I suck at using character creators and that’s OK

polygon.com:

When I booted up Elden Ring or Disney Dreamlight Valley for the first time, I got a little tightness in my chest. That’s because these games start with a character creator menu, which overwhelmed and stressed me out. For many, booting up a game to a wide array of character customization options, like hair color and style, body type, and more, is a pivotal and huge aspect of play. It’s like the best parts of dress-up, except it’s way easier to play and experiment with looks. But for me, it’s just stressful, and if I’m being honest, I think I suck at it.

I am not a game developer. I am not a character designer. I do not have good taste. I do not know how to be creative in this sense. I feel fully confident dressing myself as a real person, but what looks good on me and what looks good on a fantasy character are two entirely different things. We don’t say this out loud often, but it’s actually really hard to design a cool-looking character. To me, people who are good at character creation are the true gamers.

Designing characters without any personal inspiration leaves me floating in a sea of customization. I get overwhelmed by the countless options and I overthink every detail. Well, I could move those eyes up an inscrutable distance, so maybe I should? I don’t know if it’s better to layer on tattoos, scars, and cool-colored hair, or keep it simple. Of course, tons of games will allow you to equip your character with cooler gear over time, but I’ve never quite mastered the art of designing a cool character. So, here, I’ve decided to round up some of my recently designed characters and roast them for the Polygon readership.

This design is giving “Zora from The Legend of Zelda except make it bland and boring.” Out of all