As the scale of video game experiences has grown, so has the scope of the fantasy they offer players. For many developers, it is no longer enough to guide a player through a linear journey from one level to the next. Instead, many recent releases have a player dropped into a singular, massive map for them to explore to their heart’s content, with various challenges, quests, and treasures scattered throughout. This format promises that players don’t just get to embody their favorite characters but inhabit a fully realized setting with no barriers to impede on how they wish to experience the game.