Open world games that replace quest markers with actual investigation

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

Games like this create a much more organic gaming experience that emphasizes players' curiosity in a big way. The most interesting and unexpected quest lines and areas are often the most hidden. Instead of constantly being shown exactly where to go, players must instead explore on their own, which can turn even a simple walk through the world into a deeply rewarding experience.

Teaching the world instead of following it

• Instructions are provided through in-game dialog and text, not icons.

• Landmarks are key to exploration.

The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind it forces players to engage with its world on a deeper level than simply relying on constant direction. Quests are delivered primarily through dialogue, which often refers to vague directions, landmarks, and local knowledge rather than exact locations. Additionally, NPCs can be incorrect or deliberately misleading, turning even simple errands into investigative exercises.

It's hard to progress without fully understanding the deeper contexts behind certain cultures or factions, and in many cases it can be easier to stop and listen than rush to the next destination. The lack of hand-holding means that every discovery is earned, making the game much more immersive than even some modern open-world RPGs.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Closer to reality than anything else

• Realistic maps without constant guidance.

• NPC routines and plans dictate quests.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance trades glowing tokens for NPC-driven quests, 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 their own research to figure things out.

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

The outer wilderness

Curiosity is the only way forward

• No task markers.

• Knowledge becomes the main driving force.

The outer wilderness it's about as close as it gets to a fully unguided open world game. Players aren't given traditional quests to follow, but still need to figure out and solve the mystery of the exploding sun, explore individual planets, and piece together tiny clues to build a bigger picture of the story around them.

Progression is entirely determined by what the player learns, so knowledge is the most important factor driving the narrative. Even when revisiting the logbook and previous planets, they're never told where to go next, ensuring that each step forward is deeply satisfying in a way that virtually no other open-world game can achieve.

Elden Ring

Driven by the desire to see more

• Fine strips of light for basic guidance.

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

Elden Ring it sends players to the beautiful but daunting Lands Between and gives them just a set of armor and a few weapons to help them start their journey. The only tokens players have that indicate where to go next come from the occasional side quest, as well as a guiding streak of light that generally points to the next location on the main path.

Aside from these vague clues, there's nothing telling players what to do or where to go, which is all the more daunting given the sheer scale of the world. Without searching for things, it's more common for players to stumble upon the next step in a questline rather than knowing exactly where to go next. This can be frustrating, but it also means they can focus much more on their own journey rather than constantly having to take turns they'd rather avoid.

Pathological 2

Survival through trial and error

• Investigation is at the core of the experience.

• Even small actions have lasting consequences.

Pathological 2 it strips you of all the comfort that comes from following normal quest lines, making investigation a central aspect of the player's survival. The game never suggests a “correct” choice, often because there isn't one. Instead, it offers fragmented and conflicting information from desperate NPCs, leading to errors and countless crashes in multiple games.

There are no clear quest markers to guide the player towards success. They are forced to focus on specific tasks dictated by hard time limits and lack of resources, and in many situations sacrifices must be made in the hope of finding some clarity in a sea of ​​uncertainty.

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Follow signs and landmarks from start to finish

• Visual cues are the main source of guidance.

• Environmental puzzles are found through exploration.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild completely changed the way people saw open-world games by showing that landmarks and points of interest on the map were all that was needed to direct players. Players are encouraged to inquire about what might be hiding around the corner or that nearby mountain, and often find their own mini-quests to follow outside of the main story.

A lot of trust is placed in the players and their ability to lean into their curiosity, but it never feels like they're running aimlessly from place to place. Given how interesting the world is on its own, the lack of constant guidance is rarely a problem, as there are more than enough natural reasons to continue exploring without needing a predetermined reason to do so.

External

Preparation trumps all

• No minimap or safety net for fast travel.

• The survey is intentionally dangerous.

External it removes many of the navigational comforts players have grown accustomed to and treats the world as something to be learned and mastered over time. Maps must be read by hand and routes must be carefully planned in advance, as getting lost is a real threat that can be as deadly as any enemy.

Quests often provide minimal direction, forcing players to experiment and adapt to their current circumstances, and given plenty of chances to learn from their mistakes given how many they make along the way. Knowledge is no longer a useful tool, but a critical ingredient for survival, creation External the perfect game for players who really like to engage with their environment on more than just a surface level.

Kenshi

A world that explains practically nothing

• An organic style of exploration that

• Lore discovered over time

Kenshi it doesn't offer any traditional quests or instructions. The world exists independently of the player and understanding it requires a lot more observation than many will be used to, often leading to countless failures before things become clear and manageable.

The whole experience is very hands-off, and players will have to explore how and why certain events happen and who controls what without being explicitly told how to do it. The lack of direction turns every choice into an experiment, making the world feel brutally authentic and deeply reactive in a way that continues to surprise even seasoned players.

Shadow Of The Colossus

Minimalist yet deeply appealing

• Much of the content is left up to interpretation.

• More interesting places are on the edge of the map.

Shadow of the Colossus it reduces research to its simplest elements. Players are given an unclear objective and a vast, silent world with almost no explanation. Finding each of the 16 colossi depends on spotting the light and following the large stretches of terrain between them.

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

Subnautica

Unraveling the mystery beneath the waves

• A slow, gradually developing narrative.

• The environment is the primary source of information.

Subnautica is a masterclass in environmental storytelling that effectively blends investigative gameplay with underwater survival. Progression comes from scanning for new life forms and discovering wrecks, each detail coming together to form a picture of the world around them.

The ocean itself becomes a source of information, with certain inaccessible areas becoming the main focal points for players to pursue. Because of how deeply intertwined the mechanics and narrative are, it can actually be pretty hard to feel lost when you have nothing to do, as there's always somewhere else to look and secrets to uncover.