Open-world gamesare the best way to dive into a video game adventure that feels completely uninhibited by rules. you’re able to go wherever you want, prioritize whatever quest or activity tickles your fancy, or you could just decide to kill everyone and everything on sight just because you can.
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This same freedomisn’t usually applied to linear games, as they tend to offer a much more mindful pacing to proceedings and keep you on a tighter leash so you see what the developer wants you to see, when they want you to see it.
That said, there are a few developers that attempt to give players the best of both worlds, offering a general linear structure throughout the majority of the game, but then flipping the script for a spell and dropping players into a mini-open-world of sorts to go about their business as they choose.
These are a rarity for sure, but if you’re keen to see what’s out there, here are a few games that briefly let you off the leash in a meaningful way.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare (2023)
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
I don’t think it’s a bold statement to put out there that Call of Duty as a series has felt pretty stale for a long time now. Mainly relying on a cookie-cutter multiplayer format that has inexplicably managed to sell copies of this long-running series year after year.
This has meant thatmost campaigns under the COD umbrellahave been pretty lackluster to say the least, but credit where it’s due. Things did get a bit of a shake-up this time around, with the introduction of sprawling open-world levels with multiple objectives to clear as and when you see fit.
It effectively blurred the lines between Warzone and classic COD in a very engaging way, allowing players to lean into the tactical approach that suited each scenario and play as they wanted without restriction.
Granted, it does flatter to deceive slightly as it does affect the cinematic pacing of the mission itself, but all in all, it’s a big swing that paid off in this COD campaign.
8The Slums
It was a toss-up between this portion of the game and the other semi-open area in Midtown, but seeing as it’s the first you’ll explore, and the one you’ll spend the most time in, we opted for The Slums.
This is the first open area you’ll explore after joining forces with your robot companion B12 and allows players to use your feline ability to climb rooftops, meet a variety of robot NPCs, and immerse yourself thanks tosurprisingly good worldbuilding,and generally cause mischief, as any good kitty should.
It’s not only a low-stakes area where players can get comfortable playing as their furry protagonist, but also a wonderfully designed dystopian area with verticality, lots to discover, and oodles of charm. So, before you make your way onward, take the time to get acquainted with this forgotten town.
7Gran Pulse
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy 13
While we could have honestlyincluded a lot of FF gameson account of them opening up proceedings with a huge, sprawling map some ways into each JRPG adventure, I think it’s better to include the game that offers the most stark contrast to the rest of the experience.
Final Fantasy XIII is a painfully linear game, and generally a pretty painful experience if you aren’t willing to overlook a lot of faults. However, it does have its moments, and one of the most eye-catching is when the game does away with its glorified corridors for Gran Pulse, this game’s open-world section.
While you can blitz through and push on with the story, it’s a natural haven where you can fight high-level monsters to grind your party’s level, not to mention it’s stunning even by today’s modern standards. The game may be no prize overall, at least in my humble opinion, but Gran Pulse is definitely a high point that helps make the whole adventure worthwhile.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
I’ll concede that this one is a little bit of a controversial inclusion, as Jedi Survivor is rather Metroidvania-like in nature, and Koboh is rather like a hub planet that grows in scope every time you return. However, I don’t think anyone would deny that it certainly has open-world vibes.
Pyloon’s Saloon acts as your HQ on Koboh, where you can pick up quests, grow plants,and play a spot of Holotacticsif you’re keen. But even outside this speakeasy, you’ll find a wealth of upgrades, mini-bosses, side quests, and pathways that will allow you to test out your platforming abilities and newly acquired powers.
But above all, why this area works is because of the scale of this planet, which far exceeds anything you’ll find if you hop in the Mantis and head for pastures new. It’s a joy to explore, and if you’re a Star Wars buff, it’s about time you did.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
From one fictional planet to another, we have Savali, just one of many planetsthat Ratchet and Rivethappen to explore on their adventure. However, I think in any situation where a game feels the need to give you a means of transport to get around an area in double quick time, you can safely say that it’s open-world adjacent.
This area is where Ratchet acquires the Hover Boots, which allow you to blast around the place at high speeds, wall-running, platforming, and grinding on rails in neat combos to get to places you’d have no hope of reaching without your newly acquired gadget.
Admittedly, it does feel like more of the same in terms of the level’s core structure, as you are still finding rifts, gathering bolts, and ticking off objectives as you would any other planet. However, the freedom to explore without being led down tight corridors is a welcome change and one that makes Savali stand out from the pack.
Metro Exodus
If you’re a long-time Metro fan, then you’ll be pretty used to this series' dark, claustrophobic tunnels, harrowing scenes of suffering and survival underground, and your only experience of the topside will be the frozen, inhospitable wastes abundant with mutated freaks.
Well, you’re still going to be fighting grotesque creatures and braving hostile locales in Metro Exodus, but Volga, the game’s first of a few open sections, offers a lot more nuance than the previous game’s outdoor environments.
Featuring a vast open space to explore, unique marsh biomes, a wealth of side content to uncover, and areas that require different playstyles and approaches to survive, Volga feels like a natural progression of the Metro formula, and a joy to explore.
Caspian is also well worthy of popping up on this list, but for me, Volga just about edges it, making it the standout open-world section in Metro Exodus.
3Downtown Seattle
The Last of Us Part II
The Last of Us Part 2
While The Last of Us Part II certainly has its critics as far as narrative pacing is concerned, the more level-headed among us will probably admit that it does a pretty good job of offering a gritty and harrowing story full of plenty of peaks and valleys, which is largely down to the very intentional structure of the story and gameplay.
That said, there is one distinct area not too far into the experience where the game effectively places Ellie and Dana in a bit of an infected playground as you get to explore what remains of downtown Seattle.
Players are given a map of the area and have the ability to explore all the various attractions in the area, with the bank being the main attraction as far as progression is concerned. However, you would be doing the game a disservice if you didn’t really rummage around everywhere the game allows.
It’s a rare example of ‘off the leash’ level design within TLOU and something that we wish we could have seen more of throughout the game’s run.
2Tales and Revelations
A Plague’s Tale: Requiem
A Plague Tale: Requiem
A Plague’s Tale across both games in the series is all about giving players tight, methodically crafted spaces to explore while also incorporating stealth as the primary means of survival as opposed to combat, as your brother-sister duo tends to be pretty damn flimsy.
Then, when you aren’t sneaking around, you tend to be solving puzzles to clear the rather unsettling swarms of rats that block your path. It’s all pretty doom and gloom throughout the original and the sequel alike., However, A Sea of Promises is a rare moment of respite where low-stakes exploration is the order of the day.
The Outer Palace grounds are gorgeous, allowing you to drink in the majesty of the French countryside, roam around uncovering secrets, and best of all, it’s all optional so you can turn in for the day whenever you feel like you’ve seen enough.
It’s a rare moment where you have room to breathe in an otherwise oppressive and bleak game, so savor it while it lasts.
1The Twelve Towers
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Fextralife Wiki
I imagine you’ve been patiently waiting for me to mention this one, and I’m not about to disappoint all you fans of Nathan Darke’s escapades.
Much like within fellow Naughty Dog title, The Last of Us Part II, this iteration of Drake’s tale plops you into a vast open-world area within an otherwise very tightly structured linear framework and asks you to explore to your heart’s content.
Given a map to orient yourself and a jeep to get around, you’ll explore the Madagascan highlands, go spelunking in old ruins for relics, and you’re able to also enjoy the passive banter from Nathan, Sam, and Sully as you go.
It’s as rewarding to explore as it is beautiful to look at, and one of the finest examples of a surprise open section in a linear adventure.
