While games like Mirror's Edge, Titanfall 2, and Doom Eternal once set the standard for intricate player movement, a new wave of titles is finding profound depth in the seemingly mundane. This evolving approach, particularly evident in 2026's releases, reframes everyday actions like walking and climbing into compelling gameplay mechanics.
For years, landmark titles offered players power fantasies through complex and rewarding movement systems. Games such as Titanfall 2 and Doom Eternal allowed players to master acrobatic combat and traversal, while Dishonored 2 and ARMA 3 provided tactical depth through deliberate physical interaction with the environment. These games challenged players to learn intricate control schemes, offering a sense of mastery and elevated capability.
More recently, however, a distinct trend has emerged: developers are focusing on simulating granular, realistic movements that lack an inherent power fantasy. These are actions that might have been considered too "boring" for previous eras of game design. Examples include the careful balancing of cargo in Death Stranding, navigating treacherous terrain in Snowrunner, or the simple yet challenging act of walking without stumbling. These "boring" simulation aspects, long present in PC gaming, are now resonating with a wider audience, with some titles even becoming contenders for game of the year.
Baby Steps, released in 2025, exemplifies this shift. The game makes the act of walking without falling the central premise, dissecting and rebuilding the fundamental action of putting one foot in front of another. Each step is presented with meticulous detail, making every movement significant. This title, an award-winning game, was inspired by a grueling custom map for Mirror's Edge called Stratocubulus. "It was the stuff that was ambiguous as to whether or not you could do it, stuff that you could puzzle over and push you into trying new ways of moving," designer Gabe Cuzillo stated at GDC 2026, as reported by Wes. "That was really the experience we're interested in."
Other notable games of 2026 are distinguishing themselves through innovative movement mechanics. Cairn transforms mountain climbing into a series of precise navigation and resource management puzzles. Control Resonant blends superhero-like abilities with gravity-bending challenges. Vholume, though appearing simpler, hides significant depth in its level design and mechanics, offering a unique take on parkour. Even established franchises are exploring new movement possibilities; Doom: The Dark Ages' Revelations DLC introduced a chain spear that enhances arena traversal, and Cicadamata's disorienting field-of-view manipulation and powerful jumps create a singular combat navigation experience.
Big Walk, a game centered entirely around traversing large maps, highlights the challenge in even basic actions like mantling over small obstacles. The appeal here lies in the shared journey with friends, rather than inherent superhuman abilities.
This surge in movement-focused design may stem from the sheer maturity of 3D game development. With decades of experience, developers are now exploring every conceivable aspect of player interaction. Another theory suggests this is a reaction against the perceived loss of player agency in the blockbuster games of the late 2000s and 2010s. Similar to the trend of action games adopting FromSoftware's challenging combat, players and designers are now seeking a similar level of detailed engagement in character movement.
Stripped Back Interactions
Historically, game design often focused on streamlining complex actions. A notable example cited from an Irrational Games podcast was Grand Theft Auto 3's condensation of numerous actions into a single button press for entering a vehicle. This trend toward simplification, driven by the need for cross-platform compatibility, led to more abstract movement in many titles. Third-person games like Assassin's Creed and even beloved series like Uncharted simplified traversal, removing friction to broaden their appeal.
In contrast, games like Cairn, Baby Steps, and Big Walk succeed because they avoid trivializing movement. They embrace the complexities and limitations of physical action, inviting players to reconsider the fundamental questions of what movement entails. The careful positioning of a body against a cliff face or the precise placement of a foot are now proving to be fertile ground for innovation, suggesting a vast potential within these granular mechanics.
Future explorations could delve even deeper into the minutiae of human action, potentially creating experiences as compelling as the most intricate parkour or combat systems by focusing on the simple act of breathing or tying shoelaces.