Summary
- AAA games focus on impressive physics for player enjoyment and immersion, enhancing open-world gameplay.
- Various games showcase impressive destruction mechanics, vehicle physics, gravity simulations, and ballistics systems.
- Unrealistic mechanics in games like GTA 4 can offer entertaining, arcade-y experiences, balancing realism and fun.
The technology that goes into developing open-world games is genuinely impressive, showing just how far tech has come in the industry. Most AAA developers focus on the physics of their games to ensure that a player's enjoyment and immersion are enhanced by this complex system.
8 Best Open-World Games With Unrealistic Mechanics, Ranked
These open-world titles prioritize fun over realism, resulting in enjoyable games that don't take themselves too seriously.
Sometimes, the physics engines in games can be so impressive that fans can't help but be impressed by what they're seeing. These revolutionary technical feats go a long way in making an open-world game that much more memorable for players.
8 Red Faction: Guerrilla
The Destruction Mechanics Are Still Great To Mess Around With
Red Faction: Guerilla
- Released
- June 2, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Red Faction: Guerrilla is a game that boasts one of the best destruction mechanics fans can enjoy in a video game. It may be dated in other aspects, but destroying the environment in high-octane firefights never gets old.
The physics that goes behind the destruction mechanics of this game is pretty incredible and adds to the immersion. Fans can only hope that other open-world games will carry forward Red Faction's legacy and allow players to enjoy better destruction mechanics in their open world.
7 SnowRunner
Players Must Become Familiar With The Vehicle Physics
SnowRunner
- Released
- April 28, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Driving, Simulation
SnowRunner's vehicle physics are something players must master if they want to nail deliveries without getting stuck. Deciding the best "loadout" for every mission is a must if players don't want to fight against the game's engaging physics systems.
It can take a while to master, but players fascinated with operating trucks and other heavy vehicles will get a kick out of playing SnowRunner in no time. Eventually, deliveries that seemed impossible can be done with ease, showing how much players have grown since they initially started.
6 Outer Wilds
The Simulation Of Gravitational Physics Is Done Impeccably
Outer Wilds
- Released
- May 28, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Alcohol Reference
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
The act of exploring a small, intimate universe in Outer Wilds feels great courtesy of the simulated gravity that has been honed to a T. It's clear that a lot of work went into nailing the physics of landing and taking off from planets, which enhances the game's immersion.
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Travelling from one planet to another to gather information feels so seamless that most people won't even notice the impressive gravity mechanics on display here. It's just one of the many ways Outer Wilds surprises players with its quality, making it a masterful open-world puzzle game that more fans need to check out.
5 Grand Theft Auto 5
The Realistic Physics Elevates The Quality Of This Title Considerably
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Released
- September 17, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
Grand Theft Auto 5's physics engine is in a class of its own. The realistic movement depicted by everything from people to other objects in the game is genuinely impressive.
While this realism may go against the explosive gameplay of this title at times, that should take nothing away from how revolutionary it is. It's clear that Grand Theft Auto 6 is going to improve upon this physics system by leaps and bounds, letting players enjoy a masterpiece of technical design that will set the benchmark for years to come.
4 Arma 3
The Ballistics Physics Are One Of The Best Parts Of This Game
Arma 3
- Released
- September 12, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Tactical
There's a reason why the accurate military simulations of Arma 3 look so realistic that legit news outlets have been fooled by them. The tactical shooting gameplay feels awesome due to the ballistics physics, enhancing the game's immersion considerably.
Arma 3's impressive engine has helped its physics system stand out for players who got into this underrated title, with mods for this game attaining widespread popularity. The fact that PUBG originated from an Arma mod is proof enough of how malleable the engine is.
3 Red Dead Redemption 2
A Game That Prides Itself On Realism, With The Physics Engine Being No Exception
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Since Red Dead Redemption 2 boasted a mature story and an emphasis on realism, it's easy to see why everything has so much weight in this title. The simple act of moving Arthur feels very complicated as his weighty body shifts and shuffles around in a realistic way.
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It's just a taste of the game's impressive physics engine on display, showing the advancements Rockstar has made since Grand Theft Auto 5. Players will love exploring the world and engaging in meaty shootouts, with the environment reacting dynamically to their actions.
2 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
The Physics In This Game Are So Impressive That Many Developers Were Amazed By Nintendo's Efforts
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
The mind-boggling functionality of Ultrahand was so impressive that many long-time video game devs have expressed wonder at Nintendo's technical expertise. Making such an advanced physics engine work on the Switch would've been a tiresome affair, but Nintendo managed this somehow.
Players love how the physics in both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom can be used to take out opponents. Sending a growing snowball rolling down to attack enemies and using tactically-placed boulders and logs to ambush enemies never gets old.
1 Grand Theft Auto 4
Despite Being An Older Title, The Arcade-y Physics System Is Arguably More Entertaining
Grand Theft Auto 4
- Released
- April 29, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
While Grand Theft Auto 4's physics system lacks the technical superiority of its successors, there's a reason why players still prefer the mechanics of this title in gameplay. Everything from combat to movement feels decidedly more arcade-y than its sequel without losing its edge of realism.
This makes Grand Theft Auto 4's physics engine the best of both worlds. Watching NPCs flail around helplessly and seeing the hilarity that ensues more than makes up for the apparent lack of realism that most fans won't highlight in a series about causing as much chaos and destruction as possible.
Open World Games That Have No Combat
Favor the pacifist routes in your open-world games? There's no other way with these particular titles, as they have no combat mechanics.