Five Months of World Building in Somnium Space: A Metaverse Transformed

Written by Marc Demar, based on this Somnium Space Medium article

Back in early 2025, a challenge was issued to the creators of Somnium Space: upload your best immersive experiences to Somnium Space, submit them to the World-Building Competition and wow the community with your creations. Five months and $2500 in prizes later, the results speak for themselves – many Worlds have been uploaded, each one a snapshot of someone’s imagination, skill, and passion.

French Vibes by xCommando. This experience won first prize ($300) in February’s competition.

What began as a competition quickly evolved into something more – a movement. From breathtaking sci-fi citadels and glowing cyber-alleyways to intimate art installations and narrative-driven environments, the diversity of creations reveals just how expansive this platform has become. These are not just worlds in the abstract – they are living places, shaped by people who’ve taken the time to learn new tools, develop ideas, and build something meaningful.

Recognizing the importance of community engagement, Somnium Space launched a Monthly World-Building Competition. This initiative not only incentivizes creativity with cash prizes but also highlights the best creations across the platform’s social channels. This competition serves as both an inspiration and a proving ground for aspiring creators, showcasing the limitless potential of the platform. Those who excel in world-building will not only gain recognition but will also find themselves at the forefront of a rapidly growing digital economy. Follow Somnium Space’s X account for updates, entry form, winner announcements and more!

A Metaverse in Bloom

Walking through today’s Somnium Space reveals the scale of transformation. There’s a palpable sense of community architecture taking root: beginners and more experience creators alike are pushing their artistic boundaries, and sharing their spaces with others in the open metaverse. It’s no exaggeration to say that Somnium Worlds are changing the landscape.

The emergent ecosystem feels organic. Some worlds invite quiet contemplation; others buzz with activity. A few serve as stages for events, music, and storytelling. There are experiments, games, mazes, and entire philosophical thought experiments rendered in code and space.

Silver Falls by Moavi. This experience won first prize in May’s competition.

Tools That Open Doors

At the core of this creative wave is accessibility. With Unity and the Somnium SDK, users have been empowered to build highly customized environments. Even those who have never worked with the tools before are uploading. The rise in tutorials, documentation, and community support has made the path forward clearer.

The Worlds competition simply gave people the incentive to begin. Once they started, the joy of building- and sharing – kept them going.

More Than Just a Competition

Although prizes and recognition were part of the original format, something larger has emerged. These worlds aren’t disposable or forgotten once judged. They remain part of the living fabric of Somnium Space – places anyone can visit, revisit, or draw inspiration from.

A Fall in the Jungle by Libellule, April’s first prize winner.

This isn’t a flash in the pan. It’s a cultural shift – a signal that immersive storytelling, architecture, and expression in VR are here to stay. The spirit of experimentation and creation is stronger than ever.

Looking Forward

If this is what creators have built in just five months, the next chapter promises to be even more transformative. Somnium’s Worlds have become more than just user-generated content – they are landmarks of a growing digital civilization.

The ever growing collection of Worlds

Whether you’re a first-time builder or an experienced developer, the invitation still stands: this metaverse is what we make of it.

And so far, it’s looking spectacular.

Want to give it a go?

If you want to join the World-Building competition, the best place to start is subscribing to Somnium Space’s X-account. And the perfect place to share work, ask questions and connect with fellow builders is on Somnium’s Discord.

Also, Somnium Space hosts weekly Creator Meetups every Thursday at 22:00 CEST.