Summary
Open-worldgames tend to be immersive experiences that players get lost in while playing. They providea world for players to freely explorethat, on some occasions, can be adventured through without the help of a compass. Players have been known to make open-world games even more of an immersive experience by turning off the UI to freely explore the world without the extra clutter on the screen.
With this in mind, theseopen-worldtitles haven’t only been praised for their minimalistic UI designs but also for how the games can be easily enjoyed with the UI of the title completely turned off.
Sea of Thievesis an incredible pirate game that already has little to no UI for the player to look at. Players tend to use the map on the ship to know where they need to go, the compass in their hand to figure out the direction, and then they go on their merry way.
AlthoughSea of Thievesmay havea lower Metacritic score, this was from when the game was first published to players. Since then, the game has expanded in all sorts of ways with more activities on the tropical seas for the player to get involved in. Finding a crew to plunder treasure, defeat other pirates, or attack skeleton forts can make for an incredible open-world exploration that doesn’t need a single bit of UI.
While some of the other titles oftheFar Cryfranchisemay require the HUD so the player is able to see how much ammunition they have remaining, this isn’t entirely necessary forFar Cry Primal. Set in the times of old, when humankind was still living in caves, players don’t have any guns to rely on when dealing with fellow tribes or the dangerous animals that lurk within the forest.
Instead, they must use their trusty spear and bow to deal with any threats they approach. While it may be useful to know how many arrows the player has left, relying on the spear requires no user interface on screen for players to interact with. While challenging themselves to survive without knowing what their health is like.
Open-world sandboxes likeMinecraftare perfect for players to play with the UI disabled. As long as a player is aware of the amount of hearts they have and that they eat regularly, players don’t need the bar at the bottom of the screen to enjoy this block adventure.
Minecraftgives players the freedom to create and explore how they desire, with no true set purpose other than defeating the Ender Dragon. With the player still able to see their characters first with the HUD turned off, they will still be aware of what blocks they are hoping to place and what tool is in their hand.
What makesGhost of Tsushimaso unique compared to the other open-world titles is the visual queues given by the environment to suggest the direction that the player goes toward. Payers should pay attention to which way the wind is blowing or follow the wildlife, such as a fox, to find a possible secret or another quest to complete.
Even without these prompts to keep the player finding things, this incredible title, which is set during the first Mongol invasion, has plenty for the player toexplore on the islandby themselves and a brilliant photo mode to showcase it with.
Bethesda is a game company that has truly shown the enjoyment of a game that can be played without the UI enabled. While at first glanceFallout 4may look like a barren wasteland, there is plenty to explore and a lot of scenery to take in. When heading towards the places that are filled with people just trying to survive, removing the UI opens the player’s eyes to how the world has possibly changed around them.
It also encourages the player to explore more as they approach buildings with the question of whether they can be explored or what they may find within. Without the quest markers to show a player where they need to go, they may end up finding new quests instead, as they talk to NPCs they would have never considered before.
Additionally, Bethesda players who are far moreinterested in a fantasy environmentare sure to enjoy themselves even more with the classicSkyrim. This is another title that plays great with the UI disabled, as players can tell how much health they have lost through the effects on screen, causing players to be more careful with their spells.
By not relying on the compass and instead using the road signs, players are sure to go on adventures that they had never originally considered while playing this incredible open-world RPG. As mentioned, they are also sure to not get too lost if they keep to the road signs that guide them in the direction of the nearest town or city.
Red Dead Redemption 2amazed players who were pleading for another Wild West title from Rockstar Games. With the entirety of the map to explore freely, players may find enjoyment in turning off their mini-map instead, to see where the vast dirt roads ofRed Dead Redemption 2take them.
The game itself already has quite the minimalistic UI, though turning it off can still free up more space on the screen to admire the diverse environments of the Wild West and experience both the small-town life and go hunting in the wilderness. There is still plenty to get involved with, as players may stumble upon a stranger needing help on the road, who is sure to call for the player’s aid if they need it.
Out of all the open-world games available, one of the best that players can play with the HUD disabled isThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.This game already has quite the minimal HUD design, with the game only truly presenting the player with their health or the amount of stamina that is being used through, attacks, gliding, and climbing.
With this in mind, it is obvious to see why players may choose to remove the HUD entirely to freely adventure and admirethe world of Hyrule, and its neighboring kingdoms. Not to mention that the main story can be completed in any order and, therefore, players are free to make it there in their own time.
