Shape of the World is a single-player video game that allows the player to explore procedurally generated, beautiful, and colorful ecosystems. This game aims to encourage curiosity and a sense of being comfortably lost in an immersive and interactive landscape that constantly changes as the player moves so that even if they return to the same spot, the environment is different. I find this project inspirational because of it’s simplistic yet radiating style and because what seems to be painstakingly created landscapes are actually procedurally made.
I have not played the game myself, so I can’t touch upon critiques for the project, but I believe that the project effectively accomplished what the creators wanted it to accomplish: a relaxing journey. The lead developer and artist, Stu Maxwell, was inspired to create Shape of the World after playing Journey, Flower, Windosill, and 140. These games full of exploration and whimsical style as well as Stu’s own love of wandering prompted him to use Unreal Engine 4 to develop Shape of the World.