Custom character creators are one of the most charming elements video games and can bring immersion and personalization to a whole new level. Players being able to create their own character lets them personalize the experience and even get new levels of enjoyment from a game. A good character creator isn't always a complex one, since simplicity can often help players create more stylized likenesses and express their creativity.
These five character creators demonstrate what makes custom characters such a fun and enjoyable experience. They range from the complex to the simplistic, with some being closer to full-fledged creative tools that stand on their own outside of their games. In no particular order, here are five of the best character creators in video games.
1. The Sims 4
The Sims series has one of the most personalizable character creators out there, with players able to set everything from clothing to personalities with an incredibly easy-to-use editor. Given the Sims are at the core of the series' gameplay, it makes sense that Create-A-Sim has always been the main focus of the series. In The Sims 4, Create-A-Sim takes a step toward better user-friendliness, sacrificing some of the deeper features introduced in prior games.
Sims 4's Create-A-Sim strikes a really good balance between ease-of-use and complexity. The clay-like body sculpting replaces the previous games' sliders, letting players easily achieve the look they want for their Sim. Sim bodies are more customizable in this game, which makes Sims look far more diverse and unique. The only main criticism is the lack of The Sims 3's Create-A-Style tool, though players with a bit of modding knowledge can import custom textures.
The Sims 4 highlights how a good character creator should be easy to use and provide ways for more advanced players to master the tools. Those who take the time to learn how to mod The Sims 4 can import their own styles of existing clothing items, giving them the same level of creativity introduced in The Sims 3. The Sims 4's Create-A-Sim is a tool players can actually learn and advance with, much like an actual art program.
2. Black Desert Online
Black Desert Online may have one of the most well-known character creators out there. When people talk about the most complex character creators, Black Desert Online is usually brought up because of its huge amount of options. Players can create pretty much any kind of character they want, and the graphical fidelity makes every choice shine.
The level of detail present shows just how well graphics can help a custom character stand out. A player's creation needs to blend in with the rest of the world to sell the idea that this character could exist there. Even if Black Desert Online's actual gameplay tends to be a fairly standard MMORPG, fans say its robust character creator alone is worth the game's $10 asking price.
3. Mii Channel
"Less is more" is probably the best way to describe the appeal of the Mii Channel. Black Desert Online's huge selection of options is certainly impressive, but it can also be fairly difficult to jump in with the tools. The Mii creator is the polar opposite of Black Desert Online, as it focuses on making the Miis' art style versatile enough to fit a wide range of character designs. There's something about the defined lines and bold color pallet of Miis that make them able to really look like anyone a player wants.
The Mii Channel does something similar to The Sims 4 by giving the creation tools a bit of a learning curve that rewards players who explore their options. By adjusting things like facial marks, eyebrows, noses and other parts, players can create completely original features. A player could recreate their tiefling Dungeons and Dragons character, for example, by moving and reshaping a set of eyebrows to look like horns.
4. Saints Row 4
Realism and accuracy aren't always the main appeal in character creation. Sometimes, players just want to stretch anatomy to its limit by making their very own freak of nature. Luckily, the Saints Row series is here to provide.
Saints Row 4 really embraces the wild tone of the series. The character creator lets players morph their character's geometry into a wide range of technicolored freaks. Of course, this design approach also means players can make some creative and accurate characters from movies, video games, TV and even real life. Saints Row 4 has also updated to include Steam Workshop support, greatly expanding its already abundant options.
5. Spore
Spore may be the king of all character creators. The evolution simulator uses a similar approach to The Sims 4, allowing players to morph their creatures like clay. The attachable creature parts and hotkeys to toggle features like symmetry let players express tons of creativity. Spore has a bit more structure around it compared to games like Saints Row 4, mainly due to the limit on the creature's complexity and how a rigid spine keeps a sense of anatomy in place.
That minor amount of consistency allows players of all skill levels to create almost any kind of creature they want, from real-world animals to their own original ideas. Much like other character creators, there's a learning curve to Spore that keeps players coming back to make new creatures. Plus, the online servers are still active, allowing players to keep sharing their creations in this underrated classic of a game.