Summary
- Slow-paced open-world games improve with time due to complex systems and rewarding progression.
- Elden Ring offers a challenging open-world experience that becomes more enjoyable as players learn the ins and outs of the world.
- Terraria's accessible controls and challenging bosses make it more engaging as players progress.
While some open-world games can be immediately fun thanks to accessible controls or simple mechanics, others take time to get going. A generally slow pace, a difficult onboarding process, a steep learning curve; all can contribute to a rough start.
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While these slower open-world games aren't always immediately fun, they often get better with play. This is typically thanks to satisfying progression and complex systems that are fun to learn, resulting in an experience that gets better with knowledge and experience.
8 Elden Ring
A Game Of Discovery
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Elden Ring is a fantastic soulslike that features a steep learning curve and an expansive open world to explore. The initial speed bumps may prove frustrating for newcomers, but as players begin to learn the ropes, Elden Ring becomes a more enjoyable experience.
More importantly, Elden Ring's open world isn't quite as forthcoming as the interconnected environments of Dark Souls; the more intriguing locations are harder to find, broken up by vast expanses and dungeons, hidden in, around, and beneath the more obvious locales. Much of the fun comes from discovering these locations, resulting in a game that gets better with time.
7 Terraria
An Abundance Of Bosses To Discover & Defeat
Terraria
- Released
- May 16, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Re-Logic
- Publisher(s)
- 505 Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Vita, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, 3DS, Stadia, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Terraria is an open-world survival-craft game that excels with its accessible controls, helpful user-interface, and the addition of town management mechanics. As players progress, more and more NPCs can be discovered and brought back to town, expanding possibilities and providing helpful items.
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Furthermore, as players get access to better materials and tools, their creative options also expand, allowing for grander designs when base-building. In addition, Terraria features a variety of challenging bosses to find and overcome, resulting in a game that gets better as players progress.
6 The Long Dark
Hardcore Survival With A Soothing Atmosphere
The Long Dark
- Released
- August 1, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Hinterland Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Hinterland Studio
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The Long Dark is a hardcore open-world survival game that takes place in a harsh and hostile wilderness. In the game, players are tasked with managing their resources with care as they battle the elements in deadly environments.
A unique aspect of The Long Dark is its immersive atmosphere, facilitated by excellent sound design and quiet, isolated environments. However, this atmosphere is much easier to enjoy once players have gained some experience with the game.
5 Gloomwood
Immersive Exploration Of An Interconnected City
Gloomwood
- Released
- September 6, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Gloomwood is a unique experience, blending elements of immersive-sims and survival-horror games with a deft hand. The rich atmosphere and dark Victorian setting are particularly well done, and this becomes more apparent as the game goes on.
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As players progress, Gloomwood's dark and dangerous city begins to open up, providing deeply interconnected level design that facilitates immersive gameplay. Players gain even more freedom as they acquire more items, weapons, and tools, allowing them to interact with the environment and solve problems in creative ways.
4 Rain World
A Deeply Simulated & Hostile World
Rain World
- Released
- March 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Videocult
- Publisher(s)
- Akupara Games, Adult Swim Games
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Rain World is a hardcore survival platformer that takes place in an interconnected post-apocalyptic world. However, what sets Rain World apart more than its unforgiving gameplay is its deeply simulated ecosystem.
This ecosystem provides a living, breathing world for players to explore, resulting in an immersive experience despite the stylized visuals. Learning to survive in this ecosystem can be difficult, however, and Rain World does little to hold the player's hand in this regard. As a result, Rain World is an experience that gets better with time, as players learn the intricacies of its unique flora and fauna.
3 Fallout: New Vegas
Diverse Points Of Interest & Unique Progression
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
Fallout: New Vegas gets off to a relatively quick start, and for many, their introduction to the Mojave wasteland will be immediately rewarding. However, New Vegas gets better as players progress, as its world is dense with interesting locations, NPCs, and quests to uncover.
The attention to detail within the world and its many denizens helps to sell the experience, constantly working to immerse players and offer them interesting decisions. Furthermore, the game's myriad perks add meaningful progression that only gets more rewarding as players advance.
2 Kenshi
A Brutal Sandbox RPG
Kenshi
- Released
- December 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Lo-Fi Games
- Publisher(s)
- Lo-Fi Games
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Open-World, Survival
- Platform(s)
- PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Kenshi is a game that offers players an unscripted sandbox experience that does little, if anything, to hold the player's hand. This results in a game that champions player agency above all else, but its lack of direction and hostile world make for an unforgiving experience.
This hands-off approach to design and the harsh nature of Kenshi's world is particularly rough on newcomers. As a result, Kenshi requires more than a little patience to enjoy, as it can be difficult for players to find their footing right away.
1 Caves Of Qud
A Strange & Compelling RPG To Unravel
Caves Of Qud
- Released
- July 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Caves Of Qud is an open-world roguelike that excels with its traditional gameplay, immersive ambiance, and deep RPG character progression. The world of Qud can be particularly lethal, especially to those unprepared, and this often prevents new players from exploring too far from the starting zone.
This only makes the eventual discovery of Qud's farthest reaches all the more rewarding, resulting in an experience that gets better with time. Furthermore, Qud's character progression allows players to dramatically evolve their character with new skills, mutations, and cybernetics, offering consistent rewards throughout the game.
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