Crafting mechanics in video games are an interesting way to add progression and, at times, creativity to gameplay. Combining two things and achieving a sum greater than its parts is incredibly satisfying and often allows you to do things otherwise not possible.
These mechanics are frequently seen inRPGsandSurvivalgames,often taking direct inspiration from previous games. Punching trees to get supplies to craft basic tools has been a common trope since Minecraft popularized it.
However, there have also been various unique ways these mechanics have been implemented over the years.
10Spell Crafting
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrollsseries, like many games made byBethesda, has a variety of interesting crafting mechanics, such as Smithing, Enchanting, and Alchemy.
One particularly unique mechanic was Spell Crafting, introduced inThe Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfalland last seen in the main series withThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
This allows you to combine the effects of spells you have learned and craft unique spells. For example, you could create a spell that increases your resistance to ice damage while simultaneously dealing fire damage to easily deal with Frost Atronachs.
Finding unexpected synergies among the various spell effects created a fantastic amount of depth to using spells that was unfortunately missing inThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
9Combo Weapons
Dead Rising 2
Dead Rising 2introduced combo weapons, which have since become a staple in this over-the-top zombie game series. It allows you to combine two weapons or items to create a new, stronger combo weapon, often with unique effects.
Some are obvious, like a spiked bat doing more damage than a regular baseball bat. It’s unsurprisingly made by combining a box of nails with a baseball bat.
However, some are extremely creative, like the Tesla Ball. It’s created by combining a bingo ball cage and a battery. It’s exactly what it sounds like: an electrified bingo ball cage that zaps any zombies it rolls into. It’s bizarre but effective for clearing hordes of zombies.
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8Ship Building
Another Bethesda game with plenty of crafting mechanics makes it onto this list, and justifiably so, asStarfield’sshipbuilding stands out from the pack.
In a very satisfying 3D builder, you build your ship with a variety of different parts. You can make it straightforward and practical,replicate a design from your favorite sci-fi movie, or even try to make a cartoon character out of it.
Your ship acts as a roaming base inStarfield, so most pieces of your ship will directly impact gameplay either as part of the interior that you store your excess supplies and talk to your crew in, or as parts that enhance the ship’s performance in space.
7Hunting To Craft
The interesting part about Far Cry 3’s crafting mechanics isn’t the outcome but the process of gathering resources. To craft better gear, you have to collect the hides of specific, often dangerous animals.
At first, it’s pretty simple. You collect the hides of animals like boar and tapirs. But as the game progresses, you’ll have to take on more dangerous beasts like sharks and tigers.
Eventually, you have to hunt down specific, named animals that are very strong, like the Blood Komodo or Undying Bear.
However, unlike other games where this kind of progress comes from defeating enemies you would encounter regardless, you have to go out of your way to search for these legendary beasts, making it a unique take on crafting upgrades.
6Crafting With Friends
Palworld is incredibly reminiscent of greats in the survival genre likeARK: Survival Evolved, but it has some unique twists.
One that involves crafting is that you can assign certain pals to gather resources to craft with, and some pals even craft for you.
Pals have different abilities and skills that are needed to gather specific resources and operate different crafting systems. For example, the medicine production ability is needed to craft juices and medical supplies at the medicine workbenches.
On top of being able to craft things while you focus on other tasks, pals with strong crafting abilities can craft even quicker than you can. So all in all, the creature taming meets crafting system works a treat here.
5Crafting Filters
Don’t Starve Together
Don’t Starve as a series has crafting that initially seems pretty typical of the survival genre. You gather ingredients, and you craft items. Simple.
But what makes Don’t Starve Together unique is that the available crafting recipes can change based on many factors, such as character, location, or nearby items.
Several characters have unique crafting recipes in the Survivor Items filter. For example, Webber’s Survivor Items, previously called the Spider Care tab, allows him to craft several spider eggs and other tools useful for controlling your spider army.
Then there’s the Ancient Pseudoscience tab, which can only be accessed deep in the ruins, or the Celestial tab, which can only be accessed when near a Celestial Orb, Alter, Sanctum, or Tribute.
In short, there’s layer of variety of complexity here, and more than initially meets the eye. So, feel free to get lost in the Tim Burton-esque world of Don’t Starve and see for yourself.
4Buildables
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Black Ops II wasn’t the first game to combine crafting with zombies, but the specific formula it created for the Call of Duty series was certainly unique.
Pieces of powerful tools and weapons called Buildables, like the Zombie Shield, will be scattered across the map and then can be assembled at workbenches.
Each piece has a small handful of predetermined locations in which it can be found, which, combined with the way the maps are segmented into zones that are purchased with points, creates a distinctive dynamic.
Each piece belongs to one item and one item only. This streamlined approach to crafting is more like a scavenger hunt compared to other crafting systems.
TheFalloutseries has always been filled with useless junk that you could fill inventory with if, for whatever reason, you wanted to.
The only real use of this junk to the player in most games was to sell for a cap or two. Or perhaps make a mad weapon with the limited Schematics on offer.
However, Fallout 4 re-imagined the purpose of this junk with scrap. Each seemingly useless junk item has some sort of scrap resource, such as glass or springs, which are useful crafting resources.
This junk is needed to mod your weapons and armor and to build your dream settlements. For example, if you want a scope on your gun, you may want to look for a Nuka-Cola bottle for some glass to recycle.
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2An Abundance of Systems
Project Zomboid
Like most survival games, crafting is to be expected here. Where Project Zomboid is unique is the sheer volume and scope of crafting recipes.
Nearly everything you do beyond fighting zombies is done with a crafting recipe. Whether it’s boiling water, tearing sheets, or replacing batteries, you’re crafting to do it.
This gives crafting a unique perspective in the sense that you need to be a master crafter if you want to stand a chance of surviving. Building a makeshift ax or boarding up windows is on the same level of importance as lighting a grill or unpacking ammo.
Every little thing requiring effort to complete highlights how grim the reality of a zombie apocalypse would be. It’s not all spiked bats and rainbows.
1Weapon Modding
Escape from Tarkov
Escape from Tarkov has an extremely in-depth weapon modding system. Nearly every part of the weapon can be taken off and swapped out, even the parts you never really think of, such as dust covers.
This allows you to craft unique abominations like a WWII-era submachine gun with several modern laser sights tacked on just because you’re able to.
At the same time, the game is very grounded in reality, so these cursed weapons you create will typically be limited by the laws of physics and the real-world designs of these various weapons.
That won’t stop you from slapping seven flashlights on a shotgun if you want to. But hey, that’s your prerogative.
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