Summary
- Realistic crafting in open-world games involves exploration, scavenging, and recipe experimentation for a more immersive experience.
- Crafting systems in games like Subnautica, 7 Days To Die, and The Forest aren't just mechanics, they are key parts of survival.
- Survival depends on crafting in games like Green Hell and The Long Dark, where players must create everything needed to endure.
Resource gathering and crafting systems in open-world games can often add a layer of immersion that provides the player with a greater understanding of the game world and setting. When implemented well, crafting isn't just a gameplay mechanic, it becomes a staple of survival, a method of storytelling, and a strategic element in player progression.
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The best open-world games with realistic crafting make the player explore for resources, scavenge parts and consumables, and experiment with recipes. They often require the player to understand the environment, or at least learn where specific resources can be found. Whether it's forging weapons, cooking meals, or building entire bases, the best open-world games that feature crafting entwine them into the game in such a way that it has a vast impact on realism.
8 Subnautica
Undersea Survival And Crafting
Subnautica
- Released
- January 23, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Starting off this list, we have an open-world game with a breathtaking, underwater open-world game map. Subnautica is part survival game, part adventure, and part exploration game where crafting is the key to success.
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The crafting process begins with exploring the map and locating resources to harvest, which is made challenging by the survival mechanics, requiring the player to ensure they have enough oxygen. The crafting progression is very realistic, and the player needs to craft certain items, such as a radiation suit, before they can gather radioactive resources, for example.
7 7 Days To Die
Zombie Survival With Tower Defense
7 Days to Die
- Released
- June 28, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Fun Pimps
- Platform(s)
- Linux, macOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
7 Days To Die is a great zombie survival game, with players needing to prepare for Blood Moon Night every 7 days, when zombies will continuously attack the player from 10 pm until 4 am. This makes crafting equipment, consumables, and base defenses a must-do activity for all players.
The crafting process is very realistic. Players must mine some resources such as iron or coal, and collect subcomponents by looting POIs, whilst surviving zombies. The ore needs to be refined before it can be used for crafting, and subcomponents need to be combined in the right workbench to craft items. Even crafting ammo is a multistep process in 7 Days To Die.
6 The Forest
Unique Crafting Experience
The Forest
- Released
- April 30, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
The Forest is an open-world survival horror game, with the player needing to find a way to survive on an island following a plane crash. The problem is, that the island is inhabited by cannibals and mutant creatures. The enemy AI in this game is very smart, and will track the player down quickly if they are not careful.
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The crafting system is quite basic, with the player constructing items from parts, without the need for crafting benches. However, the recipes are very realistic, and the player will need to find specific items on the game map to combine into a finished product. For example, to craft a water collector, they will need to first find a turtle, kill it and remove the shell to be used as a receptacle for catching water. Every time the player picks up can be used to craft something, or as an upgrade component.
5 Green Hell
Survive The Amazon Rainforest
Green Hell
- Released
- September 5, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Creepy Jar
- Genre(s)
- Survival
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
From the get-go, a Green Hell player needs to think about crafting. The crafting system is intrinsic to survival in this game. Indeed, this is one of the toughest survival simulators around, with not only the physical needs for survival coming into play, but also the psychological impact.
Everything the player needs must be crafted in this game. Consumables are extremely important, as they help the player manage their injuries, both physical and mental. Crafting is not a tertiary activity in Green Hell, it is a requirement for survival.
4 Project Zomboid
2D Isometric Zombie Survival
Project Zomboid
- Released
- November 8, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Indie Stone
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC
Project Zomboid has been an indie game hit, it has a massive following, and for good reason. Don’t let the fact that it is a 2D game fool you, it is far more complex than most AAA zombie survival titles, and it is the complex and realistic crafting system that is part of the reason for this complexity.
Everything the player needs to help themselves and their fledgling community of survivors to flourish must be crafted. This means exploring the open-world game map to find resources and components, some of which are rare.
3 Medieval Dynasty
Open-World Survival RPG
Medieval Dynasty
- Released
- December 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Strategy
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
One of the more recent titles on this list, Medieval Dynasty is an interesting game, part survival, part RPG, and part community management. The player starts as a peasant, and then begins finding ways to survive, recruit villagers, complete quests, and build a thriving community.
There is no combat aside from wild creatures in this game, instead the focus is on crafting and building. Everything must be crafted in the right season, and adequate stocks must be maintained to sustain villagers throughout the year. A relaxing game at times, but with enough urgency to keep it interesting.
2 Valheim
Norse Inspired Survival Game
Valheim
- Released
- February 2, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Iron Gate AB
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
- Platform(s)
- Linux, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Valheim was a surprise hit, and has shown how low-budget game studios can still turn out influential titles. Inspired by Norse Mythology, Valheim is an adventure survival game with a cool take on character progression. The player must defeat a series of bosses, each of which unlocks the next tier of crafting materials and recipes.
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The player can craft weapons and armor, as well as cook food, and build an entire base. This is where the realism comes in. Crafting in Valheim is about creating the things that are needed to survive, and to progress onwards to the next boss fight.
1 The Long Dark
Be Ready To Die A Lot
The Long Dark
- Released
- August 1, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Hinterland Studio
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
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