Navigation

Other (objects, etc.) theme

platforms

Notable people involved: Charles William Engel

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 most of these games.

Most common companies

Personal	5

Child groups

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	46 games
Astronavigation	Includes a somewhat realistic starfield that can be used for navigation, mapping, or time.	1981 / 2017	7 games
Automap	Automatic world mapping is included, either by default or by some additional in-game device.	1979 / 2024	492 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	219 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 / 2024	372 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	462 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.	1977 / 2015	15 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.	2001 / 2014	4 games
Objective indicator	Shows where the current objective is located in one way or another.	1990 / 2024	332 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	415 games
Road signs	Player encounters usable (as in, useful) road signs or other direction guides.	2002 / 2023	26 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
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
Waypoints	Player can set waypoints through which their characters or other units go through in order.	1997 / 2023	70 games