Experimenting with a faster way to build playable open-world prototypes
I’m testing a workflow for building small open-world prototypes faster — not just static scenes, but spaces that can eventually support movement, combat, driving, collecting, and crafting.
So far, the editor has a 3D asset library with 400+ assets and basic map editing, which makes it possible to block out towns, communities, ruins, vehicles, and terrain spaces pretty quickly.
The harder part is deciding what makes the result feel like a game instead of a pretty sandbox.
For people who build prototypes or game worlds:
what would you add first to make this kind of open-world space feel playable?
I’m thinking about:
landmarks that guide exploration
small environmental puzzles
traversal tools
resource collecting
hidden areas
NPC encounters
lightweight crafting
Curious what you think matters most in the first playable version
So far, the editor has a 3D asset library with 400+ assets and basic map editing, which makes it possible to block out towns, communities, ruins, vehicles, and terrain spaces pretty quickly.
The harder part is deciding what makes the result feel like a game instead of a pretty sandbox.
For people who build prototypes or game worlds:
what would you add first to make this kind of open-world space feel playable?
I’m thinking about:
landmarks that guide exploration
small environmental puzzles
traversal tools
resource collecting
hidden areas
NPC encounters
lightweight crafting
Curious what you think matters most in the first playable version
