How a Beginner Can Make a Game for Free

Ali Ahmed Akib
By Ali Ahmed Akib
6 Min Read

We’re pretty sure that every gamer out there has once thought about creating their own game. Growing up on Sim City, The Sims, and even Minecraft has shown that players can create their own virtual worlds and lives. But to create something on a big scale and own it completely… well, that’s going to cost time and money you don’t have. Thankfully, that doesn’t have to be the case, as now there are ways for you to become your own legitimate game maker.

The changing face of gaming

Obviously, gaming has evolved over the years. You can’t expect in the 2020s to still be climbing up 2D ladders to save damsels in distress. We’re now seeing the latest editions from Sony and Microsoft, giving gamers more choice, better graphics, and even better gameplay. But even if you do get a next-gen console, you’re still just playing games that others have made. You’re still paying to play. Likewise, if you’re playing on your PC, you’re paying to play a variety of games; even open-world games still have a monetary element with in-game purchases. 

So why not do something different? Why not spin it all on its head and become your very own game maker? Create your own levels, environment, assets, and revel in your new creation as you explore a virtual metaverse. How’s it done? Simply by entering The Sandbox.

Create, play, learn, and earn

You might think that if you want to create your own game, you’d have to spend years learning code, putting it into practice, investing time and money… and then maybe seeing the fruits of your labor come alive. Actually, it’s not as difficult as it sounds, because it can all be done on The Sandbox. This virtual game is a decentralized gaming platform made by players… for players. If you’ve tried Minecraft, or follow the latest gaming news, then you’re already one step closer to getting to grips with the game, in the sense that you can build environments and enjoy that popular, block-type animation. But that’s where the similarities end.

The Sandbox firmly puts you in control as the game maker on this virtual game, built on the Ethereum blockchain. You can act not just as a player but also as a creator too. When you start, you can create your own character and use the game’s currency, SAND, to get started. You can buy LAND, and it’s on this where all the magic happens. 

By using the Game Maker, you can build games on the LAND you own. If you just want to build a game for free and test it out a la Mario Maker style, then feel free to do so. It’s your game that you’ve just created. And as The Sandbox is decentralized, it means that everything you create, you own, unlike other games where the gaming company owns the content. You can be your own property magnate.

Whether you’re new to creating lands, levels, and games, the Game Maker is easy to get used to. If you’re an expert in that sort of thing, then you’ll get stuck in, but whatever level you’re at, we’re sure you’ll enjoy it and become a guru in no time. The Sandbox makes it easy for you to make a game, too, providing you with invaluable resources and advice as well as support to guide you along the way. By using the Game Maker, you can create and co-build various games – there are thousands of voxel models that have been made by the community, or you can create your own. Simply build, create your own universe (that sits within The Sandbox’s metaverse), invent stories, and then enjoy! You can invite your friends to come and play too, but what’s even more interesting is that you can actually earn from it on The Sandbox when you become a game maker.

There’s a circular economy going on in The Sandbox, which literally makes it rewarding to be part of it. You can play other games on there and be rewarded for it with SAND, the in-game currency. Likewise, you can build your own games on your LAND for free, and then other players will pay to play on them. You can also earn more by building ASSETS, such as items and clothes for your avatars, and put them on the game’s marketplace for more opportunities to monetize your content. 

The creators behind The Sandbox also launched the Creator Fund to help players build, share, and earn money by creating games. So, it’s a great time to start building your own games on the Game Maker and see what the results will be. If you’re a beginner when it comes to making a game, you can try it out for free and even earn some money along the way.

ali ahmed akib
By Ali Ahmed Akib Editor-in-chief
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Ali Ahmed Akib is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-chief of GameRiv. Akib grew up playing MOBA titles, especially League of Legends and is currently managing the editorial team of GameRiv.