Games that let you design wild contraptions that the developers never planned

Gamers always like to push the boundaries of what is possible. For example, the more outrageous the game's trophy list, the more determined many are to get that Platinum (unless it's literally and officially impossible to get, we'll try). The more ways to create a build in a given title, the more determined we can be to explore every single option and get overwhelmed as much as possible.

Sandbox titles are pushed to extremes more than any other game. The basic concept of “do anything you can think of” is taken as a challenge. This is why when titles give players the freedom to create gimmicks, the results are often a bit more elaborate or ridiculous than the developers ever imagined.

7

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

What did those Koroks ever do to us?

As a predecessor The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom is an amazing, liberating and deeply atmospheric open world. But the key was to give the game its own identity, rather than simply rehash everything that 2017's hit did so well. One of the main ways to do this was by adding the Ultrahand mechanic, which allows Link to bind materials together. At first glance it looks simple enough, with the ability to build a makeshift raft to cross a body of water, perhaps adding a motor to make the journey super fast. However, some players quickly realized the true potential of the system, which was that with enough effort, they could make almost anything.

Soon after the game's release, social media was flooded with footage of hapless Koroks being blasted across chasms in makeshift rockets, working mechs, and all kinds of hilariously creative stuff besides. Open world games are well known for allowing players to venture out for hours doing side content, but that content doesn't really tend to take that form.

6

No Man's Sky

Design your own spaceship

Of the many updates No Man's Sky since its launch in 2016, one would say that the Voyagers have been one of the most impressive. In addition to other subtle improvements to player suits, this update has greatly strengthened the multiplayer aspect of the game. The arrival of the Corvette ships was a revelation, and not just because it kept the groups together and allowed them to travel through space in a gorgeous new ship. The real attraction is that said ship is designed and customized by the players themselves.

Needless to say, this quickly meant that fleets and fleets of Millennium Falcons, Nostromo z ForeignTARDISes and a number of other classic sci-fi ships have flown into space. Creating them again is a real blast, but it's even more fun to reach for a completely unique design. Depending on the parts you manage to get your hands on, there are almost endless possibilities for ridiculous craft of all sizes and shapes. Make sure you also choose the best Corvette upgrades that you will prioritize.

5

Minecraft

If you can imagine it, you can build it

From the very beginning, Minecraft was an experience built on the concept of dig, build, repeat. Just like No Man's Skyit's seen years and years of updates that have added creative ways to keep it going. However, perhaps the most significant of these for those engineers and DIYers in the fanbase was the introduction of redstone. An early introduction to the game as it was being developed, redstone allows the player to provide power to things he has built, such as machines.

Mojang probably wasn't prepared for the kinds of stupid redstone machines players developed Minecraft. In a game like this that can constantly require resources, it's nice to have an engine that can automate the process of creating them. However, such things are far too logical and reasonable, so players have repeatedly focused on creating fun distractions such as bouncy castles. It's just a different way Minecraft ensures that you are always working your creative muscles.

4

Trailmakers

Ridiculous vehicle building simulator

Trailmakers is what would eventually happen if No Man's Sky expanded its Corvette customization feature and made an entire game about it. In Sandbox mode, which is the main attraction for many, you simply select a map and start building your vehicle from the whole set that the game has to offer. You can then drive, fly or sail to explore the map and find collectibles. There is also a race mode (which can be highly competitive) and a campaign for your little space explorer to play.

One thing that sets Trailmakers Additionally, and something that DIYers will need to keep in mind, is that the physics system is quite sophisticated and will make the vehicles perform in a “realistic” manner. They will tip over if their weight isn't evenly distributed, for example, and water or flying through the air will affect them as you'd expect them to. There's a huge amount of pieces to choose from and everything comes together effortlessly, but it's something extra to think about when you're creating away.

3

Besiege

Create the deadliest concoctions imaginable

Besiege it doesn't go the conventional route of building vehicles that a lot of similar titles do. Instead, the premise is a bit more insidious: building siege engines that can be used to overwhelm defenses and breach fortresses. The game gives an awful lot of freedom with which to do this, which means that fairly conventional catapults and siege towers quickly become great flaming, flying battering rams, multi-barrel machine guns and other such horrors.

There's something immensely satisfying about the act of creating, whether it's something physical or a project in a video game. There is, however, something ineffably cathartic about destruction and Besiege offers both. Crashing one of your lovingly crafted machines into a tower full of knights and watching it slowly crumble to the ground never gets old.

2

Kerbal Space Program

Take your imagination to infinity and beyond

Humanity has long been fascinated by the concept of space travel, and it seems we're not the only ones. Kerbal Space Program it's kind of a mixture Trailmakers and No Man's Skyin that it's all about building a spaceship and fighting the game's very involved physics engine to make the journey a success. Your creations are controlled by the Kerbals, a green alien race who want to expand their horizons by seeing more and more of the solar system around them. Luckily for them, you're here to help.

The system of 'snapping' parts of the spaceship together is endlessly satisfying, and you can tweak pretty much every aspect of the craft to your liking. It's extremely intuitive, and many players will surely stick with the sandbox mode and simply see how outlandish their designs can be while still getting into space. For a more structured experience, the Career mode shows the player building an actual space program, balancing their available funds to develop new technologies, and developing relationships with various companies in the industry. The game has surprising layers of depth and you are free to explore them – or not – as you please.

1

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

A new direction for the beloved series

So, as we found out, a game that invites the player to build their own vehicles from different parts usually calls for pure chaos. This is exactly the concept behind franchise killing Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts too. It was a controversial decision to completely change the genre of the series and radically remake the characters, but it cannot be said that Rare did not try something new and original here.

Banjo and Kazooie must face off against Gruntilda and her cronies in an elaborate series of racing competitions, with the fate of Spiral Mountain at stake. So begins quite an elaborate scavenger hunt, acquiring new pieces and augmentations for the birds' and bears' own abilities and their vehicles. Experimentation is the name of the game, and however ridiculous your finished creation looks, the controls should be practical.