Open-world games are gateways to realms that reach far and wide across the cosmos, and they come in a wide assortment of biomes. Although not extremely common by any stretch of the imagination, quite a few drop players in lavish or terrifying jungles filled with all sorts of wonders and threats. Whether set on Earth or an alien planet, these settings are nearly always fun and intense.
Best Open-World Games For Nature Exploration
Open-world games put great emphasis on environments. These games in particular are excellent for exploring the great outdoors.
Open-world jungle games tend to balance exploration, action, and survival, with the best ones typically leaning into exploration. If you are craving a jungle adventure but are not sure where to start, then the following games should help provide some guidance. While most of them focus on survival, we will include a few alternatives for people who don't want to focus on health management or resource gathering.
7 ARK: Survival Ascended
A Challenging Survival Experience
Ark: Survival Ascended
- Released
- October 26, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Studio Wildcard
- Publisher(s)
- Studio Wildcard
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Open-World
ARK: Survival Ascended is the Unreal Engine 5 successor to ARK: Survival Evolved, a game filled with prehistoric and dangerous creatures that are ready to turn unprepared players into their two-legged meals. However, the dinosaurs (and other creatures) are not the only dangers in this open-world, as the scenario itself is also treacherous, with its incredibly thick and deadly jungle-level design. No one knows what awaits them behind the next tree.
Though T. Rexes are quite a formidable foe, the smaller, faster predators like Raptors, who also tend to hunt in groups, are the worst thing you can face when exploring the canopy. The AI sometimes tends to be slightly weird, so be prepared for total randomness and funny (scary) situations.
ARK: Survival Ascended (and Survival Evolved) has plenty of maps, and a few of them have jungle biomes. The Island is one of the most famous examples.
6 The Isle
Hunt, Grow, Dominate, And Survive The Merciless Jungle
The Isle
- Developer(s)
- Afterthought LLC
WHERE TO PLAY
- Early Access Release
- December 1, 2015
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Survival
The Isle is a different kind of survival game, where, instead of playing as your usual human survivor thrown on a jungle island, players will try to survive as a creature: a dinosaur, to be more precise. In the survival game mode, players have to overcome many challenges like hunting, nesting, and avoiding being eaten by bigger dinosaurs until they reach adulthood and dominate their territory.
Logically, this game is quite a complex and difficult experience, where players cannot let their guard down or risk having to start all over. For those who enjoy a more relaxed experience, there's a Sandbox mode, where they will be able to explore the whole Isle without being too threatened, since they can start as an adult version of the dinosaur of their choosing.
5 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Stunning Alien Forests
Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
- Released
- December 7, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Technically, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has forests and not jungles, as the regions are specifically called Kinglor Forest and Clouded Forest; however, the game still warrants a mention, as there isn't that much of a difference. If we are talking solely about the most beautiful worlds with jungles/forests, Frontiers of Pandora would be right at the top, since all three main regions are distinct and constantly stunning.
While the forests are not extremely different from Earth-based areas, they still have unique flowers, systems, and splashes of color that make them look exotic. The gameplay isn't too far removed from Ubisoft's traditional open-world shooters like Far Cry, although Frontiers of Pandora has a stronger power fantasy aspect due to players controlling a protagonist who is a behemoth compared to humans.
4 Gray Zone Warfare
Experience The Ultimate Guerrilla Jungle Warfare
Gray Zone Warfare
- Released
- April 30, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Madfinger Games
- Publisher(s)
- Madfinger Games
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Survival, Open-World
Gray Zone Warfare is one of the most exciting war simulator/extraction shooters, although it is still in early access. The game offers a seriously challenging experience, more so since players are thrown into a huge open-world island map with a thick and dangerous jungle, filled with dangerous guerrilla fighters (and other hostile players) ready to kill you on the spot.
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Its realistic mechanics and unforgiving enemy AI make it one of the most realistic war zone experiences currently available. Definitely for players who want to play Rambo, constantly fearing death, either by dehydration or by bleeding out. That said, due to its status, Gray Zone Warfare is still rough around the edges, so I would only recommend this if you are prepared for a game that has a ways to go before reaching its final form.
