Open-world games typically tell a core narrative that either hogs the player's attention and drives their every action or simply acts as a justification for their protagonist to exist within this universe. Player freedom is one of the genre's core appeals, but not every game encourages you to deviate from the main story; however, the ones that do tend to be among the greatest open-world games of all time.
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These great games offer interesting open worlds that provide unique experiences, ideal for those who think open-world games have become cookie-cutter.
By allowing you to explore at your own pace and not forcing you to seek out specific locations or complete certain goals right away, these titles can offer expressive and often relaxing experiences. Each of these games offers a world that's fun and often intuitive to explore, encouraging active exploration and experimentation on the part of the player.
10 Dredge
An Addictive Loop Of Lovecraftian Horror And Fishing
Dredge
- Released
- March 31, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Black Salt Games
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Dredge is a tremendously addictive fishing game that tasks players with making a living on the calm but occasionally creepy waters of an archipelago. This tightly-crafted gameplay loop is supported by a Lovecraftian horror story that's packed with supernatural spooks and creepy characters.
Though Dredge features a narrative told in a stylishly minimalist way, the story unfolds at the player's own pace; Dredge gives players the freedom to explore however they see fit, with the only limitations being the strength of their boat. Players can reach further out with each upgrade they acquire, but there's never any rush or overwhelming pressure, allowing players to control the pace of the story.
9 Death Stranding
A Game That's All About The Journey
Death Stranding
- Released
- November 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Platform(s)
- iOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Death Stranding's gameplay loop is a truly unique one, and certainly not for every kind of player; the game is focused almost entirely on the slow and laborious act of traveling. Though it can be tedious at times, managing the weight of cargo and traversing unfriendly terrain, it can be a rewarding experience for the right kind of player.
One side effect of this distinctive gameplay loop is that players are able to enjoy the game at their own pace. For the most part, players are in charge of their journeys, and there's often a good chance to stop and admire the post-apocalyptic wilderness. Combined with the variety of distractions and deliveries, players can explore Death Stranding's truly strange narrative at their own clip.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is a bit more action-oriented than its predecessor, but it still mostly lets you play the story at your own pace.
8 STALKER: Shadow Of Chernobyl
Immersive Exploration In Interconnected Open Areas
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
- Released
- March 20, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- GSC Game World
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Survival Horror
The narrative is by no means the primary focus of STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl, but its detailed and dynamic world is certainly front and center. The harsh and hostile environments of its world, roaming NPCs and mobs, and truly immersive atmosphere make each journey across STALKER's landscape a memorable experience. More importantly, the rambling nature of the game allows players to explore at their own pace.
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However, while certain elements of STALKER allow for free exploration and experimentation, many missions are subject to a deadline. Some of these deadlines are more forgiving than others, but in general, players are given a suitable amount of time to roam. Furthermore, the main quests of STALKER typically aren't timed, allowing players to control the pace of the story.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl also fit this topic to an extent, and they are more open than Shadow of Chernobyl. However, the original is still the most special game in the series.
7 Elden Ring
The Enigma Of Dark Souls And The Freedom Of An Open World
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Sporting the loosely-threaded narrative and enigmatic characters that FromSoftware is known for, Elden Ring manages to appeal to a wider audience with its expansive open world. The variety of bosses and encounters, both optional and mandatory, is given an added sense of discovery through well-hidden locations and true player agency.
Exploring can be done at the player's own pace, and the tedium is taken out of the equation thanks to the addition of a horse; allowing the player to travel at faster speeds makes up for the vast distances players are often tasked with crossing, keeping the pace. As with Dark Souls, Elden Ring features a variety of optional tasks that players can tackle on their way to beating the game, and the open-world structure allows players to control the pace even more.
6 Caves Of Qud
An Open-World Roguelike RPG With Endless Distractions
Caves Of Qud
- Released
- July 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Caves of Qud may not look like much on the surface, but its evocative writing, immersive atmosphere, and free-form gameplay elevate the overall experience. In the game, players build a character using a tremendously detailed character creator and venture out into a truly unique science-fantasy world packed with quests to complete and people to meet.
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These open-world games do offer a main story campaign to complete, but their settings are so immersive that exploration almost always takes priority.
