Hello gamers! What are your favourite examples of building/crafting mechanics in games?

I’m talking things like basebuilding in Subnautica, where you’re involved in the resource upkeep and managing total rooms vs. fortifications. Or how Frostpunk limits your choices with a research-increasable building radius, plus constant pressure to adapt to unexpected situations, the fix to which you’ll have to implement before the next situation.

In general: What makes Building dope in games?

This can be in games with building as a goal, e.g frostpunk, or games where its pretty much an afterthought. Trying to expand my horizons, and think it’d be neat to hear what y’all feel makes building good

  • The freedom is amazing, but (this is coming from someone whose favorite game is probably Minecraft) I also think it’s a pretty big drawback. Like you can make your base look like anything you want with practically any layout you want, but there’s very little practical reason not to live in a hole in the ground. In a way I wish they could implement a Rimworld-esque system for identifying rooms and structures (this room has a stove so it’s a kitchen, this one has a pool table so it’s a rec room) That kind of system seems like a perfect fit for managing villagers, and considering how broken villager trading is I feel like it’s something the game really needs. Pity it would be nearly impossible to implement lol