Summary
- In Sons of the Forest, players face the tough challenge of surviving in an open-world full of cannibals.
- Monster Hunter Wilds offers a proper story mode, but completing it is far from easy for newcomers.
- Elden Ring, while relatively easier for FromSoftware, presents overwhelming challenges that may deter beginners.
The open-world genre has become so popular that most AAA experiences often aim to make the experience as accessible as possible. The difficulty of most titles with wide-open sandboxes isn't too intense and ensures that countless gamers will have a lot of fun while seeing said games to completion.
10 Open-World Games With Interesting Ways To Travel
These excellent open-world games deliver unique and satisfying traversal methods, allowing players to explore their worlds in style.
However, some gamers actively want to seek out challenging experiences that push them in certain open-world games. It may be a daunting task to finish these games, but those willing to stick it out and deal with the challenges posed by these titles will have a great time with what they have to offer.
8 Sons Of The Forest
A Challenging Open-World Survival Game That's Tough Yet Satisfying To Master
Sons of the Forest
- Released
- February 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Open-World, Survival Horror
A great sequel to a popular survival game that countless gamers love, Sons of the Forest is as challenging as one would expect from an open-world title where players are stranded in a forest full of cannibals. Survival is challenging, which is what makes any modicum of progress so satisfying.
The overbearing threat of the cannibals grows over time, and players must be ready for the many trials that are thrown their way. Death is also commonplace in this game, so most players will need to deal with a fair bit of frustration before they reach the climax.
7 Monster Hunter Wilds
Despite Its Streamlining, Beginners Will Find Completion To Be A Tall Order
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Released
- February 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Monster Hunter Wilds may not be the best game for long-time fans, but the addition of a proper story mode, streamlined elements, and a seamless open world ensures that most newcomers will love getting into this title.
However, as one would expect, the game is far from easy. Staying up to date with the best gear and employing sound strategies against tough monsters is a must if players want to see this title to completion.
6 Gothic
Players Will Find It Extremely Challenging To Get Into This Title
Gothic
- Released
- November 23, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- RPG
From the moment players are dropped into the world of Gothic, they'll realize just how unforgivably hard this title is. The weakest enemy in the game can only be fought one at a time, since the protagonist is bound to die if they're mobbed by two or more Scavengers.
8 Horror Games With 100+ Hours Of Gameplay
Looking for a horror adventure with hours of content to sink your teeth into? These games are the perfect fit.
Thankfully, players who reach a camp and form an alliance can use the lessons provided by the camp's trainers to become stronger and more adept in combat. That being said, some challenging enemies in the game are still a nightmare to deal with and will force players to reload saves over and over again until they finally overcome these obstacles.
5 Batman: Arkham Knight
The True Ending Requires A Ton Of Open-World Busywork
Batman: Arkham Knight
- Released
- June 23, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action
Arkham Knight may not be as great as the other Batman games by Rocksteady, but the improved combat and graphics ensure that players won't have too many issues with some of the more questionable inclusions in the game.
This includes the way players must attain the game's true endings. Engaging in open-world busywork and finding all the Riddler trophies can be a downright nightmare to deal with, but this is something players must grind out for the game's complete ending.
4 Metro Exodus
A Tough Yet Engrossing Open-World Action Game That Takes A While To Adjust To
Metro Exodus
- Released
- February 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Metro Exodus is one of the hardest open-world action games that gamers can get their hands on. Artyom's adventures are excellent, but players must be ready to deal with some intense difficulty if they wish to experience everything that's on offer.
It doesn't help that the horror elements make it all the more challenging to deal with the world and its enemies. Players must be ready to die over and over again if they want to see this excellent open-world game to completion.
3 STALKER 2: Heart Of Chornobyl
The Difficulty And Glitches Make It Hard To Complete This Long-Awaited Sequel
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- Released
- November 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Open-World, Post-Apocalyptic, Survival
Any STALKER game can be very challenging to complete, especially given how difficult the gameplay can get. However, what makes Heart of Chornobyl especially hard to deal with are the many bugs and glitches that actively take away from the overall experience.
8 Best Open-World Games To Play Casually, Ranked
Not all of these open-world games are casual games, but they can be casually played, letting players take a break from their epic questing.
Having to reload an older save because the game bugged out just gets tiring after a while. It even reaches a point where some people prefer to give up on this game instead of staying to see all of the amazing work the developers put into transforming the STALKER series.
2 Pathologic 2
Death Can Arrive At A Moment's Notice And Incurs Permanent Penalties
Pathologic 2
- Released
- May 23, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Violence
As surreal and interesting as Pathologic 2 may be, the game makes it clear that players won't be in for an easy time. The survival mechanics are brutal, and players will need to be on their toes against enemies if they don't want to die.
The worst part is that this game penalizes players for dying, making it harder to complete after they're revived. Sure, players can remove all these penalties after eight deaths, but this comes at the cost of being robbed of an ending, making it impossible for players to seek out the ending that would've been perfect for them.
1 Elden Ring
For Beginners, The Challenge Of This Game Can Be Overwhelming
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Elden Ring is one of the greatest open-world action RPGs that gamers can get their hands on. While it might be a relatively easy FromSoftware game compared to some of its other titles, that should take nothing away from how overbearingly challenging some of its elements can be.
Some players may find it downright impossible to get through, especially after the game's notorious difficulty spike. Having a clear idea about the build players must pursue and finding weapons and other equipment that adheres to their playstyle is a must in order to finish this amazing game.
8 Best Open-World Games To Play If You Are Tired Of Open-Worlds
These great games offer interesting open worlds that provide unique experiences, ideal for those who think open-world games have become cookie-cutter.