Construction theme/trade job games

Another game idea I’d love to see on the NEX Playground is something centered around construction and building. Kids (and honestly adults too) love construction vehicles, and it would be amazing if the motion gameplay tied into operating different machines.

Imagine a construction-themed game where you physically control equipment like an excavator, dump truck, bulldozer, or crane. For example, you could squat and scoop with an excavator to dig dirt or debris, swing your arms to move the crane and lift beams into place, or run in place to drive a dump truck across a job site. You could even have demolition missions where you knock down old buildings before rebuilding something new.

It could work like a progression system where you start with small jobs and move up to bigger projects. Early levels could be things like clearing debris, digging trenches, or hauling materials. Later levels could involve building houses, bridges, playgrounds, or even entire city blocks.

Another direction that would be really cool is learning different trades through gameplay. Instead of just construction vehicles, the game could have trade-based missions where players act as different workers.

For example:

Plumbing missions where you connect pipes by moving and aligning them correctly.

Carpentry tasks where you measure, hammer, and place boards to build walls or furniture.

Electrical challenges where you route wiring safely to power buildings.

Masonry work where you stack and place bricks to build structures.

Each trade could have its own motions and challenges so kids are moving their bodies while also learning the basics of how things are built in the real world.

You could even add cooperative missions where players work together to complete a project faster, like one person operating the crane while another loads materials, or two players building different sections of a structure.

Things like job-site hazards, time challenges, tool upgrades, and unlockable equipment could add replay value. You could also have different environments like building a house in a neighborhood, repairing roads in a city, constructing a stadium, or even doing disaster cleanup after a storm.

I think something like this would fit perfectly with the active gameplay style of the NEX Playground while also being educational and creative. It would be a really fun way for kids to move, problem solve, and learn about how the world around them is built.

Canny upvotes: 12

Original Canny post