open world
Freely roamable gamescape
Open world describes a video game design where players can explore a large environment freely rather than following a linear path.
The player decides where to go and what to do: Breath of the Wild is an open world game where you can climb any surface you see.
The term emphasizes player agency over developer-directed progression, though main storylines typically exist alongside optional exploration.
Splitting into separate directions
- choicesAvailable options to pick
- multiple endingsDifferent possible conclusions
- player agencyParticipant's meaningful choice capacity
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
dialogue options · consequences · outcomes · replayability · freedom · side quests · self-directed
External conditions affecting life
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- realismAccepting things as they are
- graphicsVisual design elements
- physicsScience of matter and energy
NPCs · storytelling · detail · fidelity · lighting · weather · day-night cycle · ambient
Find something unknown
- exploreTravel to discover
- roamTravel without fixed purpose
- wanderMove without fixed direction
- traverseMove across an area
map · terrain · landscape · biome · wilderness · frontier · landmark · scenery
Seeking journey for something
- heroOne admired for courage
- journeyTravel from place to place
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- epicImpressively grand in scope
dungeon · kingdom · legend · side mission · boss · treasure · companions · narrative
Enclosed roofed structure
- craftingSkillful manual creation
- creationMaking something exist
- terraformingModifying worlds for habitability
- moddingAltering games unofficially
customization · construction · design · blocks · survival · voxel · landscaping · base-building
branching
Splitting into separate directions
- choicesAvailable options to pick
- multiple endingsDifferent possible conclusions
- player agencyParticipant's meaningful choice capacity
decision-making · dialogue options · consequences · outcomes · replayability · freedom · side quests · self-directed
environment
External conditions affecting life
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- realismAccepting things as they are
- graphicsVisual design elements
physics · NPCs · storytelling · detail · fidelity · lighting · weather · day-night cycle · ambient · soundscape
discover
Find something unknown
traverse · map · terrain · landscape · biome · wilderness · frontier · landmark · scenery · navigation
quest
Seeking journey for something
- heroOne admired for courage
- journeyTravel from place to place
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
epic · dungeon · kingdom · legend · side mission · boss · treasure · companions · narrative · objectives
building
Enclosed roofed structure
- craftingSkillful manual creation
- creationMaking something exist
- terraformingModifying worlds for habitability
modding · customization · construction · design · blocks · survival · voxel · landscaping · base-building · tools
- gamingvideo games, buff, games, PlayStation 4, gameplay
- game developmentgame engine, game design, game engines, game designer, rendering
- gameplaypower-up, level cap, save point, game over, tutorial level
- video gamesvideo games, gameplay, Fortnite, mobile game, arcade
- game worldsHyrule, Azeroth, Skyrim, Mushroom Kingdom, Pandora
- interactive mediavideo games, video game, apps, interactive fiction, mobile apps
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