Implicit Wayshowing in Open World Games

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate how players naturally navigate large, complex open-world environments and to identify which design principles support this navigation implicitly, without relying on explicit instructions that break immersion. To achieve this, the study first analyzed academic literature on wayfinding, cognitive mapping, and wayshowing to establish a theoretical foundation. These insights were then operationalized into an analysis framework used to examine two award-winning games (Elden Ring and A Short Hike) focusing on their cognitive mapping elements, gameplay site placement, and navigation aids. The results revealed consistent themes across both games, despite their differences in scale, mechanics, and visual style. Both titles primarily rely on terrain cues, global landmarks, and the strategic positioning of gameplay sites to guide players naturally through their worlds. While the findings are strong and repeatedly observed, reliability is constrained by the limited number of case studies and the interpretive nature of qualitative spatial analysis. The study concludes that implicit wayfinding emerges when cognitive mapping principles, terrain design, and gameplay site distribution work together to create clear spatial logic without overt instructions. Instead of explicit markers, players rely on environmental structure, goal salience, and steady activity density to maintain orientation and engagement. These findings demonstrate that implicit wayshowing is not accidental but a systematic design approach.