Summary
- Open-world games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Red Dead Redemption 2 offer a wide range of mounts, including horses, bears, and mules, adding a sense of adventure and immersion to gameplay.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt allows players to customize and enhance their trusty steed, providing both aesthetic and practical options for traversing the vast open world.
- Horizon Zero Dawn introduces robotic creatures as hackable mounts, offering unique abilities to aid the protagonist in surviving the post-apocalyptic world and uncovering her past. Skyim's dragon riding feature also sets it apart, providing a thrilling aerial adventure for players.
One of the most thrilling aspects of open-world games for players is the opportunity to explore vast virtual landscapes. Although traveling on foot is a standard option, nothing beats the exhilarating thrill of riding a majestic mount across diverse terrains.
Mounts provide players with a convenient means of transportation that can speed up the traveling process. Better still, they can also enhance immersion and add a sense of adventure to gameplay. Some games have gone the extra mile when it comes to mounts, providing more realistic gameplay and a vast array of mounts to choose from, all of which offer their own distinct strengths and weaknesses. These creatures serve as both means of transportation and companions for the player character, often providing an emotional hook in the process.
6 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Variety Of Different Mounts
Widely praised by players and critics alike for its vast open world and breathtaking visuals, 2017's Breath of the Wild doesn't disappoint when it comes to mounts. Once again taking control of Link, players can enjoy a wide range of creatures to put to use as their steed.
Throughout the game, plays get the opportunity to tame and ride a variety of creatures, including horses, deer, and even less conventional options such as bears. Each mount boasts its own set of unique qualities, including different speed and stamina levels. In turn, they can add a strategic element for players considering acquiring and utilizing them effectively. Overall, the impressive attention to detail regarding mounts is yet another example of why Breath of the Wild maintained The Legend of Zelda's status as one of the most important gaming franchises out there.
5 Red Dead Redemption 2, Wild West Horses
Set in the most expansive Wild West map to ever grace the medium of gaming, Red Dead Redemption 2 immerses players in a realistic and gritty world of gunslinging mayhem. The game introduces players to a wide selection of mounts, from powerful horses to stubborn mules.
The vast array of mounts on offer all come with their distinctive attributes. These include important qualities such as speed, handling, and endurance. The wide selection helps ensure players have the chance to select the perfect steed for each of the game's many thrilling adventures. Released to universal acclaim, Red Dead Redemption 2 provided players with one of the most immersive open-world gaming experiences of all time, with everything from the mounts to the food and sleep requirements ensuring an incredible sense of survivalist realism for players.
4 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Wild Roach
As the no-nonsense Geralt of Rivia, players got to embark on a captivating journey through a rich open world filled with monsters, quests, and memorable characters in the modern classic third installment of The Witcher series. Unsurprisingly, having a trusty steed greatly speeds up traveling through the vast world of the Pontar.
Throughout the vast lands of The Witcher 3, players get multiple opportunities to tame and ride magnificent horses. With the customizable saddles and equipment on offer, players are also able to further enhance the attributes of their horses. The wide range of breeds on offer provides players with plenty of exciting options for both aesthetics and, more importantly, practicality. Considering the incredible scope and graphic realism of The Witcher 3's world, having a worthwhile steed to travel through it further enhances the game's immersive gameplay.
3 Shadow of the Colossus' Loyal Horse Companion
This iconic sixth-generation epic revolves around colossal creatures that players must defeat by scaling them. Shadow of the Colossus introduces a stunning mystical world where players traverse the landscape on a loyal horse companion.
This trusty steed aids in reaching towering colossi, showcasing impressive animations and tactile controls that make the mount a vital element of the overall gaming experience. First released back in 2005, Shadow of the Colossus won over players with its grand-scale gameplay, thoughtful plot, and rich, vibrant fantasy world setting. Re-released on both the PS3 and the PS4 in the years since its straightforward approach to horse-riding isn't exactly revolutionary by modern standards. However, it sported the most realistic and straightforward take on the matter ever put to gaming at the time of its release, making it an important entry from yesteryear.
2 Horizon Zero Dawn's Hackable Mechanical Mounts
Set in a post-apocalyptic world filled with awe-inspiring robot creatures, Horizon Zero Dawn provides players with a unique spin on mounts. Players can override these robotic beasts, turning them into loyal and powerful companions for both travel and combat.
The game's wide range of mounts ranges from agile, horse-like creatures to massive, tank-like beasts. Each of them sports distinct abilities that can aid Aloy, the game's protagonist, in surviving and exploring the dangerous world on offer. Set in a grim future where military robots went rogue and ravaged the Earth, the story follows Aloy's efforts to uncover her mysterious past. A gripping, imaginative effort from the masterminds behind the Killzone series, Horizon Zero Dawn' s wild range of mounts was yet another key reason why its thrilling, action-packed gameplay and storytelling struck a chord with gamers.
1 Skyrim, Rideable Dragons, And Horses
The fifth installment in The Elder Scrolls, Skyrim, boasts an impressive selection of mounts that help enhance the player's exploration and adventures. Players can find all sorts of horses, from stables to Dark Brotherhood questlines, to obtain the best mount in all of Skyrim.
Players can ride various creatures, such as horses and dragons. The dragon riding is what manages to set Bethesda's masterpiece apart, providing players with a thrilling aerial adventure to enjoy. The ability to ride the winged beasts came in the Dragonborn DLC, giving players the freedom to traverse the rugged mountains, dense forests, and expansive plains in style. Additionally, numerous mods are available, further expanding the range of mounts and customization options in the game, including giant mammoths. Overall, the variety on offer is what makes Skyrim's approach to mounts so memorable.