Summary
- Fun traversal mechanics, like swinging in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, keep open-world games engaging.
- Side quests in games like Red Dead Redemption 2 should be diverse distractions, not mere tasks.
- Open-world games benefit from boundaries and meaningful progression, seen in titles like Gothic and Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
Open-world games continue to dominate the industry, drawing players in for hundreds of hours and prompting major publishers to invest heavily in studios that specialize in them. Despite their long-standing popularity, there is also growing fatigue among gamers when it comes to exploring yet another sprawling map.
8 Best Open-World Games To Just Explore, Ranked
Open-world games are known for their exploration, and these titles shine the brightest in this area.
This weariness often stems from market saturation, but every so often, a standout title reignites the community's excitement. These gems point to a core truth about the open-world game: while the genre is vast with wide room for experimentation, certain game mechanics are essential to making an open-world experience feel fresh, immersive, and worth the time investment.
8 Fun Traversal - Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Travel Should Be Fun, Not A Chore
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
One of the fastest ways for an open-world game to feel stale is by making players trudge across miles of terrain with little to no excitement. While walking or sprinting might make sense early on as they get to know the environment, especially for games with massive maps, it can become a drag by the mid or late game if the game doesn’t offer more engaging ways to get from A to B.
Fast travel is one way to do it, but a loading screen isn't exactly the most compelling gameplay. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a textbook example: swinging through New York City never gets old, and it’s so fluid and fun that many players happily ignore fast travel altogether. Other games have followed suit with gliders, mounts, jetpacks, wall-running, and other supercharged traversal mechanics that double as toys, not just tools.
7 Side Quests With Gameplay Variety - Red Dead Redemption 2
Distractions Are The Main Event
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
The fantasy that drives the appeal of an open world is that there might be something interesting off the beaten path. Side quests shouldn't just be homework for the main gameplay loop. They should be distractions and temptations that give players the impression that there is a living world of possibility apart from them, always out there on the periphery waiting to be discovered; something that Red Dead Redemption 2 excels at.
6 Most Relaxing Side Activities In Open-World Games
When players get worn out by the intensity of an open-world story campaign, these relaxing side activities are there to give them a break.
One moment, Arthur might be hunting legendary animals, the next he's helping a stranger with a bizarre personal problem, or fishing in the quiet of a foggy morning. Each layer (minigame, crafting, or lore-delving) should harmonize with the main gameplay loop. Great side-quests should be enticing enough to create a push-pull tension with the side shows, compelling players to keep pushing forward.
6 Inticing Boundaries And Constraining Consequences - Gothic
Defying Barriers And Overcoming Limitations Can Be A Strong Motivator
Gothic
- Released
- November 23, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- RPG
A truly open world doesn’t have to give players free rein right from the start. In fact, the best often use subtle boundaries to guide exploration without making the player feel boxed in. These barriers don’t necessarily have to be invisible walls, but instead natural deterrents like enemies or impossible (for now) terrain that make players curious, not frustrated. The cult classic Gothic handled this masterfully. Step too far into a dangerous area too soon, and the player is likely to get torn apart by monsters.
But that isn't a punishment, but a signal to future greatness. It encouraged players to grow stronger, gain experience, and eventually come back ready to take on the challenge, creating a continuous loop of tension, resistance, and a satisfying payoff. Constraining the player from being able to see all content in one run might also sound counterintuitive to the goal of fun and freedom. However, the exclusivity of in-game factions can serve as meaningful consequences to quest choices or group memberships, as Gothic also demonstrates.
5 An Enticing Plot (With Built-In Excuses To Ignore It) - Morrowind
Letting The Player Set Their Own Pace
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- Released
- May 1, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
A gripping main story can elevate any game, but in open-world design, pacing is everything. Players need the freedom to explore, wander, and get sidetracked without feeling like they're betraying the narrative. Morrowind delivers a masterclass in good open-world narrative design. The game sets up its mysterious main quest, points the player in a general direction, and then lets go. The player is encouraged to explore the world, build their character, and engage with factions before returning to the main story when they feel ready to engage with further intrigue.
10 Best Open-World Games With Realistic Ways To Fast Travel
These open-world games don't just impress with their incredible stories and gameplay, but their dedication to realism when it comes to fast travel.
There’s no sense of urgency unless the player chooses to create it, and that makes the eventual plot payoff (with all its epic high stakes left for the end) feel personal, not forced. When open-world stories let players control the tempo, it becomes a journey on their own terms. In Morrowind, that freedom to drift and return at will is exactly what makes the world so immersive and compelling.
4 Player-Driven Creativity And Customization - Minecraft
From Snapping A Selfie To Reshaping The World
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
Not every open-world game needs to be a full-blown survival sandbox, but the best ones give players room to express themselves, whether it’s through custom outfits, building mechanics, or even just capturing moments in photo mode. With its promise of allowing players to reshape the world with creativity, Minecraft has been one of the most influential games in the last two decades for good reason.
Minecraft's open-ended sandbox allows players to shape the world block by block, building everything from simple huts to functioning flying machines. But even simpler forms of customization, such as changing a character’s look with a hat or decorating a hideout, help players feel connected to the world.
3 Impactful Progression And Transformation - Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Growth That Feels Earned, Not Handed Over
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
- Released
- February 13, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Delivering meaningful progression is hardly an exclusive requirement for open-world games, but without it, the long journey offered by their vast landscapes can feel hollow. Kingdom Come: Deliverance starts the player as a barely competent peasant and slowly shapes them into a capable knight through practice, not handouts or hand-holding. Getting progression right is a delicate balance; too much and rewards feel empty, too little and players will feel the urge to quit.
Many players use achievements as souvenirs to remind them of their time in an open world, but achievements can be represented in-game, too. While simple stat increases may appeal to some, most players crave meaningful changes that reflect their journey, whether perks, loot, or even negative traits like flaws or visible scars.
2 Meaningful Interactivity And Reactivity - Skyrim
From Cultivating Heroic Renown To Plucking Flowers From The Ground
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
Open-world games don't necessarily need to include NPCs, but if they do, most players feel that their interactions should leave an impression. Being remembered is important to most people in real life, and the same goes for character in an open world.
Just as important is active interactivity. While being able to catch butterflies and sit at tables may sound trivial compared to slaying dragons or flying at Mach 3 on wingsuits, these small details help make the world real and lived-in. Both NPC reactivity and world interactivity are features that Skyrim excels at, especially the latter.
1 Organic Secrets And Hidden Content - Elden Ring
Forgoing The Checklists And Quest Markers
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Throwing players a massive to-do list in an equally massive open world might ensure that players (achievement hunters especially) will get a long playtime out of an open-world game and eliminate the potential problem of players getting lost and frustrated, but doing so works against the spirit of the genre. Elden Ring's masterfully designed map and minimal hand-holding prove that organic exploration works best.
When players are told there is a secret nearby via markers (be it treasure or long-forgotten lore), that content is no longer a secret. As anxious as game makers may be to have players find all their hard work, the mark of a truly great open world game is its confidence to keep its juicy secrets hidden for worthy explorers, as Elden Ring does with its illusory walls, hidden questlines, unmarked dungeons, and obscure NPC paths tucked deep in the folds of its world.
10 Best Games That Redefined What It Means to Be Open-World
These games revolutionized the very concept of open-world games for the better.