Summary
- Caves of Qud offers complete freedom in its complex sci-fi world, with an intricate history and political system generated.
- 9th Dawn III boasts content similar to Skyrim with unique monsters, companions, and a card game called Fyued.
- Noita, inspired by Finnish mythology, is a dangerous open-world roguelike where experimenting is key to survival.
When considering open-world games, many immediately think of juggernaut series like Grand Theft Auto or The Elder Scrolls with their expansive maps. Among other popular games, these are notably three-dimensional and great for exploration, but open-world games that only focus on two dimensions tend to be overlooked, even if they are just as enjoyable and impressive.
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Players can uncover all kinds of secrets and surprises when investigating 2D worlds, thanks to the efforts of some ingenious and innovative designs crafted by developers. Here are some of the best 2D open-worlds for exploration, ranked based on a combination of the game’s overall popularity, quality, and just how fun their worlds are to explore.
8 Elona
A Roguelike With Endless Possibilities
- Platforms: Mobile, PC
- Released: 2007-08-31
- Developer: Noa
- Genre: Roguelike
Available for free, Elona is a complex roguelike that provides complete freedom for those who are patient enough to stick with it. Set in the fantasy world of Ylva, the game includes dozens of races to choose from, such as goblins and fairies, as well as countless playable classes depending on the version of the game.
Random quests are available for any adventurers looking to travel around the game world and slay monsters, but there are plenty of role-playing options available as well, such as becoming a successful merchant or part of the nobility. The original North Tyris map was already expansive enough and perfect for exploration, but new and diverse areas have been added to Elona over the years, filled with even more surprises.
7 9th Dawn 3: Shadow Of Erthil
Dungeon Crawler And Collectathon
9th Dawn III
- Released
- October 5, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash, RPG, Dungeon Crawler
Often drawing favorable comparisons with Skyrim, 9th Dawn 3: Shadow of Erthil is packed to the brim with content. There are hundreds of unique monsters to battle in the varying regions of the map, and over 1400 items to potentially equip for the adventure, with options for those who wish to be melee brawlers, stealthy archers, or incredibly powerful mages.
Monsters can even be recruited to the player’s party to fight alongside them during their journey, as can other recruitable companions. When not out investigating the mysterious and evil forces that threaten the lands, there is also a collectible card game, known as Fyued, to enjoy playing with friendly NPCs around the world.
6 Noita
Every Pixel Is Important In This Roguelike
Noita
- Released
- October 15, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Roguelike
The procedurally generated and potentially infinite world is free for players to explore, if they are able to survive long enough in Noita. Taking heaps of inspiration from Finnish mythology, everything in the game is trying to kill the titular witch, whether it’s the aggressive monsters dwelling in the lands around the Holy Mountains or environmental damage.
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Since every pixel is fully simulated, there are plenty of opportunities to experiment within the game, especially when trying to create alchemical formulas or using the environment to damage enemies. Being a roguelike, death is inevitable, but each run teaches something new, and players are reborn with a whole new world to explore from scratch.
5 Caves Of Qud
Sci-Fi Setting Inspired By Dungeons & Dragons
Caves Of Qud
- Released
- July 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, RPG
Set in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world, Caves of Qud includes a pre-made map with various possible starting locations, accompanied by an extended randomly generated land beyond. The world is pre-loaded with a complex history and intricate political systems that differ in each playthrough and affect how the game proceeds.
Unlike other roguelikes, Caves of Qud features some pre-written quests to complete, as well as more procedurally generated quests for players to enjoy, though they are free to ignore these and play as they wish. There are tons of cybernetic enhancements and mutations to play around with, and those with psionic abilities can even choose to inhabit the world's creatures and roam from their perspective.
4 The Legend Of Zelda
Link’s First Adventure In Hyrule
The Legend of Zelda
- Released
- February 21, 1986
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
To the surprise of many modern players, NES classic and series debut The Legend of Zelda is not linear like some later entries and is set in an open Hyrule. With only a few exceptions, the entire game world can be traversed from the get-go, and those who enjoy a real challenge can even try to complete the game without ever collecting the sword.
Unlike Breath of the Wild, where Link can face the final boss immediately, this game requires collecting eight pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom before entering the final dungeon. Hyrule is still impressive and enjoyable to traverse four decades since The Legend of Zelda's initial release, especially given the hardware limitations compared to modern consoles.
3 Terraria
A Large Randomly Generated World Full Of Adventure
Terraria
- Released
- May 16, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Newly generated worlds in Terraria consist of millions of blocks, no matter what the chosen size of the map is. Over a decade old, Terraria continues to attract new players thanks to the total freedom offered in its gameplay, with the chance to fish, craft, build, and battle monsters, among myriad other possibilities in its vast pixelated worlds.
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The large game world is full of secrets, including some tough boss battles and NPCs who offer to trade useful gear. Since launch, it has been constantly updated with new features, and the sandbox-style gameplay provides limitless potential, whether enjoying Terraria alone or with friends in multiplayer.
2 Octopath Traveler 2
See The World As Eight Different Characters
Octopath Traveler 2
- Released
- February 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated T for Teen for Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, and Use of Alcohol and Tobacco.
- Genre(s)
- RPG
One of Acquire Corp.’s best games, Octopath Traveler 2 utilizes Square Enix’s trademark HD-2D graphics to create a really striking visual spectacle. Despite being a sequel, the world and characters are different from its predecessor. Set in the diverse land of Solistia, each of the playable characters has their own reason for traveling the world and can carry out different actions depending on the time of day.
The day-night cycle also means that the world changes constantly, ensuring that players should always return to areas for new experiences. This game also introduces the option of boarding boats, from small canoes to large seafaring vessels, so that new areas can be reached.
1 Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake
Relive A Classic With Modernized Graphics
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
- Released
- November 14, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Also bearing the HD-2D art style, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake brings the classic game to modern hardware. As the son of the great hero Ortega, players embark on a journey to eliminate the evil King Baramos, assembling a party of companions along the way, each with their own unique skills and talents.
On their journey, players can explore the vibrant towns, castles, and dungeons, each filled with plenty of secrets waiting to be discovered. Just as with Octopath Traveler, the HD-2D graphics really catch the eye with 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds, making the world of Dragon Quest 3 look better than ever. Quality of life improvements like autosave functionality and dungeon maps make it much more approachable than the original.
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