Navigation
Other (objects, etc.) theme
9
games
6platforms
See also: map generator - a type of map, so it doesn't really influence navigation or how maps work (same amount of information or lack of it can exist with both premade and generated maps).
Games by year
Personal published all these games.
This is a container group; its children are:
| Astronavigation | Includes a somewhat realistic starfield that can be used for navigation, mapping, or time. (too short) | 1981 / 2017 | 7 games |
| Automap | Automatic world mapping is included, either by default or by some additional in-game device. (too short) | 1979 / 2023 | 488 games |
| Backtracking denied | Frequently blocks off routes to backtrack, closing doors permanently, dropping you off ledges you can't climb back up, etc. Essentially denying you from retrieving things you didn't get earlier. | 1992 / 2016 | 5 games |
| Breadcrumbs | Displays or otherwise indicates the route player has taken so far or possibly what's already been explored. | 2012 / 2016 | 2 games |
| Cardinal & ordinal navigation | Navigation is accomplished by following cardinal (and/or their intermediate) directions or similar, not necessarily exact directions and may include non-compass directions such as "up" and "down". Not for fullblown compass-based navigation however. | 1980 / 2021 | 102 games |
| Cartography | Player somehow interactively/manually creates navigation maps by hand in-game, possibly with some minor tools that make it simpler but do not automate it. | 2007 / 2012 | 4 games |
| Compass | Player has a device or some interface feature that shows the four cardinal directions or the equivalent. | 1977 / 2023 | 217 games |
| Route indicator | Player is given a full or almost full route to follow rather than some hotspots or the final destination alone, similar to GPS route calculation. | 2009 / 2020 | 33 games |
| Lose Map | It is possible or the game is designed that all or part of your maps or automatic maps can be or will be lost or damaged at some point. Including player purposefully discarding or destroying them. | 1990 / 2006 | 6 games |
| Map | You have a full map available of the level, area or region in varying detail, possibly with indicator of your own position. | 1982 / 2023 | 359 games |
| 3D map | The map is shown as a 3D projection, possibly with free roaming camera, allowing better spatial understanding of (multilayered) areas than a 2D map would. | 1995 / 2020 | 47 games |
| Semi-automatic map | Map is automatically filled in but only when player prompts it, such as activating a sonar mapping tool, entering a cartography mode where the character fills in a handdrawn map, or some other thing. | 1991 / 2012 | 7 games |
| Map annotation | Player can add notes on maps for whatever reason, usually to add information that is not present otherwise. | 1994 / 2017 | 37 games |
| Map deficient | Either completely lacks maps or the provided maps are mostly unusable, forcing the player to draw one themselves to avoid getting lost. Mainly for games that are not linear and don't tell where to go. | 1975 / 2019 | 75 games |
| Minimap | A small map shown constantly on screen that shows the whole map or small portion (centered on the protagonist). Often in a corner of the screen, though sometimes overlayed with the main view. | 1980 / 2023 | 461 games |
| No GPS | Player has maps but no immediate way to tell where they're in those, either relying on player's ability to read the map or offering some semi-automatic way of locating themselves there, such as by recognizing landmarks. | 1999 / 2017 | 10 games |
| NPC directions | Player can ask NPCs for directions how to find something, someone or someplace. (too short) | 2001 / 2014 | 4 games |
| Objective indicator | Shows where the current objective is located in one way or another. (too short) | 1990 / 2023 | 329 games |
| Navigation by points of interest | Player navigates the gameworld by targeting points of interest rather than manually controlling the whole movement. This can be long distance POIs or short distance, but only as long as this is true for all of the game and not just overworld or similar. (too long) | 1977 / 2015 | 15 games |
| Radar | Player has a radar or similar device, or an unexplained display that mimics it, that gives positional info to player of various objects of interest and possibly friend-or-foe detection. Whether or not it is a literal radar. | 1973 / 2020 | 409 games |
| Road signs | Player encounters usable (as in, useful) road signs or other direction guides. (too short) | 2002 / 2023 | 26 games |
| Waypoints | Player can set waypoints through which their characters or other units go through in order. (too short) | 1997 / 2023 | 70 games |