Summary
These days, it seems like every other game has an open-world or open-zone component. But that’s not a bad thing. After all, exploring a large map while checking off a smorgasbord of objectives seems to scratch a very particular itch that most players of this type of game often get.
An open-world game further ups the antewhen the sandbox is built with player agency in mind. The best ones anticipate what the player might want to do, giving them the tools to make their very own adventures. What follows is just some of the best that open-world sandboxes have to offer.
What Makes This Sandbox Great?
Saints Row: The Thirdsets itself apartfrom other gamesin the genre by not taking itself seriously at all. The story involves the 3rd Street Saints working to take back their territory of Steelport from a group called The Syndicate. But the whole thing is really a satire of the commercialization of gang life.
From its arsenal of more than 30 wacky weapons to the hilarious wrestling-style take-downs that can be performed on anyone, it’s easy to see how this game garnered such a large following. Unfortunately,Saints Row: The Thirdis showing its age these days. Regardless, taking a trip down memory lane and indulging in one of the most silly sandboxes imaginable is as easy as picking up the 2020 remaster.
At this point, everybody and their mother knowsMinecraft, with its deceptively simple building mechanics. On the surface is a kid-friendly game about building shelter tohide from creepers. However, dig a little deeper, to find that pretty much anything is craftable. Which is why it’s hard to see this game going away any time soon.
WithMinecraftbeing available on just about every console there is, people have mastered the entirety of its playground. It’s not uncommon to come across recreations of entire cities or tributes to other games and shows throughout the many servers. The blocky art style might be off-putting to some, but it’s a small barrier of entry to the otherwise amazing world.
Taking on the island of Medici and single-handedly overthrowing the regime ofJust Cause 3’s antagonist, General Sebastiano Di Ravello, might seem like a monumental task. But that’s just the backdrop forsome ridiculous antics, headlined by one piece of equipment—the grappling hook.
Use it as a tool to extend a parachute ride or get around faster by hitching a ride on a moving jet. It could even be used to grapple a car to an explosive tankard and see the immaculate Avalanche Engine do its work. Critically,Just Cause 3didn’t do very well due to its bugs and generic story. Despite this, delving into its open-world is a great way to blow off steam after a long day.
No Man’s Skylaunched with bugs and boredom abound. Over the years, though, it has blossomed intosomething truly special. It follows the Traveler on their way towards the center of the universe.As planets pop up, the player is tasked to inspect and record them to learn new things about the galaxy as a whole.
Hello Games has taken the core ofNo Man’s Skyand built varied systems around it, post-launch. For instance, one allows players to build a base anywhere, and later updates made the addition even more varied and engaging. Every day seems to bring something new to flesh outNo Man’s Sky’salready unparalleled expanse.
GTA 5didn’t change a terrible number of things thatearlier games in the seriesestablished. However, it did move away from classics in the gangster movie genre, in favor of the vapid nature of Los Angeles for its story inspiration. Los Santos is a living, breathing city, and playing as three separate protagonists as their individual stories develop and converge is a great change of pace in the open-world genre.
Things get really interesting online where there are countless fan-made game modes, racetracks, and the fabled role play servers. With so much to do, it becomes common to see hours of time slip away.
Metal Gear Solid 5’sstory isintriguing, albeit confusing, seeing Venom Snake work to prevent the spread of a virus that kills a person just by them speaking. However, the crux of the game has players developing their home base, collecting resources from infiltrating enemy strongholds, and exploring the breadth of Afghanistan.
The desert is dotted with dozens of enemy-rich camps and outposts. Go into them guns blazing or opt for using a quieter approach with the classic cardboard box to snatch what’s needed inside. And when the situation calls for a quick getaway, a vehicle is just a call from being dropped out of the sky.MGS5is highly polished and addicting, making it a must-play for fans of stealth games.
Red Dead Redemption 2’sinsistence on the details is what envelops the player in its deep depiction of the wild, wild west. The main story involves the Van Der Linde gang as they try to make their way through the latter years of the cowboy renaissance. Meanwhile, main character, Arthur Morgan, is just trying to get by while helping his crew finish the next big score.
Take on outlaws or become one withRDR2’srobust combat and looting systems,hunt game and sell their peltsfor a premium, or hop online and run a moonshine business with friends. The beautiful world, consisting of mountainous ranges, open fields, and perilous swamp lands is a cowboy’s paradise just waiting to be explored.
BothBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomgive the player a world with disparate objectives and let the player tackle them in any order. That being said,TOTKsimply wouldn’t exist without the polished guts of its predecessor’s open-world.
BOTWgives the player puzzle pieces, like the stasis ability, and tells the player to figure out the design. The bespoke shrines function as skill checks and teach new uses for sheikah slate abilities, which are then used to uncover Hyrule’s many secrets on Link’s journey to save the princess.The gameconstantly asks “what else can be done?”, leaving the player with the exceptional task of answering that call.
