This is in contrast to games revolving around a few core gameplay mechanics (like Portal).Īlthough these two aspects often go hand in hand, there is a large number of games that have open worlds but no sandbox gameplay (e.g. This is in contrast to games featuring No Sidepaths, No Exploration, No Freedom (like Half-Life). The terms 'open world' and 'sandbox' are applied interchangeably to such design, but they are actually two separate aspects of a Wide Open Sandbox that have to be distinguished:
Well, okay, there are goals if you actually want to, you know, finish the game, but why bother when there's so much to do beforehand?Īs computer technology evolves, video games gradually move away from the traditional sequential level design towards letting their players loose onto a vast virtual world devoid of designated transition choke-points and loading screens.
You can do whatever you want, whenever you want.
No compulsory objectives, no requirements. No restraints, other than the occasional Insurmountable Waist-Height Fence.
