You can build your own worlds

Atlas is available starting…NOW.

May 21, 2026 by Hilary Mason and Matt Brandwein

Are you a daydreamer? A world-builder? The kind of person with a story, a setting, a cast of characters, an elaborate magic system, a long list of collectible artifacts…or a notebook that’s half ideas, half grocery lists? Are you looking for a new place to use your imagination?

Well, we’ve got something for you, and it’s called Atlas. It’s a new way for anyone to build a fully interactive world on Hidden Door and share it with their friends, fans, and followers.

This is a big “you asked, we listened” moment. And a lot of you have asked us for the ability to make your own worlds, because you have stories to tell!

Start from any idea

You don't need to code. You don't need publishing experience. You need an idea. Atlas helps you make it playable.

If you’re starting from an idea, our editorial wizard will guide you through the creation process with a series of questions. You’ll go through a step-by-step process, and will have a chance to edit when you’re done.

If you have a character sheet, a story bible, notes from a D&D session, or an outline of a story, you can also copy and paste that text into the builder to get started.

As the worldbuilder, you get to choose what players experience: world setting, character archetypes, story hooks, unlockable items, lore, physics, technology and magic systems. Decide what your world’s maturity level is, and which content warnings you include.

After you build your world, play through as many stories as you’d like! When you’re testing what you’ve made, you can create a character, complete your origin story and move through any story arcs you’ve created.

We’ve seen the ways you reimagine the stories in our current world catalog and make them yours. Now, we want to give you the tools to create your own world from scratch.

Build worlds, make money

Oh! Also. We want to pay you.

We do not think “UGC platform” should mean “creators make the value, and the platform keeps the earnings.” So we designed Atlas differently.

When you publish an Atlas world that meets our creator guidelines, you’ll be eligible to profit from our new revenue share program. We’ve designed this platform with creators in mind and 30% of all subscription revenue goes straight back to the people making worlds. You can build an interactive world, and then earn money from it. We’re so grateful for the authors, storytellers, and creatives who have supported Hidden Door since day one. We want more artists to be paid for their work, so we’re making it happen!

Two ways to start

Atlas is available to all subscribers who opt for our create plan — make unlimited worlds for you, your friends, or list them in our public catalog and let players from around the world find them.

You can also apply for our creator program here. If you’re accepted, you’ll receive complimentary access to Atlas. We’ll also work to promote your world, and provide special assets to make it easy to share your world with your existing readers, players or followers.

If you want to try Atlas right now, you can upgrade to our Creator tier membership. Create your own worlds, sign up for the revenue share program, receive specialized creator support from us, and gain early access to new licensed worlds, too. If you sign up before the end of May using the code STORYMODE, you’ll receive 25% off for the next year.

Starting today, you’ll also be able to upgrade your account to the Fan tier. If you’re not interested in building your own world right now, but want to expand your player options, this is the tier for you! You can access unlimited worlds from the official and community catalogs, which includes mature worlds.

With a Fan membership, you’ll also be able to create unique cards and custom storylines from your own ideas. But most importantly, 30% of your Fan subscription goes directly to the creators of worlds you play. When you subscribe, you’ll be supporting the creators whose worlds you spend the most time in.

If you choose to remain on the free plan, you’ll maintain access to all of your existing worlds. And your stories and turns per day will always be unlimited, forever and ever and ever and ever. We have no interest in stopping you mid-story with an ugly paywall.

If you’re ready to give our new, improved, expanded and collaborative world catalog a try, you can start playing here. If you’re already inspired and want to start building, step into the Atlas studio.

We’d love to hear what you think — and we’d really love to see what you build.