Open-world games provide players with the opportunity to navigate expansive environments, ranging from ancient civilizations to contemporary urban landscapes, some of which are riddled with crime. Traditionally, exploration in these games is limited to terrestrial travel, such as hiking, driving, or flying. However, the latest titles increasingly feature the ability to traverse diverse aquatic environments, both above the surface and beneath the waves, including rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans.
While not every open-world game delves deep into aquatic mechanics, several titles truly capitalize on this setting, offering stunning underwater visuals and unique experiences that differ significantly from terrestrial gameplay. The following list evaluates games based on the variety of underwater activities they provide and the freedom players have to explore these submerged realms.
8. Horizon Forbidden West
A Flooded California
Horizon Forbidden West is predominantly a land-centric open-world game, yet it features memorable underwater exploration thanks to the inclusion of the Diving Mask. Players can tackle underwater puzzles and explore partially submerged Cauldrons, engaging with formidable aquatic machines like Snapmaws and Tiderippers. Journeying to the far western reaches of the map reveals the sunken remains of California, particularly the iconic San Francisco, drowned after the San Andreas Fault collapsed in the 22nd century. Underwater, players can marvel at the vibrant marine life reclaiming landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Oracle Park.
7. Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
Shipwrecks of the Caribbean
Building on its predecessor’s naval combat, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag enhances this facet with ship-based exploratory mechanics. While players engage in ship-to-ship battles and hunt sea creatures with the Jackdaw, they can also descend into shipwrecks to uncover treasure after acquiring the diving bell. This unique gameplay mechanic allows players to navigate the underwater world briefly, adding layers of depth to their experience while contending with threats like sharks.
6. Sea of Thieves
The Sunken Kingdom
Renowned for its engaging multiplayer experience, Sea of Thieves intertwines fierce pirate battles with moments of underwater exploration. The game features shipwrecks ripe for plundering and introduces players to Siren Shrines, the submerged temples inhabited by mythical sea creatures. Engaging with these areas involves solving intricate puzzles and battling formidable enemies, enriching the gameplay experience and providing a thrilling adventure beneath the waves.
5. Maneater
An Underwater Massacre
Maneater is a third-person action RPG that allows players to embody a young bull shark, seeking revenge against a relentless shark hunter. Set along the Gulf Coast, the game offers authentically detailed underwater environments to explore, from murky swamps to vibrant underwater ecosystems. Players engage with various seabeds while confronting other marine life, resulting in a unique aquatic adventure unlike any other in gaming.
4. Death in the Water 2
Horror in the Ocean Depths
In stark contrast to other titles that embrace vibrant underwater worlds, Death in the Water 2 immerses players in dark, ominous depths filled with lurking dangers, such as aggressive sharks and mythical sea creatures like Sirens. The haunting allure of this game lies in its eerie environmental design, featuring skeletal shipwrecks and claustrophobic canyons that players can explore in their quest for survival, providing a thrilling and chilling experience.
3. Dave The Diver
Diving for Sushi
Conversely, Dave The Diver presents a refreshing take on underwater adventure. Set near an enigmatic Blue Hole, players assume the role of Dave, who dives to gather fish and ingredients for his sushi restaurant. The game strikes a perfect balance between tranquil exploration and adventurous encounters with sea creatures, creating an enjoyable experience that combines light-heartedness with engaging mechanics.
2. Endless Ocean
A Calm Aquatic Tour
Some titles explore the ocean’s serenity instead of its dangers. Nintendo’s Endless Ocean exemplifies this approach by offering a peaceful exploration of marine life. While players engage in minimal story-driven missions, the game emphasizes interacting with aquatic creatures, documenting them, and experiencing the tranquil beauty of underwater habitats, igniting a fascination for oceanic wildlife.
1. Subnautica
A Familiar Yet Alien Frontier
Arguably the most acclaimed underwater exploration game, Subnautica by Unknown Worlds Entertainment invites players to navigate the alien ocean world of 4546B following a spaceship crash. While the game incorporates a captivating storyline, it liberates players by allowing them to explore at their own pace, from the vibrant ecosystems to the treacherous depths where imposing creatures, like Reaper Leviathans, dwell. Subnautica offers an expansive and immersive gameplay experience, providing fond memories of oceanic adventures.
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