Summary
- Open-world games require players to progress before exploring new areas to avoid overpowering enemies.
- Developers should implement organic expansion to maintain players' interest and engagement.
- Various open-world titles strategically limit access to certain areas to guide player progression and narrative flow.
Open-world gaming has become the rage ever since Grand Theft Auto 3 opened the floodgates for this genre. It's impressive to see that open-world titles have retained their mainstream appeal after all these years, even if some people feel that the genre has become a bit too saturated for their liking.
Developers need to do something different to ensure that their games are appealing in the modern era of gaming. Something as simple as letting a sandbox organically expand as players make progress is enough to keep players engaged for the long haul. The games listed below do an excellent job at just that.
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8 Hogwarts Legacy
The Scottish Highlands Are Level-Gated, So Players Should Explore Hogwarts First
Hogwarts Legacy
- Released
- February 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
When players enter Hogwarts for the first time, they'd prefer to spend as much time as possible in this magical school before they eventually explore the countryside. Even if players are ambitious and decide to explore the outskirts early, they'll be in for a rude awakening.
Enemies are at a very high level and will squash the player in no time. It's clear that a fifth-year student should stay within the grounds of Hogwarts unless explicitly directed by the main quest to explore the Scottish Highlands, which will be made easier courtesy of a flying broom and a higher level.
7 Horizon Zero Dawn
As The Plot Expands, So Do The Accessible Areas
Horizon Zero Dawn
- Released
- February 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Horizon Zero Dawn introduces a world chock-full of interesting lore and bombastic combat encounters. However, Guerrilla Games knew that bombarding players with so much stuff from the get-go would be overwhelming.
So, they decided to take the smart approach and only let Aloy explore a small section of the world in the beginning. It's not until things go south at The Proving that a bigger conspiracy comes to light, compelling the protagonist to explore the world and learn about the events that led to an apocalypse where robotic dinosaurs roamed the land.
6 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
The World Opens Up As Henry Acquires The Skills To Survive
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
- Released
- February 13, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an ambitious first project by Warhorse Studios that turned out to be a hit. The game is a slow burn where players begin as the son of a blacksmith and must learn all the tools of the trade from scratch to make it in the hostile world of medieval Bohemia.
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This can be seen in an extended prologue where the game doesn't truly open up until players head back to their razed village, kickstarting the main quest of the game. Henry must get stronger and deal with bandits, enemy soldiers, and other such threats before he can finally explore the world without worrying that he'll be hacked down in no time.
5 Ghost Of Tsushima
Every Act Takes Place In A Different Area
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most beautiful open-world games players can get their hands on. Jin Sakai's adventures to liberate his homeland lead to him abandoning the samurai code as he uses so-called "underhanded" tactics to drive the Mongols away from his homeland.
While this draws the ire of his uncle and other honorable shinobi, it works, and Khotun Khan is eventually taken out by the Ghost. Each act in Ghost of Tsushima takes place in a different region of Tsushima, with the first act being notable for preventing Jin from gaining access to the grappling hook until he makes progress in the story.
4 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
CJ Is Restricted From Certain Areas Until The Final Leg Of The Game
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Released
- October 26, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
San Andreas is one of the greatest open-world games ever made and is easily the peak of the GTA 3D universe. The sheer number of gameplay systems, coupled with a massive world, ensures that fans will have a great time powering through a compelling narrative.
While players are initially restricted to the city of Los Santos, they'll eventually explore areas like San Fierro and Las Venturas before making a heroic return to CJ's hometown. At this point, players can explore the entire map without restrictions, allowing them to enjoy and appreciate San Andreas' massive scope.
3 Fallout: New Vegas
Encourages Players To Take The Intended Path Until They Reach New Vegas
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
Players who make the bold decision of taking the shortest road to New Vegas from Goodsprings will be obliterated by a horde of Cazadores and Radscorpions in no time. This is the game's subtle way of directing players through the longer and intended route, allowing the player to understand the central conflict between the NCR and Caesar's Legion as they complete quests and get stronger.
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By the time players reach New Vegas, they should have the leeway to explore the map without being afraid of any dangers that may come their way. This organic design is just one of the many reasons why Fallout: New Vegas is one of the most critically acclaimed RPGs of all time.
2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Throughout The Hunt For Ciri, Geralt Gains Access To New Zones
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the greatest video games ever made, easing players into a rich and dense world rife with content. Players start in the tutorial area of White Orchard and slowly come to grips with the game's mechanics, eventually reaching the region of Velen.
This area is massive and full of areas to explore, allowing players to enjoy what makes The Witcher 3 such a special RPG. What makes things even better is that players will eventually unlock the regions of Skellige and Kaer Morhen. The Blood & Wine expansion adds the colorful region of Toussaint to serve as a palate cleanser after the dark and brooding areas that players explored in the base game.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2
It Takes A While Before Dutch's Gang Leaves The Prologue Area
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
It's easy to call the prologue of Red Dead Redemption 2 boring, but what it does is introduce Dutch's gang and the dynamic between the group. Given the story-heavy approach of this title, establishing these relations was important before players were dropped into the open world.
The game is massive, which is why the shifting camp sites were a great way to encourage players to explore small chunks of the sandbox before eventually appreciating the immense size of the game world without being ignored. Even the epilogue doesn't let up in this regard, allowing players to finally explore the iconic regions from the first game after their adventures with Arthur Morgan come to a tragic end.
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