It's understandable why some people are tired of most modern open-world games now. Many AAA sandbox titles follow a template that is hard to ignore and makes it all the more challenging to justify day one purchases of an open-world game when they all merge and feel very hollow.
8 Most Complex Open World Games, Ranked
These are some of the most complicated open-world titles to play.
This is why open-world games that strive to do something unique should always be lauded by the masses. The risks these games take should be appreciated, giving fans of the genre something different to sink their teeth into.
Death Stranding
The Unique Focus On Traversal And Deliveries That Is Only Seen In The Sequel
Death Stranding
- Released
- November 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action
Death Stranding is a great open-world game, but this isn't apparent at launch. Fans (and critics) who expected the MGS gameplay under a different IP were taken aback by the oddities of this game and its focus on deliveries as opposed to pulse-pounding action.
This alienated many people at launch, only for Death Stranding to slowly become an underappreciated gem that fans appreciated for its unique approach to an open-world game. Fans who appreciated this title's focus on avoiding encounters and delivering packages were saddened by the greater focus on action in Death Stranding 2, even though it's a great sequel in many ways.
Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor
The Nemesis System Should've Never Been Copyrighted
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
- Released
- September 30, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
With the closure of Monolith Productions, the decision to patent the Nemesis System feels more frustrating than ever. Shadow of Mordor may have felt like a classic open-world game in many ways, but the Nemesis System is what helped it stand out and made for some organic encounters against other high-ranking orcs.
Subjugating these foes by targeting their weaknesses and helping them come out victorious against other orcs made for a great time. Aside from Shadow of War, the Nemesis System has been absent in the realm of video games, robbing players of the chance to enjoy more action-packed titles with this system.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
The New Powers Enhance The Unique Formula Enhanced By Breath Of The Wild
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
Breath of the Wild was already a unique open-world game, letting players climb anything inside and manipulate the game's tools in creative ways. Tears of the Kingdom takes this approach to new heights, with new abilities that players can experiment with.
10 Best Open-World Sequel Games, Ranked
These open-world games have refined and built upon their predecessors, cementing themselves as remarkable sequels that everyone should play.
Ultrahand may be familiar to fans of Garry's Mod, but stuff like Fuse, Recall, and Ascend feel fairly unique and do a great job of giving players a ton of tools to mess around with in the open world. It's easy to see why this game was delayed so many times, since Nintendo wanted the complex gameplay elements to be flawless before shipping.
Gothic
The Immersive And Natural Way Players Become More Competent In The Game Needs To Become The Norm
Gothic
- Released
- November 23, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Gothic can be unbearably hard at first, with a simple group of Scavengers being able to peck the Nameless Hero to death. Players must use hit-and-run tactics against the weakest enemy before they reach a camp, which is when things truly open up.
Unlike other games that let players automatically level up or give them skill points to use, the Nameless Hero must find trainers and experts after gathering enough experience to either improve their stats or learn new combat moves. The difference in the protagonist's combat aptitude is palpable, and the closest comparison one can make is Kingdom Come: Deliverance, although even this great RPG doesn't reach the same immersive heights that Gothic does with its experience investments.
Driver: San Francisco
It's A Crime That The Shift Mechanic Has Only Been Used By A Single Racing Game
Driver: San Francisco
- Released
- August 30, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
The racing game genre is in dire need of a revolution, which is why it's so puzzling that no other game has tried to replicate the Shift mechanic from Driver: San Francisco. It's such a simple and easy way to make the driving set-pieces more action-packed than ever.
Being able to Shift into other vehicles and commandeer them ensures that the game's driving feels more satisfying and action-packed than ever. It enhances the gameplay of Driver: San Francisco considerably, and fans can only hope that future racing games adopt this mechanic to great effect.
Dragon's Dogma
Climbing Any Large Enemy And Wailing On It Feels Great
Dragon's Dogma
- Released
- May 22, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Dragon's Dogma is one of the most action-packed Capcom titles fans can get their hands on, which says something given the developer's stellar track record. Experimenting with different Vocations to smash enemies in the game's small yet engaging open world is a blast.
The Biggest Open World Games, Based On The Size Of Their Maps
Open-world games are beloved for their massive maps. Here are some of the biggest open worlds that gamers can explore in the genre.
Fights against the many large enemies that tower over the player are an obvious highlight. The best part is that players can grab onto any enemy and wail on them with their weapon, which is a simple yet great way to enhance the title's action. It's puzzling that other action games don't lean into this concept, since it would easily make battles more dynamic than ever.
Project Zomboid
One Of The Most Hardcore And Rewarding Survival Games Out There
Project Zomboid
- Released
- November 8, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Even in the realm of survival games, Project Zomboid is in a class of its own when it comes to immersion and difficulty. Players must struggle to survive in a hostile zombie-infested landscape where they level up skills like The Sims.
However, while The Sims abandoned its open-world approach, Project Zomboid revels in it and integrates such hardcore survival mechanics that players will think twice before breaking a glass window to enter an abandoned building. All these mechanics combine to make Project Zomboid feel more unique and refreshing than most other open-world games on the market, highlighting the importance of indie gaming once again.
Watch Dogs: Legion
Turning Every Character Into A Possible Protagonist Is A Novel Concept
Watch Dogs Legion
- Released
- October 29, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
On almost every front, Watch Dogs: Legion embodies the Ubisoft approach to open-world games. However, one area where it shows a ton of innovation is the mechanic where every NPC can be picked up from the street and turned into a playable character.
Players complete a recruitment mission for a character and can employ them as a DedSec agent. It's highly innovative (even if the execution could've been better), and it's a shame that this innovative approach is absent in later open-world Ubisoft games.
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