Garry's Mod (2006)

Garry's Mod is a groundbreaking physics sandbox that throws away traditional game design for pure, unadulterated player freedom. At its core, it provides a robust set of tools that allow you to spawn and manipulate objects, from simple cubes to complex machinery. Want to build a working car, a Rube Goldberg machine, or a rocket to the moon? The choice is entirely yours. You can experiment in single-player, honing your creations, or dive into the vibrant online community and collaborate with thousands of other players, or even try to survive a murder mystery in Trouble in Terrorist Town, or engage in hilarious hide-and-seek as a sentient object in Prop Hunt. What truly elevates Garry's Mod beyond a simple toy is its incredible modding community, which has transformed the game into an ever-evolving platform for countless unique experiences. The Steam Workshop is a treasure trove, offering hundreds of thousands of free models, maps, and community-created game modes that constantly breathe new life into the game. From advanced building tools to outlandish weapons, the scope of what you can achieve is virtually limitless. This immense player-driven content, combined with the foundational sandbox mechanics, solidifies Garry's Mod's position as a monumental achievement and a definitive title in Facepunch Studios' legacy of fostering creativity and emergent gameplay.