It's always an absolute blast jumping into a brand-new open world that is fully explorable, but one thing that can instantly make these types of games feel repetitive is a large checklist. While having objective markers dotted all around the map can make navigation a little easier, it can also result in the core gameplay feeling like more of a chore that takes away from the exploration, considering it essentially forces players to travel to a specific area rather than them getting there naturally.
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For players who like to decipher a story themselves, these open-world games keep their narratives ambiguous, offering only cryptic clues as a guide.
Thankfully, though, there have been more than a few open-world developers who have recognized this problem and, as a result, have stripped back the checklist-style gameplay to allow much more player freedom. With that being said, anyone who wants to enjoy an open-world title where they can feel truly in control of their own adventure, rather than being ordered around to fulfill certain objectives, will have a great time trying out these excellent games as it below.
Subnautica
Explore The Deep And Murky Depths Without Worrying About Objective Markers
Subnautica
- Released
- January 23, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Once players complete the short tutorial at the beginning of Subnautica, they will be free to explore the ocean at their own leisure. Considering how masterfully the developers managed to replicate the awe and wonder of exploring the deep blue ocean, it would be a real shame if players were being funneled through linear alleyways to reach a new objective, but the good news is, Subnautica doesn't play this way.
While there are missions that can be completed to gain some extra resources for the adventure, the game is ultimately a large underwater sandbox with a ton of unique areas to explore, along with plenty of marine creatures to uncover, some of which can be dangerous. This ensures that Subnautica never feels repetitive, especially since the developers made the right decision to avoid overwhelming the player with giant checklists to constantly keep track of.
No Man's Sky
No Man's Sky Lets Players Choose What They Need To Do Next Rather Than Telling Them
No Man's Sky
- Released
- August 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Considering how big and ambitious No Man's Sky is as a game, it's very much appreciated that there are some light tutorials at the beginning to help players familiarize themselves with the core gameplay loop. However, once they have upgraded the ship enough to enter other galaxies, it's then completely up to the player to decide where to go next, whether that be seeking out a new planet to call home, taking part in intense space battles, or even just hanging out with friends aboard a Space Station.
The beauty of No Man's Sky is that the game never tries to force the player to follow its orders, and instead, allows them to create their own journey without ever feeling pressured about fulfilling specific objectives. Every planet is packed full of precious materials and resources, but players can choose which ones they want to collect and which are worth leaving behind, giving them the authority to play the game in any way they like rather than just completing a bunch of tedious side missions.
Outer Wilds
Uncover The Mysteries Of A Solar System Without Any Guidance
Outer Wilds
- Released
- May 28, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Alcohol Reference
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Outer Wilds is a game that feels like it came out of nowhere, but thanks to its incredibly creative gameplay loop, it would quickly go on to become a critically acclaimed must-play for any open-world fans. Taking place in a mysterious solar system full of secrets, players must try to learn everything they can before the star turns into a supernova, which will happen every 22 minutes, or if the player ends up dying along their expedition.
While this does create a sense of urgency to uncover what deep and dark mysteries are hidden among the stars, the lack of guidance from the game itself still helps to make it feel like one big exciting adventure. There's a lot to love about Outer Wilds, but a big reason why it has drawn in so many players is because of how it does away with many of the most annoying aspects of open-world games, including the exhausting checklists.
Fallout New Vegas
The Story Of New Vegas Will Be Dictated Depending On The Player's Actions
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Most open-world games will feature a fairly rigid and straightforward story, which will require players to move from A to B, and to complete certain objectives, to continue on with the plot, but this isn't exactly the way that Fallout: New Vegas works. From the moment players step foot outside of Doc Mitchell's house, their only mission will be to find out why they were shot by the man in a checkered shirt, and most importantly, what happened to the Platinum Chip, but the way they go about doing this is completely up to them.
8 Best Open-World Games To Just Explore, Ranked
Open-world games are known for their exploration, and these titles shine the brightest in this area.
As a result, New Vegas doesn't include a boring list of missions that need to be completed one after the other, since the story will essentially mold itself around the player's actions. For example, rather than needing to complete several objectives to reach Caesar and his legion, players can just go directly to them once they figure out where they are based, ensuring that every player's story is entirely different and natural.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Explore Hyrule In All Its Glory Without The Game Taking Away From The Experience
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
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
Admittedly, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom does start off with a slightly lengthy tutorial area where players must complete four Shrines to gain Link's abilities, but after they leap off of the Great Sky Island, the game will hand full control over to the player. While there are four main areas that players are encouraged to explore, the main goal of the game is simply to explore Hyrule and to meet the plethora of fun and memorable characters who occupy it.
Because there's always something new to uncover around every corner, it means that none of the missions that can feel a little checklist-y ever feel too demanding, since none of them will take priority over the adventure itself. Breath of the Wild is also an excellent game that plays this way, but Tears of the Kingdom also includes some new mechanics that can help make navigating the world a lot easier and more fun, while also featuring a slightly more interesting story and refined combat mechanics.
Elden Ring
FromSoftware Refrains From Giving The Player Too Much Information to Go Off
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
It's well known that FromSoftware games don't do hand-holding, and will often leave players in the dark in regard to their current mission, and also the story at large. Elden Ring is no different, as the game decides to hold off a lot of the more common aspects that are featured in open-world games, such as glowing objective markers and even a logbook, to instead give players the organic thrill of embarking on a grand adventure without having any clue what they are going to run into.
Considering that The Lands Between is packed full of tombs, castles, and other mysterious areas that can be explored, alongside a bunch of difficult boss enemies, having a checklist-style mission marker leading to these areas would end up spoiling a lot of the biggest surprises. While this can ultimately make it tricky to know where to go sometimes, it also encourages players to think a little more carefully about where they are going to travel next, depending on the enemies they'll face and the loot that can be acquired.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead 2's Dedication To Immersion Makes It Feel More Like A Simulation Than A Game
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
While it should always be an aim for an open-world developer to make sure their game is immersive, many of them will still decide to clutter the interface with mission objectives and markers to keep players on the straight and narrow. Red Dead Redemption 2, however, decides to go all in with its immersive factor by getting rid of these checklists and symbols to make players feel as if they're truly living in the big and beautiful world that Rockstar has created.
As a result of this, Red Dead Redemption 2 has a very slow and methodical pace to it, which provides a nice contrast from most open-world games, which are always trying to get players to an area as quickly as possible. Pair this with a lovable cast of characters, jaw-dropping visuals, and one of the best stories ever told in gaming, and it's no wonder that so many people consider this game to be one of the best open-world titles out there.
Minecraft
Without A Story, Minecraft Doesn't Need To Command Players To Do Anything
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
When players drop into a new world in Minecraft, they won't be tasked with completing any mundane activities or picking up a certain amount of resources in a specific amount of time. In stark contrast, they'll have no orders whatsoever, since the game entirely revolves around giving players the freedom to do literally whatever they want, whether that be mining, building, or simply surviving against the monsters who come after the sun goes down for the day.
While the game has been updated a countless number of times, the game has always retained this core formula, granting players the choice to dictate how they play the game, without the game itself ever feeling like it's taking control. It's a big reason why Minecraft is so replayable, since every playthrough feels entirely different, depending on how the player decides to approach a new world.
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These open-world games do offer a main story campaign to complete, but their settings are so immersive that exploration almost always takes priority.