3 Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Unlock Evolution
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
- Released
- August 27, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Panache Digital Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Survival
Every game is an acquired taste to an extent, but that really goes double for Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey. An evolution game that challenges you to survive during prehistoric times, starting you as a weak human-esque creature who is very much prey to the many threats that exist within the jungle. Your early hours are spent trying to figure out what to do and hoping you don't die gruesomely, and the steep learning curve can make the game seem inaccessible at times.
Once players grow accustomed to what is expected of them and, more importantly, begin to unlock skills and expand a clan, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey steadily becomes an addictive experience that does not really have that many peers in the open-world or survival genres.
2 Far Cry 3
Trapped In A Jungle Archipelago Filled With Wild Animals And Pirates
Far Cry 3
- Released
- November 29, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Franchise
- Far Cry
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
Far Cry 3 is arguably one of the best action FPS games of all time, especially if we are talking about games set in a dangerous jungle. Once they are caught within this world, players will have to use any resource and ability they can muster to survive a dangerous archipelago plagued by a group of pirates led by the BBEG: Vaas Montenegro, one hell of a villain.
However, the jungle is also a dangerous and merciless place, and human AI won't be the only thing players will have to fight against. Snakes, Boars, Hyenas, Wild Dogs (Dingos), and even the apex predator: Tigers, will be roaming around the thicket, ready to turn them into their next meal. The worst part: the waters aren't safe either, since Bull Sharks and Crocodiles are always lurking for prey, while the beaches are plagued with Komodo Dragons.
1 Green Hell
Surviving The Jungle Was Never So Dangerous
Green Hell
- Released
- September 5, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Creepy Jar
- Publisher(s)
- Creepy Jar
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Survival
Green Hell is the ultimate jungle survival game, with the most accurate and realistic mechanics you could include in this kind of game. Thrown into the Amazon jungle, an anthropologist is looking for his missing wife, while also trying to survive the ruthless jungle where even a small wound can kill you in a matter of days.
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These open-world games may look sunny in their screenshots, but they are filled with dangers that make exploration a stressful affair.
Finding food (not poisonous), learning how to purify water, assembling crude weapons, and avoiding the dangerous and aggressive natives (and animals) will be an absolute challenge for every fan of the survival genre. This game is ideal for players who enjoy open-world maps and complex mechanics.
Honorable mentions to The Forest and Sons of the Forest, but I couldn't justify their inclusion when they have "forest" directly in the title.
Special Mention: Shadow Of The Tomb Raider (Semi-Open-World)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Released
- September 14, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Eidos Montreal
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Franchise
- Tomb Raider
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is for players who love cool stealth mechanics, jungle warfare, and open-world gameplay. A game that certainly emphasizes using the elements of the jungle to terrorize enemies, turning Lara (the main character) into a dangerous guerrilla/stealth fighter.
From laying rope traps and hanging unsuspecting enemies to sowing terror among search parties by using various handmade gadgets — like poisonous fog arrows and smoke grenades. A masterfully crafted jungle warfare experience that will satisfy most fans of stealth/action games.
Special Mention: Crysis 3 (Sandbox Levels, Not Fully Open-World)
Crysis 3
- Released
- February 19, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
Crysis 3 is the epitome of jungle warfare, where players need to use their jungle environment to their advantage to hunt down dangerous enemies from CELL. The game uses the powerful CryEngine, and it is beautifully designed, set in a devastated New York City, covered by an overgrown canopy, delivering a post-apocalyptic jungle-like design.
Using its Nanosuit-empowered abilities, the players will control Prophet, a master infiltrator and Squad Leader of the Raptor team. With an arsenal of high-tech weapons at their disposal and equipped with the overpowered Predator Bow, players can enjoy taking down their foes leisurely while camouflaged by the thick vegetation or hiding behind the remains of civilization.
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