10 Best Ways to Connect Different Universes

One of the coolest things about multiverse stories is the beginning stages. When fans speculate and theorize the connections before the big reveal.

It can help build a strong and loyal community while building the foundations of a new shared universe.

You can do it through every medium and connect them. But how do you do that?

Do you want to build the next MCU or shared game verse like Final Fantasy or Ubisoft? Then here are the ways you can hint at a bigger multiverse.

Don’t be like Matpat. I like his videos and he seems like a nice guy but some of his arguments fall short. Especially, this one. It wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t say he’s going the “Canon” route but does the exact opposite through most of the video.

So instead of connecting your stories that way, use these 10 methods.

Character Cameos

This can be a bit complex, most cameos are nothing but fan service. If you want the audience to take yours seriously, you need to think it through.

But you can use it to worldbuilding your multiverse. It depends on the character, availability, and tone.

You have to play it straight and serious if it’s a one-time thing. Otherwise, it’s best used as supporting evidence of a connection.

Examples of good cameos:

• The various cameos in Owl House & Amphibia

• Disneyverse Cameos

• FF 15 in Assassin Creed

Taking cameos further, you can use crossover events to world-build your multiverse.

Direct Crossover Events

The most obvious way to connect universes is with crossover events. But it can’t be any crossover event, it has to make sense.

There needs to be time for the characters to meet up. You need to power scale them well and decide how they’ll cross.

Best advice, avoid making your event like Jump Force. Nonsensical and boring. I could go further but that would cross into “How To Write Crossovers” territory.

Let’s move on to the next way to connect universes, important items.

Important Items

Think of Infinity Stones from the MCU. They were sprinkled throughout Phases 1 to 3 until coming to a head with Infinity War.

You can do the same with important and recognizable items. It has to make sense though. Don’t have the item appear in places where it can’t be in.

If an item can’t travel dimensions or universes, don’t have it appear in another universe. No one will take that seriously.

Doesn’t apply if your stories take place on one planet. As long as you can think of how that item got there, the audience can theorize it.

If you can’t explain it, they won’t. Same for places.

Important Places

This is harder to do but if pulled off well, it’s a stronger connection than most.

Characters meeting at, mentioning, or destroying a landmark from other stories counts.

The name of a place is not always enough though. It needs to make sense within the story and world.

Game Theory gives a bad example with the Bank of Spira in FF15. Spira is a planet so unless there’s a Mass Effect level galactic economy, that’s just a cool nod.

The same goes for game appearances of places and areas. If it’s just there out of nowhere then it’s probably not a canon connection. Can be supporting evidence but nothing more.

Remember, know the difference between a nod and a direct connection.

Bloodlines and Family Names

A more direct is connecting your stories through Bloodlines and family names.

Skywalkers, Belmonts, Joestar, and more. If your characters have these names, the chances of canon connection increase.

You can build entire stories off these family dramas. But it still needs to make sense. You need to keep track of your family tree or you’ll have characters that don’t fit.

It also means your story will span multiple generations. So keep that in mind when planning your story. Doesn’t work with multiversal stories unless a descendant traveled to another universe.

Speaking of universes, let’s talk Dimensions.

Dimensions

When I say Dimensions I mean pocket ones or the afterlife. Those can connect different dimensions and places. Have your characters interact or travel to these dimensions

The same rules from places apply here. Name dropping is not always enough. Some dimensions, ones that exist outside space-time, can get away with only name drops.

But be careful with this. Connecting too much to one dimension will increase the chances of inconsistencies.

Mascot Enemies and Creatures

Jack Frost, Moggles, Chocobos, and Hannies.

These characters appear in most of their respective franchise. This lightly implies connection. Not very direct but do it enough and the audience will assume your stories are in a multiverse.

If you plan to do a large multiverse or in-depth planet story, this is perfect for the long run.

They’re also great for merchandising and brand awareness. The same goes for the next method.

Toys, Commercials, Brands, etc

This will never be a direct connection but can be a light implication. Don’t use them as main evidence but as supporting items.

The best this can do is imply that they’re connected in some way. Most likely how comic books work in DC.

There it’s used as communication between universes. Check this video for more info, starts at 2:04 to 2:40.

You can use toys and games the same way. Commercials and brands are a bit more complicated.

They can imply stories existing on the same planet. If it’s two different universes or planets, this can be harder to explain as canon. Most likely, we’ll see it as a nod.

So use this method with something else or not at all. If it’s just for fun then by all means.

Next is my favorite, multiversal travelers.

Multiversal Travelers

This is like cameos but these characters or written specifically for this purpose.

They have the ability to travel to different universes and dimensions. Where they go, a connection is formed. It’s a great way to connect a big multiverse.

These characters are best as side characters that help every once in a while. If you do a solo series you can use almost every method mentioned to strengthen the connection.

Want to take these further? Place your multiverse under a Pantheon.

Gods and Religion

Gods can have control over universes to multiverses. Placing your characters under that God implies a connection with the other universes.

You can do this by mentioning or showing God(s) directly. This only works if your characters have a way to know or meet the Gods.

If you don’t want to go that route, having the religion appear across your multiverse works too.

Conclusion

Those are the 10 best ways to build your multiverse I can think of. Comment below any other methods you know.

If I made any mistakes or missed something important then tell me.

Let’s end it with what NOT to do to connect your stories. These don’t count and can be disregarded.

• Non-Story Outfits, Characters, and Areas (Bayonetta’s Nintendo Outfits and Hyrule in Sonic Lost World)

• Cameos only in fun and comedic games (Any cameo in sports, cooking, etc games)

• Out-of-character appearances (Kratos Golfing or Doomguy skating)

• Most Mobile Game Appearances

• Fighting Game Appearances without at least an arcade ending

• Nonsensical Crossover Events (Jump Force and Ryu vs Asura)

Use these methods to help build out “Fiction” in a cleaner way. For insight on crossovers in fiction check out my videos on it. Also, check out how to write better multiverses.

The one thing to remember is to keep track of your multiverse and build it with care.

With that, I’m done.