Quest Markers

tim-cain ux-design quest-design game-design user-interface

Abstract

Problem: How should games guide players to quest objectives — precise markers, area markers, or no markers at all?

Approach: Tim Cain reflects on his own career-spanning experience with different quest marker systems (from no markers in Fallout/Arcanum to precise markers in later titles) and analyzes the tradeoffs of each approach.

Findings: No single approach satisfies all players, and even making it optional draws complaints. Area markers with designer-controlled radius offer the most flexible solution, as they can be tuned to replicate any other system.

Key insight: The best quest marker system is a flexible tool — circular area markers with variable radius — that lets quest designers choose the right precision per quest rather than committing the entire game to one philosophy.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiL2wa66wxs

1. The Spectrum of Quest Marker Approaches

Tim Cain has shipped games across the entire spectrum: no markers at all (Fallout, Arcanum), area markers (The Outer Worlds), and precise object/NPC markers. Each approach has vocal fans and vocal detractors. The core lesson: you will not make everybody happy.

1.1. The Option Trap

A natural instinct is to make markers an option or tie them to difficulty. Tim pushes back on this for two reasons:

  1. Some developers oppose gameplay-altering options on principle. They believe design mechanics should be committed to, not deferred to the player. Difficulty should affect combat and skill challenges, not serve as an "we couldn't decide" escape hatch for UI design.
  2. Some players complain if markers exist at all, even when they can be turned off. The mere presence of the feature bothers them.

1.2. The "Just Look It Up" Reality

If a game ships without quest markers, players simply look up locations online. Unless quest targets are randomized (a wandering NPC, an item in one of several random spots), removing markers doesn't create exploration — it creates alt-tabbing.

2. Tim's Preferred Design: Area Markers with Variable Radius

If forced to choose one system today, Tim would pick circular area markers with designer-controlled radius. Here's how it works:

  • Each quest gets one or more markers placed by the quest designer.
  • Each marker has a circular radius the designer sets per quest.
  • A tight radius effectively replicates a precise marker on the target.
  • A large radius tells the player "it's somewhere in this valley" — encouraging exploration within a bounded area.
  • The marker can optionally display text (e.g., "the monster is somewhere in this valley") so the player understands the designer's intent without guessing.

2.1. Why This Works

The variable-radius approach is a superset of all other systems:

  • Want precise markers? Put the marker on the target with a tiny radius.
  • Want no markers? Use a huge radius covering the whole region.
  • Want a middle ground? Place it at a dungeon entrance with a medium radius.
  • Want variety? Mix and match across different quests in the same game.

2.2. Multiple Markers Per Quest

Tim advocates supporting multiple markers per quest for two common design patterns:

  1. "Any of these" quests — An item could be in any of five dungeons. Mark all five; remove markers as the player checks each one.
  2. "All of these" quests — Kill five bandits or mine gold in five locations. Mark all targets; check them off as completed.

The system defaults to one marker (simple case) but scales up when the quest design demands it.

Tim's proposed defaults for a quest marker system:

  • One marker per quest (add more if needed)
  • Small circular radius (increase per quest as desired)
  • Designer controls everything — radius, position, count, and label text

This gives maximum flexibility. If you later decide you want only precise markers, keep the defaults. If you want a mix of approaches, the tool supports it. It's a design instrument, not a design decision.

4. References