Summary
The number of open-world games on the market has increased significantly over the past decade or so. It was once a rare type of game, but now you get open-world RPGs, open-world action-adventure games, open-world racing games, open-world zombie games, and more.
However, there are still plenty of linear games out there. That said, some of those are even incorporating open-world elements, whether it’s through the game’s environment or style of gameplay. Perhaps they include big maps worth exploring or a bunch of side quests to complete. Whatever open-world elements they include, these are the best non-open-world titles to feel like open-world titles.
2013’sTomb Raiderserves as one ofthe best video game reboots ever. It changed plenty of things about the famous series, including adding a bit more of an open-world feel. The game is set on an Island that Lara Croft and her allies crash land on at the start.
The said island is split into different regions, which you traverse as you make your way through the main story. Each area contains things to find and challenges to complete. you may also freely go back to places you’ve visited before. Yet, the fact that you’re always being pulled to the main objective and there is generally only one path forward means it’s clearly not an open-world game.
Compared to the rest of the games in the series, Metal Gear Solid 5: Phantom Pain feels like an open-world game. After all, most of the missions take place on one of two maps. There is an Afghanistan map and an Angola-Zaire border region
map. Each one is filled with different outposts and notable locations that you visit in both the main story and side missions.
What stops it from being truly open-world is that you aren’t really encouraged to explore these maps. Instead, you’re encouraged to make regular visits back to your base, which is not on either map. It fits into the category of a semi-open-world game.
From a gameplay standpoint, Dishonored 2 is in no way a linear game, as you’re able to take different paths and try different things. Overall, though, it’s still quite linear as you take on one mission after another in a set order.
Each of those missions places you in a different district or area of the city of Karnaca. These districts are often fairly large and feel like mini open-world maps. Also, the open gameplay means you can take various paths to your objective, which adds to that open-world feel.
There aremultiple 3D Mario gamesthat feel a bit like open-world titles, including Super Mario Odyssey. During the game, you visit various distinct worlds that contain a collection of power moons for you to acquire.
Some of the moons you find, while others are rewards for completing little challenges. So, this means the game includes plenty of exploration and completing side stuff. Therefore, it sometimes feels like you’re playing an open-world game. However, it isn’t quite an open world because all the worlds are completely separate and serve at individual levels.
The Last of Us Part 2 is certainly one of the most controversial gamesin recent memory, but what shouldn’t be controversial is saying that it isn’t an open-world game, even if it often feels like one.
The times when it feels like an open-world game are when you’re riding your horse around Seattle and visiting different locations on your map. Yet, this only happens at certain points in the game, and many missions take place in different locations. So, it’s still a linear game overall.
Eventually, there was an open-world game in the Halo series called Halo Infinite. However, the original game also has a bit of an open-world feel, at least in the second mission of the game.
This mission is titled Halo, and it takes place on the Halo ring, which is an open, grassing area. At the start of the mission, you walk out of a crashed plane and are instantly able to see how vast the place is. From here, your goal is to find some marines. Yet, the game doesn’t give you much direction. You’re free to explore the place. The openness and freedom is what makes it feel like an open world.
In Life is Strange: True Colors, you play as a young woman named Alex Chen who visits a small town to reunite with her older brother. The place is called Haven, and it serves as the setting for the entire game.
At various moments in the story, you get to roam around the place and visit certain establishments. As you walk down the street and explore, you can listen to various conversations of people in town. This is when it starts to feel a bit like an open-world game.
Technically, Hitman: World of Assassination is three games in one, as it contains all the levels from Hitman, Hitman 2, and Hitman 3. Each level feels like its own open world. This is because they are wide, detailed spaces containing plenty of people roaming around and doing things. Simply exploring the map is part of the fun.
Plus, there is plenty of freedom when it comes to gameplay, as you can complete your objective any way you want. In fact, some would argue that Hitman: World of Assassination isn’t really a linear game because of how open it is. Yet, because there aren’t any side missions, activities, or anything to do besides work towards the main objective, it’s still a linear title, even if it’s a very open one.
