Looting has become a major component in most open-world games that fans either love or hate. While scouring the land for loot that may not even be all that worthwhile can be annoying, players appreciate it when certain titles do a great job of making looting effortless and making it impactful in a way that encourages players to explore.
7 Best Open-World Games With The Hardest Opening, Ranked
Not all open-world games provide easy beginnings. Here are some of the best examples that feature incredibly hard openings.
Given how most open-world games try to become a jack-of-all-trades to keep everyone satisfied, it's easy to see why looting has become predominant in the genre. It's a simple yet satisfying way to keep players on the progression curve and give them the dopamine rush they need as they explore every nook and cranny of this sandbox.
8 Tom Clancy's The Division 2
Looting Is A Huge Part Of This Game
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
- Released
- March 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
The very fact that The Division 2 is a looter-shooter should make it clear why scouring every inch of this open world is recommended. It helps that this game learned from its predecessor, allowing players to enjoy a quality third-person shooter that felt rewarding to play out of the gate.
Consistent updates have ensured that players will always find new and interesting loot to gather in this game. If players want to check out a shooter with a multiplayer focus that prioritizes both PvP and PvE combat, then The Division 2 is the perfect game for them.
7 Diablo 4
The First Open-World Game In The Series Was Bound To Feature A Ton Of Loot
Diablo 4
- Released
- June 5, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
One of the most famous action RPG franchises with a major focus on looting, the shift to a sandbox was only natural for Diablo 4. It helped the game world feel more rewarding to explore as players controlled their chosen character and went berserk all across the open-world landscape.
As one would expect, players should kill and loot everything in sight in the hopes that they'll find that one special piece of gear that will help their character reach greater heights. It may seem like a predatory gameplay loop at times, but the satisfaction of finding ultra-rare gear is unmatched and ensures that players can clock in hundreds of hours worth of gameplay with different characters simply because of how engaging the loot grind is.
6 7 Days To Die
Players Must Loot Everything In Sight To Survive Every Week
7 Days to Die
- Released
- June 28, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
One of the better modern survival games players can check out, 7 Days to Die, can be brutal for beginners. Zombies aren't all that simple to handle, especially with limited resources, and the first week's assault is so deadly that most players will die to this horde over and over again before they finally figure out what's going wrong.
The Best Local Co-Op Games on Steam (Couch & Split-Screen Included)
Find the best local co-op and split-screen games on Steam, from couch classics to modern hits perfect for friends, families, and offline play.
Eventually, looting everything in sight will become second-nature. Players need all the resources they can get to fortify defenses and enhance their options of self-defense, allowing them to withstand the aggressive zombie hordes for multiple weeks if they play their cards right.
5 Borderlands 2
A Co-op Looter Shooter With A Ton Of Action And Humor
Borderlands 2
- Released
- September 18, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
Most people consider Borderlands 2 to be the best title in the series, and for good reason. The humor is off the charts in this title, and the gameplay is just compelling enough without getting too grindy.
Getting a piece of equipment that's perfect for the chosen character is immensely satisfying, and this focus on loot persists all the way till the end. Eventually, friends will be scrambling to get a particularly rare piece of loot as opposed to their friend, which adds a fun social dynamic to the usual rigmarole of looting everything in sight.
4 Fallout 4
There's A Reason Why This Game Introduced A Quick-Loot Menu
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The way Fallout 4 shows off its quickloot menu makes it clear what a major chunk of the game is going to be like. Exploration in this game is rewarding, and the loot can be obtained with ease, satisfying players as long as they don't get overencumbered.
As the Sole Survivor becomes stronger, so does the quality of loot in the open world. This is something most fans of Bethesda games are familiar with, allowing players to become dealers of death once they acquire high-quality gear at later levels.
3 STALKER 2: Heart Of Chornobyl
Survival And Looting Go Hand In Hand
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- Released
- November 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Open-World, Post-Apocalyptic, Survival
It's only a given that the STALKER series would be all about looting everything in sight. The same goes for Heart of Chornobyl, although players do need to be picky about what they acquire if they're not near a place where they can drop off or sell their loot.
Best Co-Op Open-World Games
Here are a variety of options for the best co-op games that can be experienced in an open world setting.
This makes exploration and looting quite thought-provoking, with players having to decide the best course of action to take while exploring. Sometimes, it's better to clear out a few locations and head back to a safe zone instead of spreading oneself thin across multiple locations where players have to make compromises over and over again.
2 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
The Dragonborn Must Loot Everything In Sight To Become Stronger
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
Skyrim is one of the greatest open-world games ever made, with a simple yet satisfying progression loop. The Dragonborn gets stronger during their journey and can eventually loot high-value gear from dungeons and enemies to make their journey easier.
Sure, this game may lack the quickloot menu from Fallout 4, but there's a mod for that. In fact, players who download a curated list of mods for this game can make every gameplay pillar more engaging than ever, including the act of looting treasure.
1 Elden Ring
The Loot In This Game Is Impactful And Improves A Player's Chances Of Survival
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Looting has been an integral part of the FromSoftware experience, with players being encouraged to find secrets in the form of rare items or gear. Elden Ring is no exception here, with exploration in this game feeling especially rewarding because of how meaningful every nook and cranny of the open world feels.
Sure, there are a few recycled boss fights, but the loot that players find for their troubles more than makes up for any repetitive content. Eventually, players who farm the right enemies or go to the best areas will find some ultra-powerful loot, ensuring that they will be able to tackle late-game challenges without being flattened to a pulp.
22 Best Co-Op Zombie Games
The best co-op zombie games are the ones where players can enjoy hacking and slashing zombies together. Just make sure to be out of biting distance.