More UI wont fix Bad Game Design

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for UI in games. For example, highly stylized titles like *Persona 5* use UI as an integral part of their identity, enhancing the game’s aesthetic and theme.

Game design is the foundation of any great game, defining how players interact with mechanics, environments, and systems. When design falls short—whether through unclear mechanics, confusing navigation, or lackluster feedback—developers might turn to UI as a quick fix. But piling on UI elements won’t rescue a poorly designed game. Instead, it often highlights underlying issues while cluttering the experience.

This article explores why relying on more UI to fix design problems is a flawed approach and how studios can address these challenges through better design practices.

The Role of UI in Game Design

UI is essential for communicating information to the player. Done well, it complements the game world, delivering necessary details while maintaining immersion. When integrated effectively—such as the diegetic UI in Dead Space or the minimal HUD in Breath of the Wild—it feels like a natural extension of the game.

However, when UI is overused to compensate for poor game design, it can:

  • Break Immersion: Excessive overlays pull players out of the game world, reminding them they’re interacting with a system rather than living in the experience.

  • Create Cognitive Overload: A cluttered screen forces players to sift through unnecessary information, detracting from the gameplay itself.

  • Mask Root Problems: Overreliance on UI can hide issues like weak mechanics or poorly designed levels without actually fixing them.

The Cost of More UI

Overloading a game with UI doesn’t just compromise immersion—it can also damage the overall player experience and the game’s reception:

  • Disconnect from the World: Games that rely heavily on UI often struggle to maintain a sense of place. A screen cluttered with quest markers and progress bars makes it harder for players to feel grounded in the game world.

  • Player Frustration: Too much information can overwhelm players, especially when they’re already navigating complex mechanics. Instead of solving problems, more UI can add to them.

  • Brand Identity: Games that lean too heavily on generic UI solutions risk feeling forgettable. Players may associate the game with clunky menus or intrusive overlays rather than its core experience.

What Good Design Looks Like

Fixing the root problems through design leads to better, more immersive experiences. Here’s how successful games approach these challenges:

  1. Intuitive Mechanics

    • Portal teaches its mechanics entirely through level design, without the need for excessive UI. Players learn by doing, not through prompts or overlays.

  2. Environmental Navigation

    • Breath of the Wild relies on landmarks, lighting, and terrain to guide players naturally. Quest markers and minimaps are optional, letting players explore on their terms.

  3. Integrated Feedback

    • Dead Space embeds critical information into the game world. Health is displayed on Isaac’s suit, and ammo is shown on weapons. These diegetic elements keep the player immersed while providing clarity.

Why Studios Default to More UI

Relying on UI is often a result of internal pressures:

  • Time Constraints: Redesigning levels or refining mechanics takes time, while adding waypoints or overlays is faster and cheaper.

  • Siloed Teams: Poor communication between design and UI teams leads to disjointed interfaces that patch, rather than solve, design problems.

  • Player Expectations: Some players expect clear markers and prompts, which can make studios hesitant to invest in subtler, more immersive solutions.

Breaking the Cycle

To move away from excessive UI as a crutch, studios need to:

  1. Prioritize Player Testing: Identify pain points early in development and address them through design rather than shortcuts.

  2. Integrate UI and Game Design: UI teams should work alongside game designers from the start to create cohesive, intuitive systems.

  3. Commit to a Vision: Games like Dead Space succeed because leadership enforced a clear philosophy, ensuring every element—UI included—served the overall experience.

Conclusion

More UI won’t save poor game design. At best, it’s a temporary fix; at worst, it exposes deeper flaws. By focusing on intuitive mechanics, clear environmental guidance, and thoughtful integration, developers can create games where UI enhances the experience rather than compensates for its shortcomings. The result? Games that are not only functional but memorable, immersive, and enduring.

Abdi Jama