Most open-world games feature sandboxes so massive that it becomes easy for players to get lost in them. This is why these games usually provide a way for players to cover vast swaths of land with relative ease.
A horse is a great way to travel the world, and it feels sensible to ride in games that take place in fantasy settings where modern vehicles haven't been invented yet. Bonding with a trusty steed and covering massive portions of the map feels great in these games, not to mention how much it adds to the joy of exploration.
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Red Dead Redemption 2
Bonding With A Horse And Exploring The Massive World Is A Blast
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Horse bonding is a huge mechanic in Red Dead Redemption 2. Players can either break a wild horse or purchase one in the stables before riding through the world of RDR2 and bonding with their steed in the process.
Players can level up their bond with a horse to unlock more tricks they can perform with their steed, while also making it easier for the horse to auto-steer without crashing into something. By the end of Arthur's adventures, players will have bonded with a horse that took a lot of effort to acquire, which is why the events of the ending can be so hard to digest.
Ghost Of Tsushima
The Game's Beautiful World Is Fun To Trot Around In
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the greatest video games for players who want to explore a beautiful open world. Tsushima Island is packed with vibrant colors that pop out during the day.
Naming a horse and exploring the island with it feels great as players soar across grasslands and colorful fields. The art design alone makes traversal tantalizing in Ghost of Tsushima, and helps players soak in the sights of a beautiful open world as they ride their horse.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Roach Is One Of The Best Mounts In Video Game History
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Geralt may name all his horses Roach since they die or run away on him, but the version of Roach present in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt sticks with players through thick and thin. Players can whistle to call him wherever they are on the map and explore the world to their hearts' content.
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Roach is a fairly reliable horse, and CD Projekt Red ensured that his implementation in the game was as polished as could be. They largely succeeded in this goal, although seeing Roach glitch out at times is still entertaining as players explore the regions of White Orchard, Velen, Novigrad, Skellige, Kaer Morhen, and Beauclair on Geralt's trusted steed.
Elden Ring
Riding Torrent Is A Must To Explore This Massive World
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Torrent is a no-nonsense mount who comes and disappears without a fuss. He makes it easier for the Tarnished to explore the massive world of The Lands Between, with his unique appearance making it clear that he's more than just a simple horse.
Running away from enemies and taking part in boss fights where Torrent is required makes for a great time and ensures that players bond with this steed, despite not saying a word to it. Double-jumping and dashing to reach new locations feels great on this smooth, easy-to-control mount.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Horses Help Travel Great Distances And Carry More Supplies
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 2 is bigger and better than its predecessor. So, it's easy to see why having a horse to explore the world is crucial for players who don't want to be exhausted as they run from one location to the next.
Henry can find various horses to stable throughout the game, which helps him explore the open world efficiently. Horses also give the player more space to stock items, which is very useful in KCD2 because of how much loot there is to find.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
A Horse Is Far More Viable In This Game Than The Sequel
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Tears of the Kingdom may also have horses, but the access to Zonai devices and the ability to create vehicles or planes using Ultrahand means that this mode of transport isn't as viable anymore. However, the same can't be said for Breath of the Wild, where having a horse is essential for exploring the world.
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Getting to the four Divine Beasts without a horse is a commendable but arduous task, and it's much easier with a horse. Exploring the world feels great on Link's trusted steed and ensures that players will always be on the lookout for a stable if they want to gain access to a stabled horse. Sure, the Master Bike arrives at the end of the Champions' Ballad DLC, but this is technically an endgame reward, which means that players have covered a ton of miles on multiple steeds before they get this bike.
Shadow Of The Colossus
Riding Agro Is A Must To Cross The Game's Vast, Desolate World
Shadow of the Colossus
- Released
- February 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Shadow of the Colossus takes place in a massive yet empty world where players must explore vast swaths of land to reach one of the many roaming colossi. Mounting Agro and galloping where the light points feel great and make for some surprisingly relaxing exploration.
These horse rides are downright meditative experiences, which is a godsend given that there's always a boss fight awaiting players at the end of the light. Shadow of the Colossus hides the true extent of its plot at first, but the serene exploration and bombastic colossi battles more than pull their weight before things reach a head.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Given How Massive The World Is, Riding A Horse Is Essential
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
- Released
- October 15, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Open-World
Given how massive Assassin's Creed Odyssey is, it's easy to see why players would prefer to explore this world on a horse. Trying to gun it on foot will be a test of their patience, and it helps that customizing a horse and reaching far-off locations in record time feels great.
Odyssey's world may be a bit too large for most fans, which is why it's always more relaxing to ride a horse and not care about anything else. Even the open-world distractions become a footnote that players can ignore as they move from one objective to the next on their horse while enjoying the beautiful sights of the open world along the way.
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