Although a well-written and meaningful narrative can provide ample motivation to play through an open-world game, it can sometimes be used as a crutch; many narrative-driven titles that feature open worlds can often excel with their stories at the expense of engaging gameplay and detailed environments.
Though this isn't always the case, other open-world titles have explored gameplay loops that lack narrative entirely, instead focusing their designs on sandbox systems and engaging mechanics. Other titles, such as Project Zomboid, forfeit a narrative in favor of heavy simulation that facilitates emergent gameplay.
7 Mount & Blade: Warband
An Open-World Warfare Simulator
Mount & Blade: Warband
- Released
- March 30, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Publisher(s)
- Paradox Interactive
Mount & Blade: Warband is an open-world sandbox RPG that simulates open warfare with great detail. The game's lack of a core narrative thread leaves room for a great deal of player-agency, allowing players to gather armies and conquer the surrounding lands without interruption.
Open World Sandbox Games With Strategic Combat
The following open-world games are all either inherently sandbox or have sandbox modes, and they all require players to use their heads in combat.
The game's simulation of large-scale battles is an obvious strength, providing immersive battlefields that encourage careful planning and strategic thinking. Furthermore, the game's fast overworld travel allows players to explore and battle with little downtime.
6 Project Zomboid
A Simulated Zombie Apocalypse In Open Environments
Project Zomboid
- Released
- November 8, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- The Indie Stone
- Publisher(s)
- The Indie Stone
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Project Zomboid is a painstaking simulation of a zombie apocalypse, packed with interlocking systems and game mechanics that offer constant challenges. The ever-present threat of the undead is paralleled by deep survival mechanics that constantly keep players on the move, forcing them to adapt to new threats in order to survive.
With no scripted narrative present, Project Zomboid offers organic storytelling that emerges as players explore and attempt to survive in its harsh world. These emergent narratives are all the more present when playing in co-op, where last-ditch efforts and last stands are made all the more memorable.
5 Slime Rancher
A Small-Scale, Cozy World
Slime Rancher
- Released
- August 1, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Monomi Park
- Publisher(s)
- Monomi Park
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Simulation
Slime Rancher is a bright and colorful indie game with a small-scale open-world that's fun to explore thanks to a lighthearted tone and accessible gameplay. The core gameplay loop revolves around farming crops and managing a variety of bubbly balls of slime, but exploring Slime Rancher's vibrant world is particularly fun.
The intuitiveness of the game's core tool, the vacpack, keeps gameplay free of tedium, allowing players to easily collect new slimes and gather helpful resources as they explore. But it's also the variety of landmarks, diverse environments, and unique slimes of each area that keep Slime Rancher rewarding, all without the presence of a main story.
4 Battle Brothers
Brutal Combat & Resource Management In An Open World
Battle Brothers
- Released
- April 27, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Overhype Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Overhype Studios
- Genre(s)
- Indie Games, Tactical, RPG, Strategy, Adventure
Battle Brothers is an open-world RPG that forgoes a main story and instead offers players a sandbox experience. Tasking players with the management of a mercenary company in a harsh and hostile low-fantasy world, Battle Brothers remains an engaging RPG despite its lack of story quests, thanks to a detailed and rewarding combat system.
6 Best Medieval Themed Roguelikes, Ranked
These roguelike games use their medieval settings to add to the atmosphere and inform how the gameplay works.
The game's turn-based combat is entirely tactical, with each and every decision having clear consequences. This makes each move command, each attack, each use of an item an important one. Supported by a competent character progression system that promotes creative combinations and synergies, Battle Brothers is a title that will likely appeal to fans of combat-heavy RPGs.
3 Kenshi
A Sandbox RPG That Lets The Player Lead The Way
Kenshi
- Released
- December 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- nr
- Engine
- OGRE
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Open-World, Survival
- Platform(s)
- PC
Kenshi is an open-world sandbox RPG with a unique and exotic setting that excels with its harsh and hostile environments. The game's overwhelmingly hostile design may be inaccessible at first, but proves a rewarding challenge to overcome for those who remain patient with it.
What makes Kenshi so rewarding is its complete lack of hand-holding, giving players no direction, including a complete lack of a main story. This puts a greater emphasis on player agency, encouraging players to take the reins and seek out their own goals.
2 The Long Dark
A Deeply Atmospheric Survival Simulator
The Long Dark
- Released
- August 1, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Hinterland Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Hinterland Studio
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
The Long Dark is a survival game steeped in an immersive, tranquil atmosphere. Adding to this is a sharp ebb and flow of intense danger and moments of reprieve, brought about by an unforgiving set of simulated systems that make for a unique loop of heightened emotions.
The Long Dark's core survival mode, the default experience, features no story or even goals, other than to survive. However, this works in the game's favor, giving the dense atmosphere and survival gameplay room to breathe and allowing players to immerse themselves without interruption.
1 Terraria
Low-Stakes Survival That Encourages Creativity & Exploration
Terraria
- Released
- May 16, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Terraria is a relaxing sandbox survival game with a colorful pixel-art style and a focus on creativity. In the game, players explore a randomly generated open world, crafting increasingly powerful items and providing homes for a variety of NPCs.
Exploring the game's dangerous underground caverns is particularly exciting, with a variety of biomes each hosting their own unique threats. The game's sandbox nature and focus on free-form exploration suits its total lack of narrative, also making Terraria a perfect fit for co-operative play.
Games to Play If You Like Stardew Valley
For fans of Stardew Valley who love farming, crafting, and fun NPCs, there are plenty of life simulation RPGs out there to find and enjoy.