This Indie Dev Found Morrowind-Style Alternative To Quest Markers

People really do yearn for Morrowind. If you don't mind getting lost, finding your own way, and figuring things out for yourself, you might like this prototype by Moths Games, who also dislikes the trend of designing games around constant quest markers on a compass.

In UNPAINTED, the protagonist is searching for Sir Reynald, and she has to ask around and piece together the clues herself. The first NPC she speaks to doesn't know Sir Reynald, but points her toward the village. Once there, the villagers recognize the name and guide her directly to him.

That's a very nice implementation, greatly adding to the immersion, and it could be even more fun if some NPCs tried to trick you or give you false directions. The game also apparently doesn't give you a map, you have to draw your own using a cartography system:

The developer admits that making your own map could become tedious, but they hope to find a good balance and encourage players to create their own maps and build a community of cartographers.

If this sounds like your kind of game, you can wishlist UNPAINTED on Steam. It's a fantasy action-adventure soulslike, where you play as Jayne, a girl who sets out to confront "The Painter". Along the way, you'll explore the world, document your discoveries, and master a combat system built around timing, positioning, and observation. You'll also face malformed creatures, twisted soldiers, and powerful bosses, each with their own unique patterns and abilities.