Summary
Day and night cycles are a mechanic utilized by a wide range of open-world games for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes, the mechanic is there to add to immersion and make the game feel more realistic, while other times it’s more for gameplay reasons. Typically, games with long nightsemphasize stealthand survival, while ones with long days expect players to make the most of the light.
In most cases, what makes a day and night cycle realistic is that they each bring unique or distinct features with them. Aside from the change in lighting, a good game will use its day and night cycle to let players engage in new activities, or force them to take a rest. It gives a game more dimension when the player finds they cannot enter a store at night, or that they cannot creep around town in broad daylight.
The mechanic can also be used to make the most of a world, and oftentimes open-world games use the night to transform the visuals of their maps and activate certain events. There are a few open-world games that bring out thebest of day and night cycles, and although their reasoning may vary, their application of day and night certainly adds a layer of realism.
Minecraftmoves further away from an immersive day and night cycle and opts to use the mechanic to force players to adapt their playstyle. As the sun begins to set, players have the option to go to bed and sleep through the night. Players can choose to stay awake and venture out of their homes to take down various monsters.
Thenights are shorterbecause they add an element of survival, where players are either expected to stay inside and wait for the day, or hack their way through the various mobs. Although this isn’t typical of real life,Minecraftuses the cycle to give the game more depth. There’s a clear difference between the day and night, and it brings a more realistic layer to the game as a whole.
Almost all Rockstar Games titles are concerned with time to some capacity, and sinceGrand Theft Auto 3there have been routine day and night cycles in allGTAgames.Grand Theft Auto 5has a consistent time cycle that mimics the real world, with two real-life minutes equating to one in-game hour. This provides a reliable way to track in-game time and notice how efficient - or not - players have been with their time.
Additionally, environments inGTA 5will change depending on the time of day. The types of NPCs that appear will change during the night, and players are less likely to encounter business people and leisurely shoppers at 2 am. InGrand Theft Auto 3, certain missions can only be triggered at specific times, butGTA 5adapted this so a short time-lapse will take place when players attempt to activate missions that take place at a certain time. Nevertheless, there are things all around the map that players will only encounter if they’rethere at a certain timeof day.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunthas an immersive and committed day and night cycle that will influence the behavior of NPCs and the environment around Geralt. The merchants around the map have different opening and closing times, and showing up at the wrong time might leave players waiting around for them to open again. Typically, most places open in the morning and close relatively late at night, especially compared toThe Witcher, where most stores close around 5 pm or 6 pm.
NPC behavioralso changes, and generally, fewer townsfolk will be wandering the streets at night. This also means Geralt is more likely to run into trouble at night, with the chances of encountering pretty strong enemies increased. Additionally, there are some time-sensitive quests which - after players have started them - can fail if Geralt takes too long. All of this helps make the world more realistic to be in and gives players the chance to see the world at night.
Red Dead Redemption 2is the third installment in theRed Deadfranchise and is widely believed to bethe best so far. Players assume the role of Arthur Morgan as he navigates Wild West America, veering between an honorable man and a good-for-nothing outlaw. Like many great Rockstar Games,Red Dead Redemption 2is very immersive, and the differences between day and night are clear examples of this.
Time moves similarly toGTA, with roughly two real-life minutes equaling one hour in-game. But, the days are longer than the nights, since the nighttime can be very unsafe. Like real life, Arthur is discouraged from adventuring at night due to the increase in criminal activity - for example, the Night Folk have a much denser presence at nighttime, so the Bayou Nwa area is extra unsafe after sunset. Additionally, more people can be found at bars during the night, especially since the general stores in each town close around midnight and don’t open again until 6 am. The day and night cycle is vivid enough to be realistic without restricting the player too much.
Bullyis another Rockstar Games title with realistic times. It follows Jimmy Hopkins as he attempts to neutralize bullying at Bullworth Academy and prank, fight, and charm his way to the top of the high school food chain.Bullydedicates itself to a fairly regimented day and night cycle, and generally holds time as a very important aspect of the game - it alsohas seasonsthat change depending upon game progress, with seasonal events like Halloween taking place.
During the day, Jimmy is expected to attend classes and will be punished for truancy if he’s caught ditching class. This means that the school proper is only open during the day, and closes at 7 pm - and Jimmy will be punished for trespassing if he’s caught there after hours. Curfew also begins at 11 pm, and Jimmy will get in trouble if he’s outside his dorm after 11 pm - he also must be asleep by 2 am, or he passes out. Some players find the schedule to be restrictive, butBullyis unafraid to put the players under the same constraints a student would be under if he were real.
