Best Open-World Games With Enigmatic Worlds

Open-world games can be so vast that they're often constantly vying for the player's attention, holding their hand or directing them through the game to make sure they see each and every set-piece. This is fine — it works for many games — but there's something to be said about those that choose mystery and misdirection over constant hand-holding.

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By  Harry Ted Sprinks

Some games — like Tunic, Hollow Knight, and Rain World — succeed with their enigmatic worlds. Mystery, vague narrative, and general lack of direction can cultivate player curiosity, something that allows these games to evoke a sense of discovery in their players. Many open-world games also take this approach with the design of their worlds, immersing players in mysterious atmospheres.

8 The Long Dark

An Eerily Quiet & At-Times Unsettling World

Challenging, hardcore survival gameplay is certainly a cornerstone of The Long Dark's design. However, this gameplay is interspersed with moments of true, tranquil quiet, and meaningful exploration through the game's open wilderness.

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The Long Dark is a decidedly lonely game, tasking players with scouring its world for resources while taking long, arduous journeys across hostile terrain. The variety of dangerous locations and the environmental storytelling in and around each of them offers a sense of melancholic mystery. The game's classic survival mode features no narrative, but there's something deeply mysterious and somewhat unsettling about its world.

7 Kenshi

An Utterly Strange And Hostile World

Kenshi is an open-world sandbox that champions player agency at every turn, tasking players with finding their own way in its enigmatic wasteland. The world of Kenshi isn't immediately mysterious, but it's so utterly strange that players are likely to be driven through the various environments by sheer curiosity.

The rules of the wasteland and the societies of its struggling factions make up for most of Kenshi's sense of mystery. In fact, learning what it takes to survive in the game's strange lands makes up for most of the early stages of the game.

6 Dredge

Atmospheric Exploration With Classic Lovecraftian Spooks

Simple controls and intuitive gameplay allow Dredge's small open-world environments to shine, with the game focusing its efforts on quiet exploration and minimalist design. The game's quiet, tranquil world is populated by enigmatic characters and a Lovecraftian horror mystery, offering a truly spooky and often immersive atmosphere.

The gameplay of Dredge is tremendously simple and easy-to-learn, revolving entirely around exploration, fishing mini-games, and inventory management. However, the superbly minimalist visuals and well-crafted, unsettling atmosphere ensure it's a worthwhile experience.

5 STALKER: Shadow Of Chernobyl

A Dangerous Interconnected World With Supernatural Elements

STALKER: Shadow Of Chernobyl is a wonderfully unique game. Survival mechanics, deadly gunfights, and a focus on hardcore exploration combine with a distinctive and truly mysterious atmosphere to immerse players in its unique, gritty world.

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Much of STALKER's mystery comes from its unique setting, the "Zone," populated by strange anomalies and mutated creatures. Wandering mobs and unpredictable NPCs also factor into the game's enigmatic nature, making exploration a thrilling experience driven by player curiosity.

4 Caves Of Qud

A Retro-Futuristic World That Blends Hand-Crafted & Procedural Content

Caves Of Qud is an open-world roguelike RPG with optional permanent-death. The turn-based combat and emphasis on careful strategy and resource management will be familiar to many roguelike fans, but its science-fantasy world is an utterly unique place to explore.

Taking place in a post-apocalyptic, retro-futuristic world, Caves Of Qud constantly evokes a sense of mystery and curiosity with its strange characters and locations. The combination of hand-crafted and procedural content ensures even experienced players are likely to come across the unknown. However, it's the truly alien look and feel of the world and its inhabitants that give the game such a mysterious atmosphere.

3 Outer Wilds

An Accessibly Enigmatic Journey Through Space & Time

Outer Wilds drops players in at the deep end, almost immediately throwing them out into the open space of its small solar system. Outer Wilds is all about discovery, chasing curiosity. This is facilitated by the game's winning sense of atmosphere, providing a mysterious tone via its creative design, sound effects, music, and visuals.

What's more, Outer Wilds features little in the way of hand-holding. Thankfully, it manages to do this without becoming inaccessible, as the gameplay itself is tremendously intuitive and lacks complex mechanics. This allows exploration and discovery to drive the player forward, supported by the enigmatic atmosphere and quirky characters.

2 Elden Ring

FromSoftware's Patented Blend Of Mystery And Discovery

Elden Ring

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RPG

Action

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10 /10

Released

February 25, 2022

Developer(s)

From Software

Publisher(s)

Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software

Platform(s)

PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X

Genre(s)

RPG, Action

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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FromSoftware is known for its enigmatic characters and locations, with games such as those in the Dark Souls series being particularly mysterious. Elden Ring is no different, with its strange and layered world, packed with imaginative characters, creatures, and locations.

The sense of discovery brought about by the game's many secrets and optional content is certainly part of its enigma. However, the game's lack of hand-holding and general sense of freedom also works in tandem with the interconnected design of the world and its mysterious feel, delivering an experience that demands investment from players to seek out and understand its mysteries.

1 Death Stranding

Journeying Across A Strange And Hostile Wilderness

Though its environments are mostly composed of familiar wilderness, Death Stranding's world is a consistently mysterious and frequently eerie place to explore. The long, at-times tranquil journeys that make up most of Death Stranding's gameplay are made engaging through the game's complex traversal systems, overwhelming sense of mystery, and the intentional withholding of information.

The bizarre creatures, unfamiliar technology, and the enigmatic characters that lead its slow-burning narrative ultimately result in a mysterious and at-times baffling experience. There's no doubt that Death Stranding takes patience, but certain players are likely to be drawn in by its allure.