The Art of Overworlds

Since the days when the term "video games" was only familiar to a handful of people, said games have been taking us on journeys that exist only within the television set. Fighting through jungles, ancient pyramids, and even the depths of outer space, gamers have always been able to develop an emotional connection with their games. Even titles from the 1980s continue to take us where we would otherwise never be able to visit and experience.

But throughout these journeys that games can take us on, there's always been the need for something to hold it all together, and that's where the overworld map comes into play. Often taken for granted among gamers, the overworld is just that: an overview of the places one has been, and even places they have yet to reach. Just as a traditional map must condense the "highlight" locations found throughout the area it covers, overworlds must be able to connect specific places with certain experiences the player has come across.

One pioneer in the art of the overworld is Nintendo, beginning with games such as The Legend of Zelda to more modern titles like New Super Mario Bros. U. Within the past three decades, they've taken the simple idea of a virtual map, and turned it into an experience in itself.