A Study on the Freedom of Open World Games : Focus on <The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom〉

Abstract

This paper explores the factors influencing the degree of freedom in open-world games, taking <The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom> as a case study, it is carefully analyzed in comparison to similar well-known games such as <Genshin>,<Elden Ring>, and <Far Cry>. It also analyzes how the player skill system and its synergy with the combination of interactive elements can effectively enhance the freedom of the game. The results show that the diversity of player skill systems not only significantly enhances the in-game strategy and depth of exploration, but also the rich combination of interactive elements further enhances players' tactical flexibility. This paper also points out that simply expanding the map size while neglecting the content richness and balance of quest design can have negative impacts on the game. This study aims to provide game developers with insights that emphasize the application of skill diversity and interactive elements to improve players' gameplay freedom and overall experience.