Is there a game where you can do anything?
No, not really. Every game has limits, but sandbox games and AI text games come the closest, like Minecraft, Roblox, Garry's Mod, The Sims 4, AI Dungeon, and LifeSim.
The trick is that "anything" means something different in each one. In one game it means you can build anything. In another it means you can say anything. So the real question is: what do you want to be free to do?
One note: this is the LifeSim blog, so LifeSim is on the list. We also tell you what it can't do.
Why can't a game let you do anything?
Someone has to make every part of a game. If no one made a car, you can't drive one. If no one wrote a line, a character can't say it.
Sandbox games get around this by giving you parts and tools, so you make things yourself. AI games get around it by writing new text on the spot, so the story can go where you want. Both feel open. Both still have edges.
What games let you build anything?
Minecraft
A world made of blocks. Its store page says you can build anything from the ground up. In Creative mode, you have unlimited resources. In Survival mode, you gather what you need and fight to stay alive.
Garry's Mod
A physics sandbox. Its Steam page says there are no set goals. You spawn objects and weld them together to make your own machines.
Roblox
Roblox is not one game. It is a place full of games made by studios, small teams, and solo players. You can also make your own game. It is free to play, with optional purchases.
What games let you live any life?
The Sims 4
You make Sims, choose how they look, act, and dress, and build their homes. Then you choose how they live each day. The base game is free. Packs cost extra.
Here "anything" means any household and any home. You can still only do what the game and its packs include.
What games let you say anything?
AI Dungeon
AI Dungeon calls itself a free AI text adventure game. You type what your character does, and the AI writes what happens next. You can start a fantasy quest or make your own setting. The whole world is text. There is no map.
LifeSim
In LifeSim, you type what you do and what you say. There are no dialogue menus. The people around you answer in their own words. Each one has a job, a home, friends, and a daily routine, and they remember what you told them. Read open text chat for how it works.
You also get a place for it. You live in a real city on a 3D map of Earth. You can search for a real place, like a coffee shop, and go there. For a direct comparison, read LifeSim vs AI Dungeon.
What does "anything" mean in each game?
| Game | What you can do | Main limit |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft | Build anything from blocks | Everything is blocks |
| Garry's Mod | Build any machine with physics | No goals or story of its own |
| Roblox | Play or make any kind of game | Each game has its own rules |
| The Sims 4 | Make any household and home | Only what the game and packs include |
| AI Dungeon | Type any action in a story | Text only, no map |
| LifeSim | Say and do anything with people in a real city | One life, English only |
What can't you do in LifeSim?
We'd rather you know before you start.
- There is no driving.
- There is no multiplayer. You don't share a world with other players.
- It is in English only.
- There is no career ladder, no salary, and no house to buy.
- Moderation blocks adult, violent, hateful, or illegal content.
Inside those limits, it is very open. You write who you are, and you choose what to say to every person you meet. It is free and runs in your browser.
Questions
What game lets you do the most?
It depends on what you want to do. For building, try Minecraft or Garry's Mod. For saying anything, try an AI text game like AI Dungeon or LifeSim.
Is there a free game where you can do anything?
Roblox and AI Dungeon are free to play. LifeSim is free with no paid items. The Sims 4 base game is free too.
Is there a game where you can say anything to the characters?
Yes. In LifeSim, you type what you want to say, and each person answers in their own words. There are no dialogue menus.
Can you do anything in AI Dungeon?
You can type any action, and the AI writes what happens. But the world is only text, with no map.