When do open-world games become overwhelming rather than compelling?

MMGN.com: "Why do people love open-world games? Well, it’s the concept of player choice and freedom that entices most of us. I often play RPGs based on the level of customisation it offers, or if it allows me to focus on the side-quests without forcing me to finish the main storyline. Having agency and freedom in a video game is naturally an intriguing thing, and shaping it around what you want to experience is a nice alternative to following a scripted, rigid campaign. But somewhere down the line, a non-linear experience can eventually lose its appeal."

[xtremenitro]

I didn't think Skyrim was overwhelming, just fun..

[Kinger8938]

Skyrim was too big for me, i felt it lacked variety in combat and quests.

I just didnt click with it like i did other rpg's

Id take the witcher 2's structure over skyrim any day, open areas where you can exlore enough without losing the sense of story and direction, worried for the open world in witcher 3 but we will see if they can keep it fresh

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

***"When do open-world games become overwhelming rather than compelling?"***

Never

[nirwanda]

I found morrowind overwhelming so easy to get lost, but thats the only game i think, it was just the lack of a decent map that through me

[Son_Lee]

Open world games dissolve into side-quest galore and you lose track of the story almost completely. Such as why I hated RDR and couldn't be bothered to finish Far Cry 3.

[RioKing]

Yeah..but..you could easily beat Far Cry 3 in 2 weeks time completely, side quests and all. I did, and honestly..I'm not that hardcore of a game anymore :/ RDR, 2.5-3 weeks maybe. Skyrim, not so much :) That's why I actually gave the game up...games like that and WoW just suck your life away, if you're sucked in....

But I wasn't "disagreeing" with Son_Lee's statement, I just meant that there are some hardcore "open world" games out there compared to those two..that will suck your life away waay more. Although, you mentioned some of my favorite games ever :)

[sithsylar]

IMHO skyrim became overwhelming due to the fact that the item system or loot system is horrible..... I would die if it had a torchlight 2 loot system. For me i found it pretty pointless exploring caves and the like when the items suck in the game.

[Bathyj]

good point. man i spent over in hour once just going through the stuff i was carrying. i didnt even get to clean out my chest

[Kevlar009]

As long as the quests don't get too repetitive, and they bring you to exciting places you may not have travelled to otherwise, Open World can be as big as they want to, as long as they keep my two requirements intact. While stroming a fort and killing weak NPC's for the 3rd time may be too repetitive, when one place is a vallet, another in the mountains, and the third by the water with a great view, the task doesn't seem as stale

It also helps when side-quests have their own little story. I felt like Skyrim did a good job of making a lot of quests have neat little stories you could influence, often having more than one outcome can keep it fresh, so while your friend may have done these 30 quests with these outcomes, you can can do these other 30 quests and feel like you played an entirely different game

You want them to be meaningful and engaging, not chores for the sake of increasing game length

[DethWish]

I guess EVE is overwhelming to alot of people..
I would call that an open world MMO, not many of them are that really

[hazelamy]

i think i'd probably call it an open galaxy MMO. ^_^

[JeepGamer]

When you cram so much in to them that players lose focus.

[delboy]

I don't like open world concept in games like gta, never finished any of these.
No matter how big the city is,I get bored really quick, because everything looks same to me.
But can't get enough of fantasy open world games like Skyrim.

[Psychotica]

Not every open world game is the same, some are better than others. I loved Fallout 3 but not New Vegas. I played GTA 4 for over 3 years just messing around in the open world before I decided to finish the campaign. I still play GTA 4 and it's expansions quite frequently. I certainly don't need a guide or someone telling me what to do next, it's called using your imagination.

[sdozzo]

You don't want to miss anything. Have to see every nook and cranny.

[KillrateOmega]

*Sorry. Accidental double-post.*

[KillrateOmega]

I don't see how it can fairly be considered overwhelming. The game is huge, there are enough quests to satisfy the majority of gamers, the content is rich, and the game well-developed.

While there are many quests and loads of content, you don't have to engage in the side quests. You can just do the story quests and be done with it. If the game has become too 'overwhelming', then just pull back on the side quests.