Getting stuck or not knowing where to go next in a game sucks. And unless you’re playing a platformer, being reminded of a game’s linearity isn’t a good thing either. There’s certainly a sweet spot between tactful guidance and creative design that gives players a sense of freedom and control. Think of a game like Mirror’s Edge, linear from a level-design perspective but taking advantage of fluid movement and subtle cues (e.g., lighting, sound and skewed perspective) to ensure players keep pushing forward.

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