Why Star Wars Outlaws Explorer Mode Finally Settles My Yellow Paint Dilemma
Star Wars Outlaws Explorer Mode removes yellow paint markers, restoring immersive, rewarding exploration while keeping accessibility flexible.
I have a complicated relationship with yellow paint in video games. For years, I have climbed cliffs, squeezed through cracks, and solved ancient puzzles simply because some developer splashed a bright, sunny colour on the correct ledge. It works. It is helpful. But it also sometimes makes me feel less like an explorer and more like a passenger on a guided tour. So when I heard that Star Wars Outlaws included an Explorer Mode that lets players turn off those guiding colour markers, I was immediately intrigued. Now, in 2026, after spending dozens of hours with the game across its updates and expansions, I can say that this small toggle has become one of my favourite features in any modern open-world adventure.
The Yellow Paint Debate Never Really Ended
I am not anti-yellow paint. In fact, I understand why it exists. Many games use bright markers as an accessibility tool, a visual language that tells players where to go without a quest marker or a mini-map. Resident Evil uses yellow locks to show which doors can be picked. Shadow of the Tomb Raider, back in 2018, let players adjust traversal difficulty so that white marks appeared on Lara's path on easier settings and vanished on harder ones. Even Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's 2024 demo caused a heated discussion because its rock faces were covered in yellow streaks. The debate has been ongoing for years, and I have often found myself on both sides of it. When I am tired after work, I appreciate the help. When I am immersed in a galaxy far, far away, I want to discover the path myself.
What Explorer Mode Changed for Me
Star Wars Outlaws is not the first game to offer a toggle, but it is one of the few that made me feel like the choice truly mattered. In Explorer Mode, those yellow scuffs, painted ledges, and glowing handholds disappear. Suddenly, I was not following a trail of breadcrumbs. I was looking at the architecture of an Imperial facility, searching for a pipe that could support Kay's weight, or studying how Nix could reach a distant switch. Climbing sections became puzzles again. I had to read the environment, not the paint. And when I figured out a route on my own, the satisfaction was enormous.
That said, I did not leave Explorer Mode on all the time. Some puzzles in Outlaws are genuinely tricky, and after a long day I sometimes switched the markers back on. That is the beauty of a toggle. It is not a moral test. It is a preference. I could have guidance for a complicated vault, then turn it off again when I wanted to lose myself in the streets of a neon-lit city. Accessibility and immersion do not have to be enemies. They can be options on a menu.
How It Compares to Other Games
Here is a quick comparison of how some games have handled guided traversal:
| Game | Year | Guidance Option | My Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 2018 | Traversal difficulty changes white marks | I liked customising puzzles separately from combat |
| Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth | 2024 | Yellow paint on cliffs in demo | It looked odd, but I understood the intent |
| Star Wars Outlaws | 2024 | Explorer Mode turns off guiding colour markers | My favourite way to play, especially for climbing |
| Resident Evil series | Various | Yellow locks and tape | I barely notice it because it fits the world |
I do not think every game needs an Explorer Mode. Some linear experiences benefit from clear signposting. But for open-world games, especially ones about outlaws, smugglers, and scoundrels, giving me the choice to remove the paint is a wonderful thing. It respects my curiosity. It also respects players who need the guidance. That is a rare balance.
Why I Keep Coming Back in 2026
In 2026, I have played many new releases, but I still return to Star Wars Outlaws when I want to wander. The game has its flaws. It is not the Star Wars GTA that some people hoped for. As Eurogamer's Ian wrote in his preview, it is a familiar, inoffensive bit of Star Wars. But that is exactly why I like it. It feels comfortable. It feels like a Saturday afternoon adventure. And with Explorer Mode, it feels like my adventure. I can disable the yellow paint, climb a building with Kay and Nix, and pretend I am not being led by the nose. I can get lost. I can make mistakes. I can discover.
So, if you are like me and you have ever groaned at a bright yellow ledge, try Explorer Mode. If you are someone who relies on those markers, keep them on. The best part is that both of us can be right. In a medium that is always arguing about how much guidance is too much, Star Wars Outlaws found a simple answer: let the player decide. That is a lesson I hope more developers carry into the rest of the decade.