Summary
- Just Cause 3 features explosive, mindless gameplay with no critical thinking required.
- Crackdown 2 offers a fun sandbox experience that prioritizes player enjoyment over complexity.
- A Short Hike is a charming open-world game that respects player time and focuses on simple exploration.
Open-world gaming has progressed by leaps and bounds throughout the years, with the latest gaming tech ensuring that fans can enjoy cathartic and action-packed combat in the bulk of these sandbox titles. This leads to moments where players can just switch off their brains and enjoy the spectacle occurring on-screen.
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Though uncommon, the ability to pilot planes in open-world action games can be just as thrilling as any ground-based action.
Such kinds of titles have their appeal, especially since some players find games with a multitude of intense mechanics to be a bit too overwhelming for them. Instead, the simplicity of blowing things up, wreaking havoc, or just exploring without a care in the world is enough to keep most players engaged for the long haul.
8 Just Cause 3
The Explosive Gameplay Makes For A Fun, Chaotic Time That Doesn't Require Too Much Critical Thinking
Just Cause 3
- Released
- November 30, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Third-Person Shooter
The Just Cause games have always been about letting players blow up everything in sight, with everything else being little more than an excuse for these rampages. Just Cause 3 is no exception, with its improved grappling hook and diverse array of weaponry ensuring that players will enjoy blowing things up in creative ways over and over again.
The story just gives players an excuse to go loco on a dictator's bases, blowing everything up in sight to liberate cities. The fact that citizens cheer players after they blow up multiple blocks and cause numerous casualties should make it clear that the action in this title is as mindless as it can come, unless players want to maximize the applications of the grappling hook.
7 Crackdown 2
The Sandbox Gives Players Endless Excuses To Wreak Havoc And Use Agent Powers To Great Effect
Crackdown 2
- Released
- July 5, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
Crackdown 2 is a fun sandbox title that players can explore if they don't want to engage with a story or gameplay that is too deep for its own good. Instead, the simple gameplay loop of commandeering vehicles, collecting orbs, and using Agent powers is more than enough to keep players satiated.
It's a shame that this gameplay didn't evolve in a sequel, but fans can still have a great time with what many people consider to be the best game in the series here. Crackdown 2 isn't too complicated and prioritizes player fun before everything else, which makes for a pleasant and relaxing experience.
6 A Short Hike
The Simple Gameplay Structure Involves Finding Golden Feathers And Reaching The Top Of A Mountain
A Short Hike
- Released
- April 5, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
One of the shortest and most charming open-world games that fans of the genre can check out, A Short Hike respects the player's time and lets them enjoy exploration in a simple sandbox. All the player must do is reach the top of a town to get cellphone reception.
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To accomplish this, players must find golden feathers that improve the protagonist's traversal abilities. Being able to glide and climb for a longer duration lets them literally reach new heights while interacting with a bunch of charming anthropomorphic NPCs along the way. For those looking to really switch off while playing an open-world game, this title is a must-play.
5 Saints Row 3
The Game Prioritizes Humor And Fun Over Everything Else
Saints Row: The Third
- Released
- November 15, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Saints Row 3 is when the series decided to go completely bonkers. All of a sudden, Playa could become the President of the United States if they played their cards right.
Over-the-top scenarios like these make it clear why players don't need to think too much in Saints Row 3. The set-pieces are chaotic, the sandbox is fun to mess around in, and the game's humor ensures that players will be left grinning from ear to ear after every play session.
4 Forza Horizon 5
Players Can Acquire The Best Cars In No Time And Obliterate Their Opposition In Style
Forza Horizon 5
- Released
- November 9, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone // In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
Forza Horizon 5's progression may be all over the place, but this can help casual players jump into the experience a little more easily. A lucky wheelspin can allow players to acquire extremely powerful cars that leave most opposing racers in the dust.
This means that players don't have to struggle or think too much in this simcade racing game, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. The racing gameplay still requires some fast reflexes and quick thinking, and all of this becomes automatic as players invest more time in playing.
3 Far Cry 5
The Open World Gives Players Endless Excuses To Go Postal On Cultists
Far Cry 5
- Released
- March 27, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
Far Cry 5 was a much-needed breath of fresh air in a series that had recycled its gameplay loop far too many times. The removal of radio towers and the focus on organic exploration meant that players didn't need to bring up the map every two seconds to figure out where they had to go.
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This was a game-changer, enhancing Far Cry 5's immersion as players explored unique locales and took on members of the Seed family after encroaching upon their territory numerous times. The action is cathartic and never gets so hard that players will be left feeling frustrated, allowing them to look like badasses as they wipe out numerous cultists without any problems.
2 Fallout 4
The Simplification Of The Game's RPG Elements Makes It Approachable And Less Brain-Intensive Than Previous Titles
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Bethesda made it a point to make Fallout 4 appeal to casual gamers. This was done by dumbing down the game's RPG mechanics and focusing on a trait system that made things more accessible.
The lack of challenge in this game, coupled with its magical exploration, ensured that players would always find themselves entertained without having to use their brainpower too much. Aside from changing equipment and unlocking traits, there aren't too many moments where players must genuinely think about what they want or need to do.
1 Grand Theft Auto 5
The Patented GTA Gameplay And Simple Story Ensure That Fans Don't Have To Use Too Much Brainpower
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
GTA has always been the poster child of mindless open-world chaos, and the fifth mainline entry is no exception. The personalities of every main character are easy to digest, and the story isn't so thought-provoking that players need to pay too much attention to it.
The bulk of the game's cutscenes just provide players with an excuse to engage in some amazing, action-packed set pieces. Rockstar doubled down on this approach in GTA Online, with players engaging in a bunch of memorable missions that don't require lengthy justifications.
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These games can be completed without players needing to stray from the main path too often.