Summary
- Open-world games with less emphasis on story prioritize combat mechanics and exploration.
- Kenshi, Sid Meier's Pirates, and Battle Brothers offer challenging combat in open-world settings.
- Combat-focused games like Far Cry 5 and Borderlands 2 provide diverse weapons and thrilling encounters.
Open-world games are typically diverse in their gameplay, often relying on a combination of combat mechanics and dramatic narrative, supported by RPG systems. This isn't always the case, however, with many games letting the story take a backseat, or even omitting it entirely.
8 Best Open-World Games Where The Main Story Is Not The Priority, Ranked
Following a main narrative is always exciting, but while these games provide that option, they encourage players to explore and chart their own path.
With a lack of narrative focus, players are able to spend more time in the meat of the gameplay, enjoying combat mechanics and overcoming increasingly difficult encounters. From sandbox tactics games such as Battle Brothers, to the more typical open-world action of Far Cry 5, there's something here for all kinds of open-world fans.
8 Kenshi
A Deadly Open-World Sandbox
Kenshi
- Released
- December 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Open-World, Survival
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Kenshi is an open-world sandbox RPG set in a harsh and unforgiving world that rewards patience and curiosity in equal measure. In the game, players will spend plenty of time exploring, mining, even base-building. However, the real-time, tactical squad-based combat is also an important cog in Kenshi's design.
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Combat is, for the most part, unavoidable. This is in large part thanks to the sheer hostility of Kenshi's world and its myriad of inhabitants, be they human or otherwise. Players simply must fight at one point or another, and this puts a focus on developing a strong and well-equipped squad capable of defeating large groups of enemies.
7 Sid Meier's Pirates
Consistent Naval Combat On The Open Seas
Sid Meier's Pirates!
- Released
- November 22, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Mild Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Firaxis Games
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Action-Adventure
Sid Meier's Pirates is a classic open-world adventure game with a heavy focus on naval combat. While exploring the wide-open sea is a large part of the game, the real-time naval encounters and unique sword-fighting make for a decidedly combat-heavy game.
Players are also encouraged to seek out combat in order to plunder enemy ships and build a larger wealth. This creates a satisfying and rewarding loop of exploration and combat, with clear progression as players acquire larger, more powerful ships.
6 Mount & Blade: Warband
Sandbox Warfare With An Open Overworld
Mount & Blade: Warband
- Released
- March 30, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
Mount & Blade: Warband is a sandbox RPG with an emphasis on deep simulation of warfare and tactical, large-scale battles. Exploration is also a large part of the game, but moving through the land is made strategic thanks to an open overworld map.
However, all roads lead to combat in Mount & Blade, and each encounter provides players with a strategic combat puzzle that often requires quick and clever thinking in order to succeed. The game's world is, unfortunately, quite repetitive, its art-style rudimentary, but the frequently thrilling large-scale battles more than make up for it.
5 Middle Earth: Shadow Of War
Stylish Action With A Unique Nemesis System
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
- Released
- October 10, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War is an open-world fantasy RPG with fluid and intuitive third-person action. The game's slick combat has a tremendously broad appeal, but Shadow Of War's battles are elevated by a unique and utterly innovative nemesis system.
Shadow Of War is driven by its combat encounters, featuring individual, randomly generated enemy captains that provide memorable adversaries. This system runs a narrative thread through each combat encounter, making for an ARPG that's more than a typical hack-and-slash affair.
4 Far Cry 5
Action-Oriented First-Person Exploration
Far Cry 5
- Released
- March 27, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Toronto
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
As an FPS, the Far Cry franchise is a decidedly combat-focused experience, and Far Cry 5 is no different. In the game, players can expect the familiar loop of exploring an expansive open world both on-foot and via a variety of vehicles.
Players can also expect to roam the rural landscapes of Far Cry 5 in constant opposition to aggressive enemies, and they'll spend most of their time assaulting their camps. Thankfully, the variety of weapons and vehicles gives players plenty of ways to approach these encounters.
3 Battle Brothers
A Sandbox RPG With Deeply Tactical Combat
Battle Brothers
- Released
- April 27, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Overhype Studios
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- Genre(s)
- Indie Games, Tactical, RPG, Strategy, Adventure
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Battle Brothers is an open-world sandbox RPG that tasks players with managing a ragged company of mercenaries in a harsh and unforgiving low-fantasy world. As the leader of a mercenary company, combat is an inherently large part of Battle Brothers. Thankfully, the game's combat system is deeply tactical and supported by detailed RPG systems.
The myriad of perks and stats that players must balance when building each of their characters adds a great deal of depth, and these decisions can have a tremendous impact on combat. Furthermore, the diversity of loot adds an extra layer to preparation. In addition, permanent death and deadly injuries make each battle entirely consequential, making many combat encounters memorable.
2 Borderlands 2
First-Person Action That Encourages Exploration
Borderlands 2
- Released
- September 18, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
Borderlands 2 allows players to explore a variety of interconnected regions in pseudo open-world exploration, battling enemies in visceral first-person gunfights. Supported by an evocative setting, stylish presentation, and RPG elements, Borderlands 2 is able to offer a well-rounded and action-oriented experience.
Fans of ARPG loot systems and first-person combat alike are most likely to enjoy the unique loop of Borderlands 2. However, players looking for a more meaningful, fluid open-world may be disappointed.
1 Elden Ring
A Skill-Based Action RPG With An Expansive Open-World
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Elden Ring is an open-world ARPG in which FromSoftware's iconic fingerprints are immediately apparent. From the methodical combat and enigmatic setting, to the myriad of imposing, larger-than-life bosses, Elden Ring is a unique title that blends open-world exploration with frequently challenging combat encounters.
The sense of discovery facilitated by the game's detailed open-world and mysterious nature certainly plays an important role in Elden Ring. However, for many players, the biggest draw will be the satisfaction of overcoming the game's difficulty and defeating its biggest, baddest bosses.
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