowed. When you are online, you are in public. Always act like you are in public. Always be careful when meeting people you’ve met online in real life. They may not be who they say they are online. If you are a child, make sure you have an adult with you.
Figure out how you are supposed to move the avatar and where you are allowed to go. You may need to perform tasks or pay money to access various levels of the virtual world. You are generally able to travel through different virtual worlds. Some virtual worlds will show you a map to help you figure out where you are going inside the virtual world and will offer you multiple world options.
Some games, like The Sims 4, allow you to create and design your own house, pick a job, or even choose the members of a virtual family. Other games, like SimCity, allow you to create your own virtual worlds and even manage your own cities, whereas other games, like Minecraft allow you to visit and customize preexisting virtual worlds, or both. In some virtual worlds, you get to choose a virtual pet or virtual boyfriend or girlfriend. The possibilities are endless! Some virtual worlds allow you to perform some activities for free but make you pay to do extra things, like design a private 3D home to entertain in. The power of many virtual worlds is that they allow the user — you! — to both build and to create things. So you are able to unleash the powers of your imagination.
Not all virtual world apps work with such virtual reality headsets. Second Life is one that does. Roblox has some games that are designed for virtual reality, and Minecraft on Playstation is compatible with the Playstation VR. Headsets are being developed that will mimic your real facial expressions and place them on your avatar. [7] X Research source
Some researchers believe that spending too much time in virtual worlds can lead to isolation in real life for some people. At the same time, some people replace their unhappy realities with a happier virtual world they are more able to control. Some people have become addicted to virtual worlds to the degree that it has caused them to neglect their real lives. Make sure that you use virtual reality in moderation and in a way that does not cause negative effects in your actual life.
What is the virtual world about? Is there a story behind it? Does it have it’s own lore? What does the virtual world look like? Is based on a real location? Is it completely fictional? Does it have a unique look or architectural style? What is the climate and natural setting of this world? Is there a specific color scheme? How do people dress in this world? Is there a specific art style you are going for? Create concept art. How does the player interact with this world? Are their non-playable characters? Is this a multiplayer world? Are there items or resources the player can use? Does this world have any hazards, such as monsters or hostile mobs?
Many game engines have an asset store or marketplace that you can use to purchase game assets made by other users to use in your own game.
