Open-world games continue to sell like hotcakes, although the saturation of this market is also problematic for fans and developers alike. Players don’t want to devote themselves to a game that isn’t worth their time, and devs need to do something to help their sandbox titles stand out.
Sometimes, all players need is a video game that lets them appreciate a world without feeling cluttered by external elements. Good HUD (head-up display) design can make or break a game, which is whythe following open-world gamesare worth noting for their excellent work in this regard.
Despite being released a decade ago,The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis still one of the best open-world RPGs fans can check out. Geralt’s adventures are a blast, and the world is beautiful to explore. The UI conveys relevant information with ease, even if players need to rely on the minimap a bit too much at times. However, this is a minor complaint in the grand scheme of things, withThe Witcher 3being downright perfect otherwise.
Rockstar is a master of their craft, ensuring that every element of their major release is polished to perfection. This includes the HUD inGrand Theft Auto 5, which is clean, sophisticated, and doesn’t distract from the open world’s detail and beauty.
There are times when the minimap may become too important, but this doesn’t take away from the overall sense of immersion players can enjoy in this game. It’s a beautiful title that can keep players busy for hours on end as they explore Los Santos and the countryside, causing chaos and taking on missions from time to time.
Despite adhering to certain design philosophies that have remained prominent in the industry,Cyberpunk 2077ensures that its UI looks stylish without being overbearing. All the relevant information players care about is present in their peripheral vision. Objective markers are organic and don’t force players to look at the minimap over and over again, while the color scheme is stylish and changes subtly based on whether players control V or Johnny. These changes ensure thatCyberpunk 2077’s HUD is a cut above the rest.
Red Dead Redemption 2is one of the best video games ever made, with its amazing open world and fantastic story being just a few of the many reasons why fans love this masterpiece. The HUD design is also minimalist and does a great job of conveying the game’s many mechanics.
Tracking cores may be slightly challenging at times, but this adaptive HUD shows its brilliance when players explore the world and try not to be dazzled by what’s on display. The Rockstar minimap reliance is present again, butRed Dead Redemption 2’s HUD knows when to pipe down and let players smell the roses, which is infinitely better than what most other video games do with their heads-up display.
Batman: Arkham Knightends Bruce Wayne’s journey on a relatively high note. The HUD and UI have seen constant improvements ever since the release ofArkham Asylum, and the final game in the series is a perfection of this design element. The HUD elements have the appearance of one of Batman’s gadgets, giving him constant updates on all relevant information. Any heads-up display that strives to be immersive is great, andBatman: Arkham Knightpersonified this.
Breath of the Wildis an amazing game, with several elements combining to help this title stand out as an open-world title that everyone should experience at least once. Link’s adventures take him across a ruined version of Hyrule that is surprisingly peaceful to explore.
It helps that the minimal UI elements contribute to the immersion, and can be changed to make exploration more captivating than ever. Players will get all the information they need without the screen being cluttered with needless information, which is exactly what fans want from a good HUD for an open-world game.
Ghost of Tsushimadid a great jobof letting players focus on the world itself before everything else. This was done with its immersive HUD that conveys what players want and nothing more. Guiding Wind is incredible and a great way to help players organically reach points of interest on the map. This immersive way to guide players ensures that the HUD isn’t overbearing, and lets players enjoy the amazing art design rife inGhost of Tsushima’s open world.
Shadow of the Colossusis one of the greatest open-world games ever made. The game only has sixteen colossi and compels players toexplore a vast, barren worldthat makes it clear that something is wrong. HUD elements are minimal, and only appear when important information must be conveyed. This makes the puzzle battles against every colossus intensely captivating as players seek out these massive figures and give them a death they don’t deserve.
