The HUD is an almost essential part of most games. It provides useful information about the player. Depending on the game this can include HP, MP, TP, SP, EXP, skill bars, elapsed time, current time, location, direction, waypoints, aiming reticules, interaction options, damage indicators, inventory slots, quest progress and/or in-game chat. The HUD has been in videogames for a very long time and probably has its origins in the score counter featured in arcade games such as Pacman. In many modern games it has been used to display much more relevant information and its implementation can alter the game-feel considerably.

Some games, like GTAV and Operation Flashpoint, come with the option to completely remove the HUD, making the game a more immersive experience.