Summary
- Open-world games must balance exploration with other gameplay pillars to engage players.
- Starfield and Death Stranding offer unique and rewarding exploration experiences.
- Kenshi and Outer Wilds provide depth and challenge in exploration-centric gameplay.
Open-world games need to ensure that their sandboxes are always fun to explore, encouraging players to check out undiscovered nooks and crannies to find something special. That being said, exploration is just one solitary gameplay pillar in most open-world games, with other facets of their gameplay taking over from time to time.
7 Open-World Games With More Than One Explorable Map
These open-world games feature not just one, but multiple separate maps for players to freely explore.
However, there are some open-world games that do a great job of letting players feel like genuine explorers. Uncovering unique locations and enjoying gameplay that rewards players for exploring is a huge part of what makes these games so special.
Starfield
Exploring New Planets Is A Huge Part Of The Gameplay Loop
Starfield
- Released
- September 6, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Starfield can feel a bit dated at times, with the overabundance of loading screens and procedurally generated planets taking away from the game's enjoyment. However, players who look past these issues will love what Starfield brings to the table.
Bethesda's spacefaring adventure allows for moments of fun exploration, as long as players ignore the meaningless planets with uninteresting locations. Once players understand that the environments are handcrafted, they'll love roleplaying as a space explorer in Starfield.
No Man's Sky
Flying In Space And Heading To Different Planets Feels Great
No Man's Sky
- Released
- August 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
No Man's Sky turned its reputation around to become one of the better space exploration games that players can check out. The title is loaded with so much content that players can easily spend hundreds of hours exploring.
Reaching the center of the universe is just the start of a player's adventure. They can explore a ton of planets in this gargantuan game and have a great time in one of the most feature-rich open-world sci-fi games they can get their hands on.
Death Stranding
Players Explore A Post-Apocalyptic World That Is Surprisingly Peaceful
Death Stranding
- Released
- November 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action
A game that split fans down the middle when it released, more and more people eventually came to appreciate Death Stranding's brilliance. Instead of focusing on a tried-and-tested gameplay loop, Death Stranding tried to be weird and ended up standing out quite a bit as a result.
8 Best Open-World Games Where Exploring Freely Is More Rewarding Than The Main Story
These open-world games do offer a main story campaign to complete, but their settings are so immersive that exploration almost always takes priority.
Sam Porter Bridges must deliver packages across a ravaged United States, escaping deadly BTs and trying to deal with cargo thieves along the way. The act of movement is the biggest part of the gameplay loop and will keep fans engaged as they explore this hauntingly beautiful world and uncover its many secrets.
Kenshi
Exploration Is Just One Of The Many Things That Can Occupy Players In This Game
Kenshi
- Released
- December 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- nr
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Open-World, Survival
Kenshi is one of the most underrated open-world games on the market. Unlike most other games in the genre, players don't have a pre-determined goal or a detailed questline to follow.
Instead, their background decides where they start, following which they'll struggle to survive in a world that will chew them up and spit them out in a flash. Once players improve their skills and amass a decently powerful squad, they'll love exploring the game's desolate wasteland and uncovering the many secrets it has to offer.
Sunless Skies
Being A Skyfaring Explorer Is Both Exciting And Eerie
Sunless Skies
- Released
- January 31, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Blood, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
Exploration is the name of the game in Sunless Skies. While players can choose one of many different goals to focus on in any run, they'll have to explore multiple locations to achieve what they've set their mind to.
This is the meat and bones of the title, and it feels great, with the game's eerie horror vibes making the simple act of moving from point A to point B deeply unnerving. Thankfully, as long as players have low Terror and decent weapons, they should be able to explore the tougher locations in the game without feeling overwhelmed.
Outer Wilds
Knowledge Is The Currency That Drives This Game's Progress, And It Is Acquired Through Exploration
Outer Wilds
- Released
- May 28, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Alcohol Reference
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Players who want to check out one of the most compelling open-world games ever made will love what Outer Wilds brings to the table. Once they get used to flying around and landing on different planets, collecting information will feel quite natural.
9 Best Sci-Fi Open-World Games
Open-world sci-fi games can be difficult to get right due to just how vast they can be, but these games manage to nail it.
This is why Outer Wilds struck such a major chord with players; they loved how effortless yet engrossing the simple act of exploration was. Uncovering the secrets of the world and making slow yet meaningful progress ensures that Outer Wilds will leave a lasting impression on players, especially after a certain moment when everything clicks.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
The Dragonborn Can Become A Seasoned Explorer In No Time
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
Bethesda struck gold with Skyrim. The game lets players mold the Dragonborn into whatever image they wish before taking their sweet time ignoring the main story and getting lost in the simple act of exploration.
The memorable locations in Skyrim will never cease to be jaw-dropping, especially if players use mods to enhance the game's visual fidelity. The massive world is full of so many things to uncover that players can get lost for hours on end as the magic of exploration grabs hold of them.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
The Zen, Rewarding Exploration Is One Of The Game's Biggest Strengths
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
Tears of the Kingdom is one of the greatest open-world games of all time, serving as a natural and excellent evolution from Breath of the Wild. If players loved the exploration in the Nintendo Switch's launch title, then Tears of the Kingdom will be even better in this regard.
Aside from the overworld in the first game, which is changed up just enough to feel unique, players can now explore the Sky Islands. If the scope of these floating locations isn't impressive enough, then jumping into the Depths will make it clear just how much untouched real estate there is to discover in this amazing title.
8 Best Open-World Games With Dynamic Worlds
These open-world games impress with their dynamic worlds, providing players with immersive places that live and breathe without them.