Open-world games that replace quest markers with actual research

Open world games There are many barriers to entry and requirements to ensure players can fully enjoy the vast amount of content they have to offer. One of the most important aspects is the quest design; More specifically, how players are guided from point A to B with quest markers, waypoints, or outlined goals. However, in some games, these things are either very minimal or not present at all.

These types of games create a much more organic gameplay experience that greatly appeals to the player's curiosity. The most interesting and unexpected questlines and areas are often hidden. Instead of always being shown exactly where to go, players must explore on their own, which can turn even a simple walk through the world into a deeply rewarding experience.

Learn the world instead of following it

• Instructions are given through dialogue and in-game text, not icons.

• Landmarks are important for exploration.

The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind forces players to engage with its world on a deeper level rather than relying on constant direction. Quests are delivered primarily through dialogue, often referring to vague directions, landmarks, and local knowledge rather than precise locations. On top of that, NPCs can be inaccurate or deliberately misleading, which turns simple tasks into investigative exercises.

It is difficult to make progress without fully understanding the deeper context behind certain cultures or factions, and in many cases, it may be easier to pause and listen than to rush to the next objective. The lack of hand-holding means that every quest feels earned and makes the game even more immersive than some modern open-world RPGs.

Kingdom Come: Redemption

Closer to reality than anything else

• Realistic maps without constant guidance.

• NPC routines and schedules determine quests.

Kingdom Come: Redemption Exchanges shiny markers for NPC-driven questlines, many of which rely heavily on the player's personal understanding of individual characters. Many NPCs will give instructions based on their own understanding of the world, and they may not always be correct, forcing players to do some research on their own to figure things out.

Players must read maps, identify landmarks, and track witnesses across the bohemian landscape, a process that turns many basic quests into logic puzzles. All of this plays a big part in the game's focus on realism. Not only is the world deeply authentic, but so is the quest gameplay.

Wild outdoors

Curiosity is the way forward

• There are no quest markers.

• Knowledge becomes the main driving force.

Wild outdoors It's as close as it gets to a completely directionless open-world game. Players aren't given traditional quests to follow, but they still need to discover and solve the mystery of the exploding sun, exploring individual planets and piecing together small clues to build the bigger picture of the story around them.

Progression is entirely dictated by what the player learns, making knowledge the most important factor driving the story. Even as they revisit their ship's logs and previous planets, they're never told to go anywhere else, ensuring that each step forward is deeply satisfying in a way that virtually no other open-world game can achieve.

Alden Ring

Driven by the desire to see more

• Subtle strings of light for basic guidance.

• Quests are scattered throughout the map and often span through the entire campaign.

Alden Ring Sends players across beautiful but terrifying lands, giving them nothing but a set of armor and a few weapons to help them begin their journey. There are only markers that players sometimes come from side quests to indicate where to go, as well as a guiding strand of light that usually points to the next location on the main path.

Outside of these vague clues, there's nothing telling players what to do or where to go, which is made even more daunting by the sheer scale of the world. Without looking at things, it's very common that players will find themselves stumbling over the next step in a questline rather than knowing where to go next. This can feel frustrating, but it also means they can focus more on their journey than taking the constant detours they want to avoid.

Pathologic 2

Living through trial and error

• Research is central to the experience.

• Even small actions produce lasting results.

Pathologic 2 It removes any comfort that comes from following normal questlines, making research a central aspect of the player's existence. The game never indicates a “correct” choice, mostly because there isn't one. Instead, it provides fragmented and contradictory information from desperate NPCs, leading to mistakes and numerous failures over multiple playthroughs.

There are no clear quest markers that guide players to success. They are forced to focus on specific tasks dictated by strict deadlines and lack of resources, and in many situations, must make sacrifices in the hope of finding some clarity in a sea of ​​uncertainty.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Follow the signs and landmarks from start to finish

• Visual cues are the main source of guidance.

• Environmental puzzles are discovered through exploration.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild It completely changed the way people looked at open-world games by showing that only landmarks and points of interest were on the map to guide players. Players are encouraged to ask questions about what might be hiding in a corner or on a nearby hill, often finding their own mini-quests to pursue outside of the main story.

A lot of trust is placed in the player and their ability to indulge their curiosity, but it doesn't feel like they're running aimlessly from place to place. Due to how interesting the world itself is, the lack of constant guidance is rarely an issue, as there are enough natural reasons to continue exploring without the need for a pre-determined reason.

external

Preparation trumps everything

• No minimaps or fast travel safety nets.

• Exploration is intentionally dangerous.

external Removes many of the navigational comforts that players have become accustomed to, treating the world as something that needs to be learned and mastered over time. Maps must be read manually, and routes must be carefully planned in advance, as getting lost is a real danger that can be as deadly as any enemy.

Quests often provide minimal direction, pushing players to experiment and adapt to their current circumstances, and they are given plenty of opportunities to learn from their mistakes, no matter how many they make along the way. Knowledge is no longer a useful tool but an essential ingredient for survival external The perfect game for players who really like to engage with their environment on a more than superficial level.

Kenshi

A world that explains almost nothing

• An exploration of organic style

• Vidya was discovered over time

Kenshi Does not provide any traditional search or guidance. The world exists independently of the player, and understanding it requires more observation than most are used to, often leading to countless failures before things become clear and orderly.

The whole experience is very hands-off, and players need to investigate how and why certain events happen and who controls what without being told exactly how to do it. The absence of direction turns every choice into an experiment, making the world feel so brutally authentic and deeply responsive that even seasoned players are surprised.

Shadow of the Colossus

Minimal but deeply attractive

• Much of the content is left open to interpretation.

• More interesting locations are located on the outskirts of the map.

Shadow of the Colossus Strips exploration to its rawest elements. Players are given a vast, peaceful world with a vague goal and almost no explanation. Finding each of the 16 colossi depends on observing the light and following large stretches of terrain in between.

A small amount of dialogue and direction forces players to interpret meaning through their actions and the discoveries they make during the adventure. It's the purest form of unguided exploration, taking players on a self-reflective journey that never pulls them too hard in one direction.

Subnautica

Unlocking the secrets beneath the waves

• A slow, slowly unfolding story.

• The environment is the primary source of information.

Subnautica is an environmental storytelling masterclass that effectively blends exploration gameplay with underwater survival. Progress comes from scanning new life forms and discovering ruins, each detail coming together to create an image of the world around them.

The ocean itself becomes a source of information, with some remote areas becoming key focal points for players to try. Because of how deeply intertwined the mechanics and story are, it can be very difficult to feel lost in actually doing anything, because there is always another place to look and a mystery to discover.