Summary
- Mastering combat is crucial in open-world games like Horizon Forbidden West.
- Caves of Qud demands players learn from deaths to progress and face tougher challenges.
- Ghost of Tsushima requires players to level up skills and switch stances to handle multiple enemy types.
Players love games that test their skills, letting them get engrossed in a combat-heavy loop that takes a while to master. Many popular open-world games feature such cutthroat action where a single mistake can have dire consequences for the player.
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These open-world games do offer a main story campaign to complete, but their settings are so immersive that exploration almost always takes priority.
If players want to enjoy the act of exploring these sandboxes, then it's imperative to get good at these open-world combat systems. Floundering in combat over and over again will lead to players becoming frustrated, eventually, so it's important that they learn from their mistakes and focus on improving their weaknesses.
8 Horizon Forbidden West
Without Fast Reflexes And Proper Weapon Use, The Machines Will Trample Aloy
Horizon Forbidden West
- Released
- February 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Just like Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West ensures that players will be punished if they fail to dodge the well-telegraphed attacks and powerful moves of the game's many robotic enemies. These hostile machines are no joke and will crush Aloy in no time if she isn't careful.
This is why it becomes crucial for the player to master her moveset and determine the most effective ways to tackle each foe in the game. This ensures that players won't constantly find themselves on the losing side of battles against these massive behemoths.
7 Caves Of Qud
A Roguelike Open-World Game With A Steep Learning Curve
Caves Of Qud
- Released
- July 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, RPG
A tough roguelike open-world game that takes no prisoners, players must be ready to die numerous times when playing Caves of Qud. The game is unforgiving to beginners and will demand their complete attention as they learn from their many deaths.
Eventually, players will figure out how to tackle the early game challenges as one of the two starting races and eventually start allying themselves with factions. This will give players the cushion they need to become stronger and deal with tougher threats in a world that will chew them up and spit them out if they aren't careful.
6 Ghost Of Tsushima
Dealing With Multiple Enemy Types Requires Leveling Up Skills, Switching Stances, And Using Tools
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most beautiful open-world games ever made. The action in this game is very impressive, with players unlocking a variety of stances and abilities throughout their time on the island of Tsushima as they confront numerous Mongol threats.
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Eventually, as the Mongols become stronger and more well-equipped, Jin must use every tool in his arsenal and figure out the best way to deal with multiple dangerous enemies at a time. This leads to a point where even the most fearsome brutes become easier to manage for the Ghost as he tears apart everything and everyone standing in his way.
5 Project Zomboid
A Single Mistake Can Have Dire Consequences In This Hard-As-Nails Survival Game
Project Zomboid
- Released
- November 8, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Project Zomboid is not a game for impatient people. The title doesn't hold the player's hand and forces them to understand how the cutthroat survival mechanics work.
If players decide to give this game the time of day, they'll find themselves learning the best ways to deal with its many threats. Bolstering home bases, scavenging for resources, and ensuring that players don't cut themselves after entering a building through a broken window are just a few of the many things they must learn to become better at playing Project Zomboid.
4 Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Re-Learning Old Combat Mechanics And Mastering New Techniques Is A Must
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
An argument can be made that Marvel's Spider-Man and its sequel are harder than the Arkham games, at least on their normal difficulties. The two Spider-Men can get hit with a ton of powerful attacks in a flash if they aren't careful, causing their health bar to drop at an alarming rate.
Players must master dodges and parries, with the latter being especially useful in the final stretch of Marvel's Spider-Man 2, when the symbiotes take over. The massive symbiote brute will teach players why parrying is so useful, since this enemy is extremely challenging to defeat if players haven't mastered this crucial defensive tool.
3 NieR: Automata
Combat Is Fast, Frenetic, And Rewards Player Skill
NieR: Automata
- Released
- March 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
One of the most beautiful open-world games ever made, NieR: Automata deserves all the praise its earned and then some. Players love the game's immaculate vibes and malleable gameplay, which is primarily centered on a hack-and-slash loop with a few mechanical switch-ups here and there.
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Combat is very challenging, and players must master the movesets of every playable character to make things easier on themselves. Failing to do so will lead to a very bad time against some of the game's most challenging boss fights.
2 Elden Ring
It's A Given That An Open-World FromSoftware Game Will Have A High Skill Ceiling
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
FromSoftware games are the reason why "git gud" became a meme. Ever since Dark Souls became a worldwide phenomenon, fans have done everything possible to master the developer's brand of combat and become better at playing their games.
This applies to Elden Ring as well, especially since this title will likely be the first FromSoftware game that many people have checked out. "Gitting gud" is easier in this game because of the open world, which provides many avenues for the Tarnished to get stronger and get payback on a boss that has been giving them a tough time for a while.
1 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Combat Is Simple Yet Feels Incredible To Master, Especially With The Abilities Link Has
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
The malleable gameplay of Tears of the Kingdom makes it clear why this game has such a high skill ceiling. Players must understand how to use Link's Fuse and Ultrahand abilities effectively to open up new avenues for damaging opponents in combat.
The basic combat mechanics are also a blast to master as players parry attacks, land Flurry Rushes, and figure out other ways to take out their opponents in style. By the end of the game, skilled players can school King Gleeoks without being hit once, which makes for a very satisfying moment.
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