Why are open world games buggier than linear games?

[Shagger]

On 5/11/2022 at 11:59 AM, Empire said:

This linear vs open argument is really just a dumb misunderstanding of game design. Open world games ARE linear. Grand Theft Auto games, despite their side activities ARE linear games where you have to complete events in order to advance the story.

 

I have to disagree. Just because a story thread s liner doesn't mean the game design is. In a liner game like The Last of Us or A Plague Tale, the exploration and gamely progression is tied directly to the story thread and they progress in unison. In open world game, yes, the story thread is still liner like you said, but the difference is one can leave said story thread and do something else, like side missions and other activities.

[Heatman]

On 5/5/2022 at 7:51 PM, The Blackangel said:

It's due to all the things that have to be programmed into an open world game to make it a decent game. In linear games, there's less to have to worry about. Just a background with a little bit of this and that. Some more elaborate than others. But if you were to compare SMB3 to RDR2, the reason should be obvious.

That's very correct. The possibility of going out of the line to do something off the story plot is what gives open world games a big edge over Linear games. The freedom to explore the world is the defining moment in the games. 

[Scorpion]

You're correct! Open world games have complex environments and multiple interactions, leading to more bugs. Linear games usually streamline this process.