---
key: mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-character-customization
type: mechanic
id: game-mechanics--gm-character-customization
lang: en
title: Character customization
summary: >-
  The player changes a character’s appearance with a clear preview. The chosen
  look expresses preferences and makes the character recognizable.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-character-customization/
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-character-customization.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-character-customization.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Game design techniques
  - Character
sourceIds:
  - source-7ba33861b4c9d6e1
  - source-dd1d23d72c4470ac
  - source-0a031a39aeeef0d8
sources:
  - id: source-7ba33861b4c9d6e1
    title: 'Game Mechanics: Character customization'
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-customization'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-dd1d23d72c4470ac
    title: Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
    url: >-
      https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-customization/game/cyberpunk-2077
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-0a031a39aeeef0d8
    title: Deep Rock Galactic
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: game-mechanics
    id: gm-character-customization
    title: Game design techniques
    url: >-
      https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/game-mechanics/#gm-character-customization
    categoryIds:
      - gm-category-character
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Character customization
    description: >-
      The player changes a character’s appearance with a clear preview. The
      chosen look expresses preferences and makes the character recognizable.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/drg-customization.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Deep Rock Galactic
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/548430/ss_d93c676ba296854f7b9261520e0262477c787820.1920x1080.jpg?t=1792497307
      credit: Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing
      rights: © Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing. All rights reserved.
      caption: Scout appearance and victory move
      alt: >-
        Deep Rock Galactic: appearance slots surround a Scout model, which
        previews the selected victory move.
      markers:
        - x: 71
          'y': 53
          label: Beard and hair slots
        - x: 31
          'y': 74
          label: Victory move selection
    tips:
      - Preview changes immediately on the character model.
      - Separate appearance choices from balance-affecting statistics.
    examples:
      - title: Deep Rock Galactic
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Editorial reference index based on the 199 public Game Mechanics pattern pages
  checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by
  gamemechanics.pro; pattern names, category associations and game-reference
  URLs retained from gamemechanics.org. The source gallery includes a film
  analogy. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are
  upstream attributions, not independent verification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/game-mechanics
---
# Character customization

id: game-mechanics--gm-character-customization
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-character-customization
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-character-customization/

The player changes a character’s appearance with a clear preview. The chosen look expresses preferences and makes the character recognizable.

## At a glance

![Deep Rock Galactic: appearance slots surround a Scout model, which previews the selected victory move.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/drg-customization.webp)

[Deep Rock Galactic](https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/) · © Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing. All rights reserved.

1. Beard and hair slots
2. Victory move selection

- Preview changes immediately on the character model.
- Separate appearance choices from balance-affecting statistics.

- [Deep Rock Galactic](https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/)

## How it works

The player selects aspects of a character's appearance or identity.

## Variants

### How the technique works

<a id="gm-character-customization-rule"></a>

- The player selects aspects of a character's appearance or identity. <a id="gm-character-customization-definition"></a>

## Context and limits

All 199 Game Mechanics entries at the check date: player actions, systems, presentation techniques and contested patterns. Entries are grouped by their first source-card category; all categories appear in their descriptions. Definitions use original wording. References link to game-specific galleries; images and videos remain at the source.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Editorial reference index based on the 199 public Game Mechanics pattern pages checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by gamemechanics.pro; pattern names, category associations and game-reference URLs retained from gamemechanics.org. The source gallery includes a film analogy. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are upstream attributions, not independent verification.

- [Game Mechanics: Character customization](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-customization) (id: source-7ba33861b4c9d6e1)
- [Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-customization/game/cyberpunk-2077) (id: source-dd1d23d72c4470ac)
- [Deep Rock Galactic](https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/) (id: source-0a031a39aeeef0d8)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors