Moxie Watts | How Open World Games Die ► The Waypoint Epidemic @MoxieWatts | Uploaded 10 months ago | Updated 3 hours ago
A waypoint should make you say “I want to go there.” Waypoints are a pervasive issue affecting the future of all videogames just being mindless chores.
A journey into the wild world of open-world games and how they can lose their immersion due to an overwhelming number of objectives. Join Moxie as she explores the reasons behind this "waypoint epidemic" and why players crave a more immersive experience. Don't miss out on this eye-opening video - subscribe now!

🌟 **Featured Games:**
- Starfield
- The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind
- Batman: Arkham City
- Outerwilds
- League of Legends
- Terraria
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Far Cry Series
- Assassin's Creed Series
- Final Fantasy Series
- Skyrim
- Elden Ring
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom & Breath of the Wild
- Baldur's Gate 3

This video was written in collaboration with my brother Joseph Bradley. Thank you so much for your suggestion & for writing this excellent piece.

*Description:*
Join Moxie as we dive into the fascinating world of in-game waypoints and their impact on player immersion. In this video, we explore the delicate balance between guiding players and maintaining the immersive experience that keeps us hooked on our favorite games. From the nostalgic days of Morrowind to the expansive realms of Starfield and Elden Ring, we analyze how different titles handle this challenge. Are waypoints a helpful tool or a hindrance to true exploration? Let's find out together!

🎮 Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:52 - The Waypoint Mechanic: A Gaming Crutch?
02:02 - Starfield & Waypoint Overkill
02:36 - Detective Missions and Hand-Holding
04:04 - The Usefulness of Waypoints in Moderation
04:16 - Stray
04:27 - Cyberpunk
04:36 - Far Cry
04:54 - Assassins' Creed
05:02 - Final Fantasy: From Open World Exploration to Linear Guidance
06:29 - Skyrim and Elden Ring: A Comparison of Exploration Styles
08:15 - Biomutant
08:26 - Zelda's Approach to Waypoints
09:30 - Baldur's Gate 3: A Mixed Bag of Waypoints ft. @Drakenwild
12:30 - Concluding Thoughts: Balancing Immersion and Guidance




✨ *Connect with Moxie:*
- Twitter: twitter.com/moxie_watts
- Twitch: twitch.com/moxiewatts



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- Patreon: patreon.com/moxiewatts


🔔 **Subscribe for more gaming content:** youtube.com/@moxiewatts

Footage Used:
youtube.com/watch?v=0QijB8ep_2E&ab_channel=EncryptedDuck

*Hashtags:*
#Gaming #GameDesign #Waypoints #VideoGames #GamerTalk #EldenRing #Skyrim #Cyberpunk2077 #FinalFantasy #AssassinsCreed #BaldursGate3 #GameAnalysis

**Tags:**
video game design, waypoints in gaming, gaming immersion, game mechanics, open world exploration, game design analysis, Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy, game storytelling, player guidance, gaming experience, Moxie gaming, game development, Skyrim exploration, Elden Ring gameplay, Cyberpunk 2077, RPG games, game design critique