Full open world or Instanced areas? + BONUS: areas inspiried by "wizard games" you'd like to see!

[Caliburno]

I'm just curious to know what other people would lean towards.

I think both can have their advantages.

Full Open World:
I think this one would allow the most chaos and possibly immerse players even more in the game while they explore/carry out their shenanigans.
Simply because objects could be launched in other areas, players could bring items from one area to others that may have effects beyond what the devs thought, and so on.
Chance of enemies to chase you from one area to another, etc.

Instanced Areas:

More curated experiences (even as open-ended as the ones in the game are): for example, objects can't leave one specific area, you're subjected to the enemies and mechanics of that specific area and so on.

These are just my general thoughts after thinking about this for a good 3 seconds.

Also, in regards to the 2nd question (what kinds of other areas you'd like to see?):
Personally, while I'd love to see a full on expansive magic academy realized with more houses for specific groups of students, maybe the "wizard polo" field and functioning flying brooms, what I'd love to see more is also outdoor areas like having a magical forest with magical creatures friendly and dangerous that players could unleash their spells on while exploring caves or looking for ways to access items on tall trees or a village area where players could do some side-quests while keeping an eye out for secrets.

These would, of course, still tie in with the idea that we are a secret MI6 agent looking for clues on a criminal syndicate ran by the suspicious headmaster.

For example, we could've been sent in the woods to find clues of dark rituals happening there or an access to a secret area where something is smuggled, etc., while in the town/village, we could be looking for someone that has ties to the criminal group or stalk that someone to overhear some operations they're planning.
Of course, all of this with the humour that permeates into the starting area we can play around in now.

So, I'd love to hear what you think in regards of the Open World vs Instanced Areas topic and, if you could choose an area, what you'd love to see the devs realize and how would you like for it to play.

[Frullato di ratti]

Big school, some secret dungeons, forbidden areas and maybe something extra like a "dark forest" or "the skeletons swamp", some area in which you should sneak into cause "not allowed to leave the school" or whatever. Something like harry potter games + canis canem edit but keeping its unique style.

But whatever is the direction it will be great, to me it's already an ok game with the present content

[BrettDoesGames]

I'd love to see a water polo "field", a forbidden forest type area, and just way more school grounds with secrets all over the plot.

I think a middle ground of instanced large areas would make the most sense

[nicky_mir]

My biggest wish is for more secret/hidden passages working as shorcuts. We already have some of em but I hope we'll get more to make a potentially growing location more suitable for more quick travels.

And yeah, imho the open world concept could work much better for the whole sandbox vibes we got.

[mea_v4]

I lean towards open world. Yes missions can focus on specific areas, but if you get an idea on how to deal with a challenge that requires something somewhere else, why not use it?

As for areas l I'd like to see...

An animal area where they keep Fantastic Beasts. Having to sneak past dangerous dragonettes or wyverns could be fun as you can a lot of options to deal with them - feed/lure them with chicken legs, sneak past invisible, avoid all together, get spell material from them, charm/control them to get into other areas...

Plus they can be big or small, which just adds to the options on how to deal with them. Get a cat familiar you can take control of and use to scout around, or cause mayhem with a rampaging giant spider. :D

[Retro Pixel Lizard]

The school being a big open world acting as a hub to several Instances (Like the classic HP games, and Banjo Kazoie/Tooie) would be neat.