Games that offer players the most freedom are typically open-world experiences, as the confines of the play areas can appear nearly infinite. These can include everything from shooters to RPGs, and there’s seemingly an open-world game for everyone out there. That said, there are some open-world games and non-open-world games that are more freeing than others.
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These examples go beyond mere player freedom, as players have helped discover exploits that developers perhaps never intended. By testing the boundaries, they broke through and made their own rules, finding solutions to puzzles and bosses that were likely unintended, but no less effective. Let’s go through some games that are fun to break if players are willing to experiment.
Elden Ring
EXP Hacks
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
Elden Ring was a first for FromSoftware, an open-world Soulslike that was the first of its kind for many. That meant players, who were already accustomed to breaking these types of games, were given even more freedom to explore and experiment.
For example, tearing through high-level areas just to find secret gates to get them to other areas, opening the door to EXP exploits. This usually involves one in particular who lures a tough enemy to their death. Many of the bosses have weaknesses as well, like hiding in corners or on an unremarkable ledge and popping off shots with magic or a bow to extract an easy victory.
Final Fantasy 7
Healing The Undead
Final Fantasy 7
- Released
- January 31, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Final Fantasy 7, as one of the most popular RPGs of all time, will serve as an example for all RPGs. Undead enemies can be killed using healing items like potions or healing magic like Cure. Using Phoenix Downs can even kill undead creatures in one hit, including bosses like Gi Nattak.
This is never explained to players in tutorials or data entries, but curious adventurers may discover it by accident. This trick works in most Final Fantasy games and many RPGs, too, including when fighting Revenants in the aforementioned Elden Ring.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Build Your Way Out
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
There are some things The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild does better than The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but the sequel introduced one important thing that players fell in love with: building mechanics. Players can now grab things in the environment to make everything from fences to cars. With the right experimentation, players discovered ways to create flying contraptions or ground scooters that are way faster than horses.
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There are even blogs or websites dedicated to how players can build these contraptions. Also, much like the first game, players can go through dungeons, which all feature physics puzzles, and they often find ways around gates or typical solutions, giving them near infinite possibilities to break the game's loose constraints.
Super Mario Bros.
Jumping Over The Flag
Super Mario Bros.
- Released
- November 17, 1985
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo R&D4
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Super Mario Bros. Was the reason to buy an NES, and it was the talk of the playground for years. Players were constantly trying to find new ways to game the system, like locking Koopa Troopas into an endless cycle to gain infinite lives.
Players also tried to get over the flagpole or above the bricks underground, which sometimes seemed impossible, but they found ways to do it and it led to secrets. Then there was the Minus World, which was never supposed to be accessed at all, but players found a way to make the data work as new, albeit by jumping levels.
Pokemon Red & Blue
Missing MissingNo
Pokemon Blue
- Released
- September 28, 1998
- ESRB
- Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The first two Pokemon games, Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue, had a huge secret waiting for players to discover, and how someone did it is beyond reasoning. Getting to MissingNo required talking to a specific NPC and then flying to an island to surf along the coast.
Encountering a MissingNo in battle would help duplicate items, like Rare Candy, allowing players to level up their Pokemon infinitely. This was never intended to be a cheat, but thanks to dedicated Pokemon fans, they made it work.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Duplicating Items
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
- Released
- December 2, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Snowblind Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and its sequel had a duplication glitch as well, one that the developers may not have thought about. When players start a new game, they first create a character. They then take that character, at whatever level they are at, and import it into a new campaign, like if players wanted to start a co-op session.
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A high-level character could then drop loot for players to sell, and then, without saving that character’s drops, players could repeat the process to gain infinite money. This still works in the HD versions of both games, too.
Grand Theft Auto 3
Getting The Dodo Off The Ground
Grand Theft Auto 3
- Released
- October 23, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto 3 was the first 3D game in the GTA series, and fans went absolutely nuts with it on the PS2. Players constantly tried to make missions work on their terms, like preemptively setting up blockades so that enemies could not escape easily.
Perhaps the coolest example of pushing the boundaries in the game was with the Dodo plane, which was only meant to glide and not fly great distances. With persistence, players managed to fly the plane to a mysterious island not intended to be seen by players, which was where the opening cutscene of the game took place.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Defeating The End
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
- Released
- November 17, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
Hideo Kojima is a gamer at heart, so he always includes mechanics in his games that no one would think of trying, and yet he encourages experimentation. For example, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is filled with experimental content, with the biggest example being a boss called The End.
There are numerous ways to kill him early on in the game, which many players may not even think of trying. For example, in an early cutscene at the docks, players can snipe him if they are quick enough. Also, players can start the boss fight normally, save, exit, and then return to their game a week later to find The End had died from old age.
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