Open-world games are quite freeing, as they often give players a lot to do and see. However, there are still a lot of things that can guide players in a certain direction. For example, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a great game that is all about Geralt trying to find Ciri, making that goal a pressing concern. Players don’t have to make a beeline to find her, but they may feel compelled.
Best Open-World Games That Make You Happy
It’s hard not to smile while playing these open-world games.
That’s not a bad thing, but for those who want even more choice in their open-world adventures, these open-world games don't have one specific main objective to track, giving players little reason to follow a specific goal other than to explore and have fun.
Minecraft
The Ultimate Goal Is To Have Fun
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
In Minecraft, players will create a Seed when they start a game, and then they will be loaded into their own customized world. Players can start farming for materials right away, and there’s not a single drop of story in the game other than some deep lore for anyone who wants to dive in and track it down.
Build a farm, dig a cavern, recreate a giant city or a real-world landmark, fight monsters at night, and so on. Alone or with friends, the possibilities in Minecraft are endless, but any goals to chase are entirely of the player's choosing.
Elden Ring
Survival Is Your Goal
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
FromSoftware’s games rarely have clear-cut objectives other than to explore and survive through a series of bosses in twisting interconnected worlds. Elden Ring similarly didn’t have a large overarching plot, but this time, FromSoftware decided to create an open world full of danger for players to explore.
There’s not much in terms of crafting or chill activities in Elden Ring, but players can fight enemies and bosses at their leisure without much linearity present. Certain areas can't be accessed until other areas have been explored, but odds are that exploration will happen naturally as players wander through the world. For those having trouble, as it is a challenging game, there is co-op available.
Fallout 76
Try And Make The Apocalypse More Livable
Fallout 76
- Released
- November 14, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Fallout 76 doesn't start with a big story setup, unlike most entries in the Fallout series. Instead, players just start exploring, killing mutants, and crafting almost from the outset. With consistent updates, Bethesda added more story quests, but they’re still not a central part of the experience.
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Want to feel like an unstoppable samurai warrior as you wade into battle? These top-notch open-world games have got you covered.
Fallout 76 was made to give players even more freedom than the previous Fallout entries, unburdened by goals of finding a missing child, a missing father, or seeking revenge. That makes it a great entry to start with, plus there is co-op, so some friends can come along for the ride.
Sea Of Thieves
Sail With Your Mates
Sea of Thieves
- Released
- March 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Sea of Thieves is a pirate simulator more than it is a pirate action game. Over the years, there have been more objectives and areas to explore introduced via updates, but it’s another example of a game that is open from the start, and one where multiplayer is almost mandatory.
It is possible to sail alone, but a full crew of friends makes traversing the ocean a more enjoyable experience. Sing sea shanties, swashbuckle enemies, or look for treasure like a true pirate. There are no rules on the high seas.
No Man’s Sky
Travel The Universe
No Man's Sky
- Released
- August 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
No Man’s Sky is like Sea of Thieves, except instead of exploring the vast seas, players will sail through an endless galaxy in their spaceship. They can travel to a near infinite number of planets, each one different from the last.
There is combat, but things are generally more chill if players accept the rules dictated by a galactic council. Mine for crafting materials, scan weird creatures to build a database, or make a home for others to come and visit. No Man's Sky is a game that players can approach as they see fit, be it by chasing a goal or settling down on a brand-new planet.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
No Badges In Sight
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Released
- January 28, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Most mainline Pokemon games put forth a specific goal of gathering Gym Badges and collecting Pokemon to be the very best. While Pokemon Legends: Arceus borrows some mechanics typical of the mainline games, it is first and foremost a Pokemon spinoff.
Best Open-World Games On The Nintendo Switch 2
These giant open-world games can now be taken on the go thanks to the enhanced hardware in the Nintendo Switch 2.
Players can progress through the story, but there’s not much emphasis placed on it. Instead, they can just as easily roam big open-world biomes to catch and fight Pokemon in real time. Whether players want to catch Pokemon or craft Pokeballs, there are dozens of activities to take on.
Palworld
Create A Pal Army
Palworld
- Released
- January 19, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Shooter, Survival
Palworld is a Pokemon-like experience except with even more freedom on offer, and the monsters here are called Pals. There’s no story setup, and players are dropped into a world with just a list of objectives they can follow to unlock mechanics, or they can ignore those specific tasks and just play.
That includes catching Pals to ride, use as weapons, use as battle companions, or put to hard labor. It seems like Game Freak and Nintendo could learn a thing or two from Palworld, and it may be exactly where the idea for Pokopia came from.
Infinity Nikki
Jump Up And Look Good
Infinity Nikki
- Released
- December 5, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Open-World, Dress-Up, RPG
Infinity Nikki is a free-to-play game about the titular Nikki, who wants to become a fashionista. While the initial premise follows a story, and there are story quests to tackle to help unlock new content, the game doesn’t push players in that (or any) direction.
Instead, they can explore the world and look for upgrades on their own to craft new outfits. Some of the best content is locked behind a paywall, as this is a gacha-based game, but players can get plenty of enjoyment out of Infinity Nikki without spending a single dime.
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