Summary
- Open-world games can be overwhelming without guidance or updates to keep players engaged.
- Games like The Good Life and Sky: Children of the Light offer casual experiences with minimal pressure.
- Palworld and Mario Kart World provide accessible open-world gameplay for a relaxed and enjoyable time.
Open-world games can be some of the most demanding experiences in gaming. For those unaccustomed to the idea, being given the keys to a giant world can be daunting. What's more, if players don't keep up with playing them, they may forget what they were doing.
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Stamina meters have become a staple in many genres and franchises, but these open-world games stand out by making the best use of it.
While these examples also have that same problem in places, they are easier to get into because of their more relaxed narratives, or because they are a live-service game with constant updates that also support multiplayer. There's nothing better than having daily or weekly rituals with friends, and some of these open-world games reflect that idea. These games will be ranked based on quality and how casual of an experience they can be.
8 The Good Life
Become A Countryside Reporter... As A Cat
The Good Life
- Released
- October 15, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Life Simulation
The Good Life comes from the mind of Swery65, the director of Deadly Premonition, which is one of the most divisive games of all time. This game follows a New York City reporter who goes to a quaint English village in the country for some investigating.
What she finds is odd, to say the least, as people can turn into cats and dogs, including her. Players can explore this tiny countryside to follow the case, or they can catch up with townsfolk, but overall, this is not an ordinary game.
7 Sky: Children Of The Light
Fly Free As A Bird
Sky: Children of the Light
- Released
- July 18, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Adventure, Indie Games
Sky: Children of the Light is the next game from Jenova Chen, who had previously shaken up the indie world with Journey. Like that game, Children of the Light is purely a passive experience without combat, wherein players can fly around floating islands with friends or strangers and collect items.
It’s a free-to-play game that isn’t hindered by microtransactions, allowing players to immerse themselves in the experience fully. Instead, it’s there for players who want another Journey-like experience, but one with a bigger scope and the ability to play with friends in the other environments.
6 Palworld
Build A Colony Full Of Pals
Palworld
- Released
- January 19, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Shooter, Survival
Palworld is still in Early Access, but it’s a very playable game in its current state, even though it can be a bit messy. This experience is for players who like open-worlds, monster-catching, and survival games.
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Players can explore the world to gather materials and Pokemon-like Pals either alone or with friends. They can also build bases with their Pals by giving them jobs, from farming to construction. There is a tutorial-like mission structure, but no story, so it’s not a demanding game by any means, making it easy to jump in and out of leisurely.
5 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Building Up Mother Base
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action, Open-World
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is a suitable game recommendation here because players will actively recruit members to staff their Mother Base. In The Phantom Pain and the game that preceded it, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, players can capture enemy units via a balloon system and have them work at Mother Base.
Players can assign recruits to work on new gear or build up better facilities. It’s a game filled with features, such as Hideo Kojima’s swan song to the series and Big Boss as a character. The story is important, but players can jump in and out of the open-world areas to engage in missions at a more bite-sized pace if they prefer a casual approach.
4 Monster Hunter Wilds
Intense, But Easily Episodic
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Released
- February 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Monster Hunter Wilds is as intense as the previous entries in the series, but now with more quality of life improvements. It’s not a casual game overall, but it can be played like one, since its entire emphasis relies on four-player co-op.
It’s easy to jump into the game, explore a bit, and then hop into a match to fight some monsters with friends. The content updates have not been steady, but given the franchise’s history, Capcom should be able to keep up with demand so that players can keep coming back to this latest entry whenever they feel the hunger for more monster hunting.
3 Infinity Nikki
Dress For Success
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 unique experience because it’s an open-world platformer, and that’s not a genre combination that comes around often. There are open-world games with some platforming, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but Infinity Nikki is a much more passive experience that is all about exploration and fashion.
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As the titular Nikki, players cannot craft her facial appearance, but they can put her in a vast assortment of fantastic outfits. There is a story, but it’s not important, so players won’t feel the pressure of playing through the game non-stop. Plus, there isn't much to the combat, which makes it accessible to more casual players.
2 Sea Of Thieves
A High Seas Adventure With Friends
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 started as an Xbox One exclusive without much of a point to the gameplay, but now it is also on PS5. After seven years, a multitude of improvements and content updates have been released to make the game feel more cohesive. There have even been crossover events with movies like The Goonies and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Players can raise their pirate flags, sail around with friends, and treat the experience more like a pirate-themed sim, or they can go heavy on the pirate combat and looting aspects. Either approach works and is equally engaging.
1 Mario Kart World
Cruise Around The Mushroom Kingdom
Mario Kart World
- Released
- June 5, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
Mario Kart World is the biggest leap the franchise has taken since Mario Kart: Double Dash on the GameCube. Players can race through courses alone or with friends like a normal Mario Kart entry, or they can activate a new mode called Free Roam.
This mode gives players access to the entire map at once, and they can just cruise around without the need for objectives. There is optional content, like collecting costumes or going on missions, but it’s not a crucial to engage with it. It’s just there to enjoy, and Switch 2 fans are loving it so far.
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