Open-world games offer players unparalleled freedom, allowing them to embark on adventures without restrictions. In these expansive environments, gamers can choose their paths, engage with a variety of quests, or even embrace chaos by attacking everything in sight. This sense of liberty is often absent in linear games, which guide players through carefully crafted narratives and limit exploration, ensuring that they experience the story as intended by the developers.
However, some visionary developers strive to merge these two styles, creating a hybrid experience that provides a linear structure for most of the game but then allows players to explore open-world segments. These moments, though rare, provide refreshing opportunities for players to roam freely and engage with the world on their own terms.
If you’re interested in experiencing the best of both worlds, here’s a curated list of games that temporarily release players into enchanting open-world environments, along with how they execute this concept effectively.
9 Mountain Dam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2023)
The Call of Duty franchise may have felt stagnant in recent years, relying heavily on a formulaic approach to multiplayer. Historically, many campaigns have suffered under this cookie-cutter design, resulting in uninspired gameplay. However, the 2023 installment revitalizes the series by introducing expansive open-world levels with flexible objectives. This change effectively merges the essence of traditional COD gameplay with elements from its battle royale counterpart, Warzone.
This evolution allows players to adapt their tactics as they navigate each mission, creating a versatile gameplay experience. While the cinematic flow may occasionally falter due to this newfound freedom, the innovation is a welcome risk that enhances the overall campaign experience.
8 The Slums
Stray
Among the semi-open areas in Stray, The Slums stands out as an initial exploration point that welcomes players into the game’s world. Paired with your robotic companion, B12, players are encouraged to utilize their feline agility to traverse rooftop landscapes, interact with various robot NPCs, and unleash playful antics befitting a cat.
This low-risk environment not only serves as an introduction to the game’s mechanics but also captivates players with its charming design and dystopian architecture. It offers ample opportunity to familiarize yourself with the surroundings before progressing further.
7 Great Pulse
Final Fantasy XIII
While many Final Fantasy titles offer open-world experiences after initial linearity, Final Fantasy XIII exemplifies this juxtaposition more significantly than its predecessors. Initially characterized by a restrictive linear structure, the game ultimately opens up with the expansive Gran Pulse area, a vast landscape filled with high-level monsters and breathtaking visuals.
This section allows players to delve into exploration and combat without the confines of a linear narrative, providing a much-needed contrast to the otherwise rigid gameplay. Gran Pulse stands as a highlight, making the journey through the game more rewarding and memorable.
6 Koboh
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Koboh presents players with an expansive area that fosters exploration reminiscent of traditional open-world gaming. At Pyloon’s Saloon, players can choose from a variety of quests, upgrade their gear, and engage with mini-bosses, providing a rich array of activities beyond the primary story. The scale of Koboh, teeming with secrets and challenges, invites players to put their skills to the test.
This planet encapsulates the allure of exploration for fans of the Star Wars universe, as there’s much to discover beyond the core storyline, making it a joy for players to venture forth and uncover every hidden detail.
5 Messages
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
Savali is one of the vibrant planets in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and serves as a notable example of semi-open world design. As Ratchet acquires the Hover Boots, players gain the ability to move with incredible speed, enabling thrilling exploration and unique gameplay mechanics like wall-running and rail grinding.
While the planet’s inherent structure still follows core objectives, the freedom of movement and the opportunities to explore various nooks and crannies set Savali apart from more linear environments, providing a refreshing gameplay experience that stands out among the planets in the game.
4 Volga
Metro Exodus
Enthusiasts of the Metro series will recognize the franchise’s hallmark atmosphere characterized by dark, claustrophobic settings. Yet, Metro Exodus introduces an expansive shift with its first open area, Volga. This unique biome offers vast landscapes filled with side quests, diverse environments, and survival challenges that require varied strategic approaches.
The transition from tightly confined spaces to this broad area signifies a significant evolution in the series, allowing for deeper exploration and a more engaging player experience. Although the game features several notable locations, Volga ultimately emerges as the most compelling open-world section in Metro Exodus.
3 Downtown Seattle
The Last of Us Part II
Despite receiving mixed reviews regarding its narrative pacing, The Last of Us Part II excels in crafting a gripping story filled with emotional highs and lows. A notable highlight occurs when the game opens up to reveal Downtown Seattle, allowing players to explore the remnants of a city overrun by infection and chaos.
Players are provided with a map and can navigate various points of interest, with the bank serving as a key progression hub. Yet, the ability to explore freely within the environment enhances gameplay depth, offering players the chance to discover hidden nuances of the world, making it a standout example of open-world design in an otherwise linear narrative.
2 Tales and Revelations
A Plague’s Tale: Requiem
A Plague’s Tale focuses on intense narrative-driven experiences with a heavy emphasis on stealth gameplay. Players navigate through meticulously crafted environments, avoiding terrifying swarms of rats while solving puzzles. However, A Sea of Promises presents a welcome shift with an expansive area for exploration.
The Outer Palace grounds offer players the chance to breathe amidst the otherwise oppressive atmosphere of the game, allowing for joyous exploration of the beautifully rendered French countryside. This optional exploration highlights a moment of respite, offering players a rare opportunity to enjoy their surroundings.
1 The Twelve Towers
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Fans of Nathan Drake eagerly anticipate moments when he embarks on expansive explorations, especially within Uncharted 4. This title artfully blends its linear narrative framework with moments of open-world freedom, particularly within The Twelve Towers, where players can traverse vast Madagascan landscapes in a jeep.
This design choice rewards players with stunning visuals and the chance to explore ruins and relish character interactions at their own pace—making it one of the best examples of seamlessly integrating open-world flair into a linear adventure.
Leave a Reply