I've noticed something through the years, namely that minimaps/maps kind of wreck the gameplay in several games. Many times, it kills the immersion in games if you have it. You always know where you are, always know where to go, and most of all, you always know the boundaries. Without a map, you feel alot more lost, you feel the need to actually discover the place.

I feel like in many games, such as the STALKER games for example, or even in Skyrim, checking out the map always reminds me about the boundaries, which kind of kills the immersion. Dark Souls didn't have a map, and while it's only semi-open world, it felt great not having it. It was actually said somewhere that the entire game experience could have been wrecked by simply adding a map to the game.

Sometimes it's necessary, mostly in MMOs and games with a really huge map, without them things could be crazy tough, but still.

It's easy to just say "don't use it then' but if you have the option to do so, you're not going to make your own time harder, taken that the games that have maps built in, they were meant to be played with them in mind.

So what does everybody think, is adding map to a game is an immersion killer?

7 years ago

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(Mini)maps, yay or nay?

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Maps always, everywhere
It's good to have it sometimes, not always
Maps kill the immersion, off with them

always maps

7 years ago
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There should be a toggle on/off option for ALL games.

7 years ago
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Yeah, I really like the way Metro 2033 feels with just a compass. Depending on the game, sometimes no map is better.

7 years ago
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Yeah, compass is a great way that's in the middle. Fallout games could use it without the maps and it would be great.

7 years ago
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I like it when games have it, but I can turn it off. And of course, I've always liked games where you needed to make your own map, like the Etrian Odyssey series and many others.

7 years ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 3 years ago.

7 years ago
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Not having a map doesn't automatically means you are lost. It all comes down to map design at that point.

7 years ago
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I like having a map, but I prefer with a fog of war so it only records the areas you've actually explored. makes it easier to keep track of where you haven't looked as well as helping if backtracking becomes necessary

7 years ago
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Local map is not really needed in location-based games, but world map certainly good to even find yourself where you are. In GTA or Saints Row, a GPS-like minimap is useful, to see the roads and crossings ahead.
Though I would add that TES and Fallouts should only use location-based quest markers, not item/person specific ones, or none at all. I'm happy when it points out the city on the map in case I would forgot the name, but that's enough (or directions for a cave, like NW from a certain city)
Obviously a toggle option would be the best

7 years ago
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Yeah I guess seeing the place just around you is pretty handy, doesn't give away much.

7 years ago
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