Summary
- Rebel Galaxy offers arcade space combat in a stylized sandbox setting.
- Dredge provides a calming minimalist fishing experience with accessible mechanics.
- Gloomwood combines unrealistic visuals with immersive stealth horror gameplay.
While there's certainly a place for realism in video games, the constant drive to provide players with realistic experiences can sometimes get in the way of creativity. The large and often impressive open-world games of AAA studios, for example, often strive for realism, be it visually, mechanically, or both. Though not all take this approach, regardless of budget.
There are a variety of open-world games that take a more stylized and gamified approach to their visuals and/or design. Games such as Rebel Galaxy, with its arcade combat, or Sunset Overdrive, with its creative environments and unhinged weaponry.
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8 Rebel Galaxy
A Sci-Fi Sandbox With Arcade Combat
Rebel Galaxy
- Released
- October 20, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Drug Reference, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Double Damage Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Rebel Galaxy is a game in the vein of sci-fi sandboxes such as Freelancer, offering a classic gameplay loop that's perfect for fans of retro experiences. However, it cares little for the simulation aspects of the genre, instead focusing its efforts on providing a swash-buckling, arcade experience.
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This is especially true of the combat, which provides arcade gameplay centered around bombastic broadside exchanges. Exploration is basic, but often exhilarating thanks to punchy effects and a thematic soundtrack. Furthermore, the game is a combat-focused experience, ensuring players spend more time with its arcade elements and less time in menus.
7 Dredge
Calm Fishing In A Minimalist Open World
Dredge
- Released
- March 31, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Black Salt Games
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Dredge is a minimalist open-world fishing game that excels with its stylish visuals. However, its graphics care little for realism, instead offering a soothing presentation that occasionally comes out of left field with eldritch spooks.
The game's fishing mechanics are also far from simulation. Instead, Dredge offers an accessibly fun and soothing variety of mini-games that are more about getting in the groove than battling with simulated mechanics.
6 Gloomwood
Dark, Eccentric, & Old-School
Gloomwood
- Released
- September 6, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Stealth, FPS
Gloomwood is, visually, unabashedly unrealistic. This title excels immediately with its old-school visuals, offering painstakingly detailed interconnected environments that thrive in their low-poly aesthetic. The sheer creativity of the environments and attention to detail in every corner makes ample use of the limited space, resulting in an immersive experience despite its retro style.
Gameplay is also unconcerned with realism, offering up a blend of immersive-sim and survival horror that emphasizes stealth. There are simulated elements, but Gloomwood is more about pulling off clever tricks and outmaneuvering the dynamic systems at play than it is about realism.
5 Fallout 4
An Open-World Wasteland With An Exaggerated Tone
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Fallout 4 is an open-world RPG that excels with its expansive wasteland environments, replete with points of significant interest and pocked with wacky characters and quirky ideas. This creativity and wildness is as much a part of Fallout 4 as the rest of the Fallout franchise.
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The extravagant factions and wild mutated creatures/NPCs are a particular standout, and ever-present in Fallout 4. However, the game's variety of unhinged perks are specifically unrealistic, from being able to breathe underwater to having a skeleton infused with indestructible metal. This only adds to the experience, allowing players to create unique characters that interact with the world in fun ways.
4 LEGO The Lord Of The Rings
Fun-First Design In A Charming World
LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game
- Released
- October 30, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ // Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
- Developer(s)
- Traveller's Tales, TT Fusion
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PC, PS3, PlayStation Vita, Wii, Xbox 360
LEGO The Lord Of The Rings is a faithful adaptation of its beloved source material, delivered in an open-world structure that maintains the spirit of classic LEGO games. Taking place in a fantasy setting adapted for the LEGO aesthetic, LEGO The Lord Of The Rings is far from a realistic experience, and for the better.
It's only natural that LEGO games don't care about realism, and it allows them to offer uniquely accessible and light-hearted experiences. LEGO The Lord Of The Rings is no different, providing players with a heartfelt adventure through lovingly-crafted environments, all infused with LEGO's knowing charm and sense of humor.
3 Outer Wilds
Minimalist Graphics & A Time Loop Structure
Outer Wilds
- Released
- May 28, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
Outer Wilds is an open-world adventure game set in a small but diverse solar system. In the game, players commandeer their very own spaceship and set off on an adventure across multiple planets with their own unique environments.
Although Outer Wilds does feature elements of light simulation, it's by no means a realistic game. This title is more concerned with providing an immersive atmosphere than it is about creating a realistic experience. It's all about getting lost in the mystery and creative imagery on display.
2 Sunset Overdrive
A Tongue-In-Cheek & Colorful Post-Apocalypse
Sunset Overdrive
- Released
- October 28, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Open-World
Sunset Overdrive is an explosively colorful third-person shooter with an emphasis on intuitive exploration. The game's visuals are decidedly stylistic, not caring for realism, and this follows through with comic-book visual effects. Not to mention a creatively-designed city that values fun and imaginative exploration over practicality and realism.
Even the narrative of Sunset Overdrive cares little about realism, tasking players with battling against aggressive mutants twisted by a toxic energy drink. The variety of ridiculous weapons also helps to keep Sunset Overdrive light and fun, far from an experience grounded in realism.
1 Caves Of Qud
An Exotic World With Traditional Style
Caves Of Qud
- Released
- July 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Caves Of Qud is a traditional roguelike RPG set in a distinctive science-fantasy world that excels with its exotic atmosphere and alien imagery. The traditional graphics are themselves unconcerned with realism, instead working with the music and sound design to spark the player's imagination.
Wild mutations, powerful cybernetics, and an unhinged array of useful items offer players a diverse sandbox of tools for combat, many of which care little for realism. Despite this, however, Caves Of Qud remains an immersive experience, transporting players to a new world, with its own rules.
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