Video games serve many purposes, but for many people, they act as a way of feeling free from the real world. This freedom can come from the combat, exploration, or the creative tools afforded to the player within the game, allowing them to see and do whatever they please.
8 Open-World Games With More Freedom Than GTA 5
GTA 5 is an important open-world game, but it has been surpassed in several areas, particularly in how much freedom the player has.
It is always nice knowing that the game doesn't enforce any major limits on the player, and they are instead restricted only by their imagination and will to experience more of the world. It doesn't matter if players are gliding across an endless galaxy or creating a whole new environment from scratch; the lack of barriers ensures the gameplay feels constantly engaging, without ever restricting what is possible.
8 Kenshi
Choose The Path That Suits You Best
Details:
- Progression that follows whatever path the player takes
- More strategic gameplay that requires planning over speed
Kenshi drops players into a hostile world with virtually no guidance, forcing them to carve out their own path both geographically and socially. The game places a heavy emphasis on player choice, as they can decide to become thieves or traders, or basically any other archetype they can imagine, allowing them to play in a way that suits them.
This open-ended structure allows for a near limitless level of self-expression, as, rather than needing to fit into a few set boxes, players can instead become whoever they desire. Also, there's a lot of freedom in terms of the actual gameplay, where players can turn small bases into sprawling cities, being limited only by some resources and their own will to conquer the world.
7 Minecraft
The Original Blocky Sandbox
Details:
- Near infinite worlds to explore and build within
- Thousands of community mods that add even more content
Minecraft has long been one of the best, if not the best, sandbox games out there. From the moment they load in, players are given all the freedom to explore, build, craft, and fight whatever and however they choose to, and even if they don't fancy making it through the night in survival, they can always hop into creative and build basically anything their mind can think of.
7 Best Free-To-Play Sandbox Games
Sandbox games have beocme popular in the last few years, and there are some great free offerings.
The modding support adds even more content for players to enjoy, ranging from small tweaks to in-game systems to dozens of additional dimensions, each full of new mobs and areas to discover. The variety is absurd, and without any big blockades or barriers in their way, players can quite easily spend 100s of hours on a single world, without ever running out of things to do.
6 No Man's Sky
Making Open-world Games Look Small
Details:
- Universe-sized map that can be explored freely
- Every planet is full of things to do and see, from wildlife to gigantic storms
No Man's Sky takes the concept of an open-world game and blows away any expectations for what the genre can be. Rather than a single planet, players can explore an entire universe brimming with life and planets to explore. One minute, they can be running around on foot harvesting materials, and the next, blasting off into space without any cutscenes or loading screens in between.
This seamless transition allows the exploration to feel so enjoyable, and the fact that players can go basically anywhere they can see makes the experience feel truly one of a kind. Even if players could only fly around and enjoy sights, the game would already feel incredibly liberating, but they are able to land and explore any planet they choose, giving them several lifetimes' worth of environments to see all within a single game.
5 Baldur's Gate 3
A Lifetime Of Choices To Make
Details:
- Cinematic turn-based RPG
- So many different options that can vary playthroughs immensely
Baldur's Gate 3 brings RPG choice to a whole new level, thrusting players into an immersive fantasy world where any action can have severe consequences down the line. Right from the get-go, players are able to do basically anything they can imagine, talking to characters or even choosing to kill them, but nothing is ever an isolated event, as even small interactions can have a knock-on effect that only becomes apparent much later into the game.
Free Open-World Games With The Best Exploration
These free open-world games offer vast and beautiful open worlds, great exploration, loads of content; there's almost no catch.
Thanks to the DnD foundations, players can play through the game in whatever manner they decide is the most enjoyable, whether that be going full genocidal or taking things slower with a more diplomatic route. There are no right or wrong answers, only diverging paths that run alongside one another, which adds a true sense of meaning to every single decision.
4 Garry's Mod
From Minigames To Entirely New Worlds
Details:
- Foundations to build basically anything, whether a single map or an actual game
- Extensive community support to give players plenty of assets to use and share
Garry's Mod has always been a staple for players looking to express their creative skills, and over the years, things have only gotten crazier. Players have the basic tools to build out structures and create basic mechanics, but there is so much additional depth to the game that has allowed for small projects to become hugely popular.
Thanks to the support from the community, modes like Prop Hunt and Trouble In Terrorist Town have become staples in the gaming world, but despite the game's age, the community still hasn't slowed down. With so many possibilities, the only limitation is on how ambitious and dedicated the player really is, as one object can quickly grow into a whole game within a game.
3 Factorio
Limitless Production Potential
Details:
- Automation sandbox that can grow as far and wide as the player decides
- Emphasis on planning and efficiency from the moment the game begins
Factorio challenges players to construct industrial networks that can grow into sprawling automated megastructures if they have the will and desire to get there. Every component, from conveyor belts to nuclear power, can be optimized, redesigned, or expanded endlessly, allowing small factories to expand outwards as far as the world does.
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The lack of structural restrictions allows factories to scale infinitely over time. It doesn't matter if players are focused on designing intricate circuits or planet-wide supply chains; they are the only thing that dictates the scale of their projects.
2 Star Citizen
Simulating The Entire Galactic Experience
Details:
- Gigantic galaxy to explore with so much content to explore
- Player-driven interactions encourage roleplay throughout
Star Citizen turns space exploration into a living, breathing experience that encompasses everything from planetary exploration to economy management. Every playstyle has a place in the world, and players can really choose to chart a journey that suits them, which can involve engaging in combat with other players or aiding others in cooperative missions.
The game’s open structure allows players to engage with the galaxy and the people within it at a rate that fits them. There's never a push down one route or another, and instead, they are able to explore, fight, trade, and more in what is easily one of the best space simulators that has ever existed.
1 Dreams
Making Anything You Can Imagine
Details:
- A creation engine for games, music, art, and more
- Projects can be as small or large as the player's ambition
Dreams functions as a full-scale creative suite disguised as a game. Its tools allow players to build interactive worlds or compose music pieces in a way that feels accessible and intuitive rather than restrictive. There is, of course, a learning curve, but once players have a grasp of the logic systems and the creative aspects of the game, they can make virtually anything they could ever imagine.
Simple mini-games that mimic popular titles, cinematic productions that look like blockbuster movies, and AAA-calibre video games are just some of the things that are possible within Dreams. And, because players can share their ideas with each other, they can experience the talents of the community and share ideas, which makes each project feel like a collaborative effort driven solely by the players.
Big Upcoming Games All About Player Creativity
We can’t wait to get weird and share some unique content with these upcoming immersive games that really prioritize player creativity.