minimaps

Minimaps are compact navigational aids rendered as part of a game's user interface. They show a portion of the game world relative to the player's position and orientation, helping players maintain spatial awareness without opening a full-scale world map.

A minimap typically includes: the player's location indicated by an arrow or dot; orientation that may rotate with the player's facing direction or remain fixed; nearby terrain features such as roads, buildings, water; points of interest such as quest markers, waypoints, objectives; enemies or allies sometimes; and boundaries of explored areas, often using fog-of-war or shading for unexplored regions.

There are different types: static minimaps in which the view doesn't rotate with the player; dynamic minimaps that rotate or re-center; and world-space versus screen-space minimaps. They are usually positioned in a corner, sometimes resizable, with optional zoom controls. Interaction can include panning, filtering icons, or toggling visibility.

Design considerations include legibility, color coding, iconography, scale relative to map area, contrast with the main view, performance impact, and accessibility options such as colorblind-friendly palettes. Avoid occluding important action; balance detail with readability; use faded borders and edge fades to indicate boundary.

History and use: Minimaps have become a standard UI element in many genres, from real-time strategy and action RPGs to MOBAs and open-world games. They are often complemented by a full world map available via a separate screen. They are also used outside games in robotics and simulation for quick situational awareness, though the term is primarily associated with gaming.