10 Best Video Game User Interfaces

It cannot be understated just how groundbreaking and influential Metroid Prime's UI was when the game first hit shelves back in 2002.

Though it's easy to take for granted now, at the time the idea that the player's HUD could also be how the game's protagonist sees the world was positively Earth-shattering.

In the game, every piece of information the player needs access to is displayed as a holographic projection on Samus' helmet, providing an unprecedented level of immersion and truly allowing players to feel as though they were stepping into Samus' Power Suit for themselves.

Because that wasn't inventive enough, the various visors - thermal, x-ray, and scan - further made the UI feel less like it existed for the player's sake and more because it was exactly what Samus needed in order to get the job done.

Players paying close attention might even catch a brief reflection of Samus' face in the visor when the lighting conditions are right. That level of detail was unheard of in 2002, and so many games since have lovingly imitated it.

Given the recent resurgence of mech games in VR, this type of UI has been tremendously popular - and incredibly effective - in that space.