There is a main quest-line to follow in Caves of Qud, but the expansive open world and extensive combination of procedural and hand-crafted content frequently distract in the best possible way. Outside exploring locations out of pure curiosity or in search of valuable treasure, Caves of Qud entices players toward specific locations with a variety of side-quests. All of these elements allow players to explore the world and enjoy the evocative stories within at their own pace. Furthermore, the turn-based nature of the game takes time pressure out of the equation.
5 LEGO Lord Of The Rings
A Familiar Story Interspersed With Open-World Collecting
LEGO Lord of the Rings
- Released
- October 30, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Traveller's Tales, TT Games
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, PC, PS3, PS Vita, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
With a story that will be comfortably familiar to fans of the source material, LEGO Lord of the Rings excels not only with its sense of loyalty and loving nostalgia, but with its admirable adaptation of Middle-earth via a LEGO open world. Though players progress through the story via several levels, LEGO Lord of the Rings allows players to explore and collect all manner of items at their own pace.
Players are given no time limit, taking any and all stress or pressure out of the equation. Furthermore, the LEGO formula works perfectly with the open-world structure, resulting in a truly free-form gameplay loop that allows players to balance exploration with the tackling of missions.
4 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
A Dynamic Open-World That Encourages Journeying Off The Beaten Path
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The expansive, detailed world, the wide variety of quests, and the open-world structure make Skyrim a truly diverse, free-form experience. Players are free to explore the game's world at their own pace, and there's no doubt that plenty of entertainment can be had before even beginning to tackle the game's main quests.
The game's waypoint system lays an abundance of breadcrumbs at the player's feet, constantly encouraging investigation and distraction that keeps players on the move and drives exploration. Intentional or not, Skyrim is best played in a wandering manner, and players who make a beeline for the main story may miss some of its greatest moments.
3 Fallout: New Vegas
Lacks Hand-Holding & Champions Player Agency
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Many of the Fallout games provide players with an expansive open world and free-form style that allows for a flexible pace. However, Fallout: New Vegas is arguably one of the best due to the sheer lack of hand-holding that players are given. This is especially so with the game's main quest, in which players have very little to go on.
While possibly frustrating for some, this drops players straight into the world and heavily encourages exploration and experimentation. Players are guaranteed to meet all kinds of interesting characters, creatures, and antagonists across their journey, many of which will distract and delight in equal measure. Overall, the abundance of side-quests, expansive world, and total player agency allow players to tread through the open world of Fallout: New Vegas at their own leisure.
2 Red Dead Redemption 2
Live As Arthur Morgan
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
In comparison to the original Red Dead Redemption, which is relatively linear for an open-world game, the sequel is not only far more expansive, but also rewards players who are willing to live as Arthur Morgan rather than just witness his story. As fantastic as the main story is, Red Dead Redemption 2 seldom urges you to continue it, fully encouraging side activities like hunting, fishing, gambling, and stranger missions. Throughout your journey, you will encounter plenty of world events that explore themes or reveal character arcs. Memorable moments do not solely happen during marked missions.
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Arthur's development is not limited to compulsory missions, as he evolves through optional camp interactions and side content that influences his reputation (and personality). Speaking of side missions, they are so fantastic that they do not feel like a distraction, but rather just another part of Arthur's road. Most importantly, RDR2 is all about realism and maintaining an intentionally slow pace, and that includes the story.
1 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
An Open-World Story Completely Played At Your Own Pace
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U, Switch
The definitive example of an open-world game with player-driven pacing, Breath of the Wild leaves things completely up to you. After the intro, Link is unleashed upon a post-apocalyptic Hyrule, with only one compulsory goal and four suggested destinations. Ideally, players should defeat the four divine beasts and eventually make their way to Hyrule Castle and Calamity Ganon; however, they don't have to do the former, and they decide if this journey will be a sprint or a marathon.
Now, to be fair, Breath of the Wild's story is minimal and mostly stays out of the way, with the focus being squarely on exploration and freedom. However, that works for this game. You can easily explore Hyrule for dozens of hours without engaging in any of the "core" quests, and you will still be playing BOTW in its intended way.
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