Allgirlsgamescreative games: a guide to style, design and imagination

An independent reference about creative games. We host no games or files, sell nothing and are not affiliated with the former site on this domain. Check the age rating and purchase terms in the app store.

Terms

Terms

Creative games have a language of their own: some words come from gaming, others from the world of artists and designers. If your child talks about skins, customization and seasonal events and you're not sure what that means, check this glossary. Each term is explained briefly and without jargon.

Knowing a game's vocabulary means knowing the right questions to ask about it.

— Editor's note

How this glossary works: terms are grouped by topic and explained in general terms. Different games may call the same thing by slightly different names.

Creating and style

Character creator
The part of a game where you set up a character's appearance: face, hairstyle, clothes, colors. Sometimes you can also choose their voice and the way they walk.
Customization
Adjusting something to suit you: a character, a room, the interface. The word comes from "custom-made," meaning made to order.
Skin
The look of a character or item. Sometimes you put it together yourself, sometimes you earn it in the game or buy it.
Palette
A set of colors for one piece of work. In editors, the panel where you pick colors is also called a palette.
Layer
A transparent sheet in a drawing editor. Parts of your work on different layers can be edited independently.
Sandbox
A game with no set goal, where the world is raw material for your own builds and stories.

Purchases and events

In-game currency
A game's own money: coins, gems and the like. You earn it in the game or buy it with real money.
Loot box
A virtual pack with random contents: you only find out what's inside after opening it. If you pay real money for it, it's easy to spend more than you meant to.
Seasonal event
A temporary event with special quests, decorations and items, often tied to a holiday or season.
Limited-time item
Something you can only get or buy during a certain period. It creates a sense of urgency.
Patch notes
The list of changes a developer publishes along with a new version of a game.

Safety

Age rating
A label that shows what age a game is suitable for. In Europe it's assigned by PEGI, in North America by ESRB.
Content descriptor
A label next to the rating that tells you what's in the game, for example in-game purchases.
Parental controls
Settings in app stores and on consoles that let you limit purchases, playtime and chat.
App permissions
Access to the camera, microphone, contacts or location that an app asks for. Only grant it if it's clear why it's needed.
Moderation
Reviewing what players write and post. Good moderation protects against rudeness and spam.
  • Techniques

    The color wheel and palettes, layers and symmetry, saving versions, planning a space and smart spending.

  • Guides

    How to plan a room in a design game, step by step. Plus the catalogue of our articles.

  • Questions

    Answers about this reference, creative games, safety, purchases and in-game chat.

  • How to judge

    Your own criteria, no rankings: creative freedom, fair purchases, privacy and accessibility.

What we rely on

  • PEGI — age category descriptions
  • ESRB — rating descriptions
  • App store help pages on parental controls

We describe genres and techniques in general terms. Every game has its own menus, button names and purchase terms, and they change over time, so check the details in the game's own help section and on its app store page.