10 Annoying Things That Are Ruining Video Games

8. Arrows Telling You EXACTLY Where To Go

Remember the good old days when games would just throw you into dungeons that you had to map out using a pencil and graph paper to navigate your way out of? Ok, so those weren't entirely good days, but there's something to be said for games that entrust you to find your own way in the world.

GPS navigation makes sense in the context of a game like GTA because, well, GPS is a thing in today's world, but having giant spectral arrows appear above your head or on the ground in games like Just Cause 3 or Bioshock Infinite is immersion-breaking, and a little patronising.

Some kind of guidance system is fine, but spilling what should be a UI feature into the playing space is clumsy, and way too common. Sure, games sometimes want to keep you on a set path, but we shouldn't be so glaringly aware that they're doing it.

Contributor
Contributor

Gamer, Researcher of strange things. I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.