some people love open world A game for freedom. But even these larger games usually benefit from some sort of structure. Without a clear goal or progression, some gamers may feel the game is meaningless. The games below all do a great job of providing content and new areas to help advance the story.
The trick is to always give the feeling that there is something to explore and see from the opening moments, while promising more as the story continues. This also prevents some of the larger maps in open world games from feeling completely overwhelming for people who are more interested in story than exploration.
5 red dead redemption
Travel to Mexico during the campaign
red dead redemption It's a man's journey to reunite with his family by taking down the outlaws he was riding with. Although there is a cruel moral ambiguity, John Marston is willing to betray the bank robbers who raised him in order to reunite with his wife and child.
The map is relatively small compared to its predecessor, but it's not completely unlocked from the start. There's a mission to take John Marston to Mexico for the new chapter, and the final act of the game unlocks the northern part of the map. Because it doesn't feel too restrictive. red dead redemption It encourages exploration and focuses more on immersive experiences rather than getting off the beaten path.
4 death stranding
Connect the world one by one to the chiral network
death stranding This is director Hideo Kojima's second open world title. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. The map is one smooth area, but restrictions set by the story and game prevent players from accessing all areas from the start. Players do not begin with the tools needed to traverse the harsh, barren, and harsh terrain.
Each section of the story takes players to a different part of the map that connects them to the Chiral Network. You'll then start seeing other players' contributions to the map, making your journey easier. part of the fun death stranding Later in the game, you'll use all your gadgets and structures to cross areas that were once too difficult to walk through.
3 Ghost of Tsushima
Each act opens a new part of the map
Ghost of TsushimaIt surprised gamers with its gorgeous graphics. It had a lot of the open world tropes that other titles had, but was better integrated into the game world. The UI also felt organic, with the wind guiding players to waypoints and objectives instead of arrows or lines on the ground.
The game world is neatly separated into three separate chunks, with each new act opening up subsequent areas. Each area has a lot to do in terms of side quests and collectibles, satisfying both gamers who advance the story and those who do everything.
2 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Opening of bridges connecting various parts of the state
It's easy to take for granted how big it is san andreas Although this may be true today, it was news to PS2 owners in 2005. There's a reason this game is consistently considered one of the best video games of all time, even though some of the gameplay isn't as smooth as today's standards.
It's not a big deal that the map is so large that players will have to conquer a fair amount of the story before unlocking the game's final area. The game's three regions – Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas – each have a unique feel, with unique architecture and vehicles. san andreas In addition to its bustling metropolises, it was also known for its vast wilderness.
grand theft auto 3
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vice city
It also locks down the area behind the story mission. However, these games allow players to unlock maps faster. It's just that the maps are much smaller than in other games.
San Andreas.
1 Elden Ring
I thought the map was big, but it's actually bigger
portion Elden Ring's Magic is a way to capture the awe of exploring the unknown at a time when most gamers were smart enough to know what the title was about. Nothing shows this better than the way a map presents itself. Players only unlock part of the map when they find map pieces on the road in front of certain monuments, making it difficult to estimate how big the map actually is.
You might not even think that there is any accessible land in the northeastern part of your map's blank canvas, but about halfway through your adventure you reach the top of Giant's Mountain and realize that there is nowhere to go. Through.
Elden Ring's place on the list doesn't even take into account the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, which has a high barrier to entry. The maps are huge and contain more content than most full-length video games.
