One of the most essential aspects of game design is often overlooked, but its impact is felt immensely when it's done poorly; user interface (UI) design plays a pivotal role in shaping the player experience. A well-crafted UI can enhance immersion, streamline gameplay, and provide vital information at a glance. However, not all games get it right, and some are plagued by clunky, confusing, or downright terrible UIs that hinder rather than enhance the experience. Let's delve into some examples of games with notoriously bad UIs and explore potential solutions to rectify these issues.
One prime example of a game with a notoriously terrible UI is "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim." While Skyrim boasts a vast, open-world environment filled with quests, characters, and exploration, its UI leaves much to be desired. Navigating menus is a cumbersome affair, with multiple layers of submenus and unintuitive controls making simple tasks like managing inventory or equipping items a frustrating ordeal. Additionally, the font size is notoriously small, making it difficult for players with visual impairments to read important information.
A potential solution to Skyrim's UI woes would be to streamline menus and consolidate information into easily accessible tabs or categories. Implementing customizable font sizes and UI scaling options would also greatly improve accessibility for players with visual impairments. Furthermore, incorporating hotkeys or quick access shortcuts for commonly used actions could help streamline gameplay and reduce reliance on menus.
Another example of a game with a subpar UI is "Anthem," the ill-fated looter shooter from BioWare. Anthem's UI suffers from cluttered screens, confusing layouts, and an overabundance of information that overwhelms players. Navigating menus feels like wading through molasses, with long loading times and unintuitive controls adding to the frustration. Furthermore, the lack of customization options for the UI limits player agency and exacerbates usability issues.
To address Anthem's UI shortcomings, developers could benefit from conducting user testing and soliciting feedback from players to identify pain points and areas for improvement. Simplifying menu layouts, reducing visual clutter, and providing more customization options for the UI would go a long way toward improving the overall user experience. Additionally, optimizing performance to reduce loading times and implementing responsive controls would help enhance accessibility and make the game more enjoyable for all players.
Lastly, "Fallout 76" is another example of a game with a notoriously clunky UI. The online multiplayer survival game suffers from a UI that feels dated and unwieldy, with convoluted menus and unintuitive navigation hindering the player experience. Tasks such as managing inventory, crafting items, and navigating the map are needlessly cumbersome, leading to frustration and disengagement among players.
Games with terrible UIs can detract from the overall experience and leave players feeling frustrated and disengaged. By identifying common issues and proposing solutions, developers can work towards creating more user-friendly interfaces that enhance immersion, streamline gameplay, and ensure that players can fully enjoy the rich worlds and experiences that games have to offer. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, prioritizing good UI design will be essential in creating inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable experiences for players of all skill levels.