Do you prefer open world, semi open world, or linear structure the most?

Semi-open like Stalker or Deus-Ex or Metroid or Dark Souls. Followed closely by linear.

Open worlds CAN be good… but more often than not the games are not designed to take advantage of the open world structure.

I prefer open-linked world structure, very common in Metroidvania or Soulsborne games.

Semi open are always best

• Hitman
• Deus Ex
• STALKER

stuff like them.

Linear is my favourite. I also enjoyed Biome based which you can revist with new upgrades.

Just depends on the game.

Linear. I get bored of open world nowadays.

Linear games can feel small nowadays. Especially when put side to side with some MMO's, Ubisoft games or even Starfield, but by golly I still prefer them over anything else.

Give me a well designed linear game. It's why I loved playing the Dead Space, RE4 and The Last of Us remakes so much this year.

Semi, give me carefully designed small open areas.

But I'm fine with any type of world.

I don't like linear anymore. Its outdated design, and linear games are usually too short. Singleplayer wise, open world CAN be the best, and the most immersive genre. The thing is, developers are not capable of filling their massive map with interesting locations, quests and so on, so for now, i guess semi open world is the best. But the day an open world game can be as packed with quality as BG3 is, is the day open world crushes all other genres, and it won't be close.

I feel like open world games are purposely trying to waste my time. They have all this space and don’t know how to use it. They all feel like I’m doing chores instead of playing a game

I don’t prefer any, it’s up to the game to craft the best world with the system they choose.

Open world games are so overdone, it's sickening. I vastly prefer semi-open words, like the Soulsborne games. I also enjoy some linearity, depending on what the genre of game is and how they handle it. Forever burned out on open world.

Glad to see you folks agreeing about open world games. Should be the best, too bad they're just filled with boring busy work most of the time.

Samesies. They keep themselves interesting to explore.

Enjoy them all. Just depends on the day and depends on the game.

I like it because open-linked can be expansive like an open world yet meticulously designed with intention.

Sometimes with open world design I wonder if they took the diarrhea approach where they just spattered together a large open space without any real intention to its design beyond the sake of it just being open.

It's like some developers just boast about how much bigger the map is compared to their previous games, as if that means quality content. :/

lol, everytime a dev uses the "biggest world yet" sales pitch, I just sigh.

"Biggest world yet" is just a marketing ploy to distract ignorant gamers from seeing the lack of substance in the design. Starfield appears to have been a recent offender of this.

A game's design and gameplay substance is what should sell a game, not how big the world is.

The size of a world best serves as the compliment to good game design, not the sole selling point of the experience.

I prefer open world or semi open world.

I like city environments rather than medieval settings. I'd rather drive or fly rather than riding a horse from one place to another.

I used to love vast open worlds but nowadays semi-open is the sweet spot for me. Think Deus Ex or Dishonored. They're big enough to give the illusion of a breathing world but small enough to allow attention to detail.

Linear and semi-open for sure...

I'm pretty much completely off full open world games nowadays.

Lets both hope that Zelda stays an open world game forever.

I specifically like map design like Ultimate: Doom/Duke3D/Blood and Tomb Raider 2/3 etc... where you can easily spend hours exploring. Labyrinths but still directed.

Not too big on Metriod type stuff where it's linked levels and get bla, to open up bla, now you new power bla bla bla.

It's alright, fun. But rather take specific levels rather than backtracking stuff with RPG crap.

I dunno. I guess I like all three genres.

All three approaches can be highly enjoyable when done right. As long as the content isn't taking advantage of my time we're good. Lately I've been mostly gravitating towards games that last less than 20hrs. So many I've missed and have wanted to play.

I think all of them have their strengths, but open world for me. I like how in well made open world games, there isn't a single way to solve a problem. There are multiple ways of doing things, which is great! Zelda for example was great at going open world because different unique weapons to use, different dishes to make, and multiple ways to skin a cat. Plus, you can put a low-key nuzlocke on the game and do the story whenever. I like that! Though a part of me does miss the actual dungeons from the usual 3D games.

I prefer actual level design, so linear. The only exceptions to the rule are Assasins Creed 1/2 and Elden Ring, since their worlds are well designed.

I like all three. There are fantastic games in all three formats. And really bad ones...

But that is a boring answer. So I’m going to go with open world. It’s the most flawed structure of the three, but also the most interesting imo. Sometimes I get really burnt out on them, but it is also the games I get the most invested in.

I wouldn't consider God of War/Ragnarok to be semi open, they are linear to me.

Semi open would be like Mankind Divided, Hitman or Metro Exodus

God of War feels limited compared to those games

I prefer games i enjoy regardless of the world size

I like the Witcher 3 open world structure. But I don't think it will work on any game. For a game with sword play and horse/animal riding it's perfect.

Generally speaking, I have gotten quite fond of the Open Linked structure.

I also like linear games with a ton of room for potential shortcuts like Neon White or Sonic the Hedgehog.

There are a few Open World games I like, but I really dislike the themepark variety. Better just make a linear game, then. If going open world, make a proper sandbox.

Linear games have a better ability to control the flow, script the narrative, and be optimized for performance. Not to say I don't appreciate a good open world game, but they seem harder for devs to get right.

Probably semi-open, as long as there is some proper level planning utilized, as opposed to just an open-world randomly crammed with a bunch of garbage.

I can appreciate all of them.

How pumped are you for the new AssCreed?🤗

@hardwenzen: I haven't seen any of it (gameplay/trailers) and I don't even know the name of it.

So I'd say you know more about it than me.

Tell me all about it.

Its dogwater, you will enjoy it.

@hardwenzen: C'mon now you brought the game up tell me all about it. It's setting, protagonist, story, everything since you know more about it than me.

Saying it's dogwater, makes me think it's like Elden Ring, and surely it can't be that BAD right?

Its an Ubisoft game. You spent a lot of time in their games, you know exactly what to expect like i know exactly what to expect from Bethesda games.

For me it depends on the game. But I chose semi-open world because I do think it often strikes a balance between agency and giving you a point

They are all good in the right context, but if I have to choose one, semi-open worlds in line with Arkham City and Twilight Princess. Where you have a hub world that is big enough to feel big, but small enough you can keep your bearings, and then have some well designed linear dungeons or levels within. You get your tightly crafted experiences, and then have a space to go dick around in when new abilities are unlocked. Best of both worlds.

@hardwenzen: I know you've watched the trailers, it's what haters do to try and act like they know what they're talking about.

So tell me about the game I'm all ears.

Watching a trailer=being a hater😆

Next time i will waste $108cad to play a game that i am 100000% sure to not like, just so i could give you my opinion about it🤣

@hardwenzen: You're a well known Ubi hater, so you're just going to watch the trailers so you can find any LITTLE THING to whinge about. That's a hater, that's you to the T.

I look forward to you buying the game and reviewing it for me. When does it release so I know when to look for your review.

Open world games are typically shallow experiences.

I vastly prefer semi linear or linear over open world. Most open world games don't allow for massive world changes.

Semi-open.

Something like Jedi Survivor, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Crysis, etc.