Open worlds are ideal for getting lost in games, and when players step into a fictional world that lets them escape the responsibilities of real life for a bit, it’s no wonder that this style is so popular in gaming. At the same time, because open worlds are so popular in gaming right now, many great games end up being missed in favor of bigger releases.
The ever-changing discussions about games can also mean that a game gets the small light for a moment, then ends up shoved to the side for the next new release. However, the saddest reason that amazing open-world games might be overlooked by modern players is that older ones can be more difficult to play or clunky in comparison to newer games, even if the content is still worth exploring.
Rise of the Ronin Is an Underrated Open-World Game
Part of the problem with Rise of the Ronin is that the features that make it a unique open-world game were overshadowed by gameplay elements players didn’t care for. Its combat also fell short of games with a similar style, such as Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and players felt they were picking up an excessive amount of loot.
However, Rise of the Ronin includes a beautiful open world to explore, and it’s set during a historical period of Japan that’s not usually used in this type of medium. Additionally, the story makes it easy to keep wanting to explore the world, even if bouncing between factions can be a bit disorienting. This is a must-play game for anybody who enjoys historical settings and incredible visuals.
Shadows of Doubt Always Feels Fresh
Shadows of Doubt has really flown under the radar when it comes to incredible open-world games. Set in the 1980s, players get to explore a world in a way that feels like stepping into a stylized version of the past as they take the role of a detective working to solve procedurally-generated crimes, which means that no two playthroughs will ever be the same.
While the idea of Shadows of Doubt is great in theory, there are problems with the quests that come from the procedural generation, such as a lack of depth, which players have complained about. Hopefully, a future expansion or patch will fix that issue, but either way, the game is unique and worth trying out.
Where Winds Meet Isn’t a Normal Gacha Game
Not only is Where Winds Meet a game that draws players into its story, but it’s also free to play. Honestly, the quality of the content in this game is incredible for it being free, with many aspects matching the quality of similar premium games. Plus, the game receives regular updates, so the amount of content that’s available keeps increasing.
The reason Where Winds Meet gets overlooked is partially because of its gacha system, which is an immediate turnoff for some players. While this is understandable, considering how easy it is to spend way too much money in a gacha, the system in Where Winds Meet is purely cosmetic, so the entire game can be enjoyed without spending any money.
Project Zomboid Is a Unique Open-World Zombie Game
Project Zomboid is a survival game with one of the most dangerous open worlds ever. Odds are, most players won’t survive for long, and since death is permanent, they’ll have to do a lot of starting over. However, that challenge is part of the fun in Project Zomboid, and with so many buildings to potentially use as shelter, players can try different survival strategies each time.
It’s likely that Project Zomboid‘s style is what deters some players from trying it, and it definitely takes some getting used to, especially since the field of vision makes it easy for zombies to sneak up from behind. However, this open-world game is a challenge that’s even more fun to face with friends.
The Gothic Series Is an Old Classic Open-World Experience
Gothic is an iconic franchise, but its age can make players less likely to try it, especially since gameplay mechanics have become much more polished over the years, making older games harder to return to. Luckily, Gothic 1 has been remade, which makes it slightly more accessible for players who might not have had the chance to play it before.
Set in a penal colony separated from the rest of the world by a magical barrier, the story follows prisoners forced to mine ore needed to supply the humans outside the barrier in their war against the orcs. Naturally, the player ends up inside that penal colony and has to figure out how to survive and form alliances.
Mad Max’s Films Overshadow the Game
Mad Max is a fun film franchise, but the attention on the movies takes away from the games. Although the online portion has been retired for years, the game still works as a single-player experience. For fans of the films, it offers something that might be even more enjoyable, since it’s interactive in a way film can’t be.
What stands out most in Mad Max isn’t a gripping storyline or anything especially emotional. Instead, it’s the pure fun of an open world shaped by the apocalypse, where intense vehicular combat is part of everyday life. Max might want to leave that violence behind, but his reluctance doesn’t lessen the player’s experience.
The Mafia Series Delivers a Story-Rich Open World
It’s a shame that the Mafia series is so underrated when it comes to action, open worlds, and even storytelling. For players who want content to keep them occupied while they wait for big open-world games due later this year, such as GTA 6 and The Witcher 4, the Mafia games are a great option thanks to their similar action-oriented feel.
As an added bonus, there are multiple Mafia games, meaning there are hours of content to enjoy. The first games are on the older side, but they’re definitely worth playing today. It’s criminal that they end up overlooked so often compared to other action-packed games that tend to dominate gaming conversations, but these are classics that deserve more attention.
Skyrim Left Morrowind in the Shadows
When it comes to Elder Scrolls titles, Skyrim receives the most attention by far, while Oblivion has seen renewed interest thanks to its shadow-dropped remake. Even so, Morrowind, which might be the most unique game in the series, rarely gets the same attention despite the immersive world it offers players to explore.
At the same time, Morrowind isn’t as approachable as Skyrim in terms of its world and mechanics. Age is part of that, but the real barrier tends to be the density of its lore. That style of storytelling, which asks players to dig deeper, isn’t as common in modern games, and combined with its older qualities, it often makes the game a less appealing choice.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance Is a Classic RPG with Modern Qualities
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has been an overall success and has seen a fair amount of popularity, but the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance continues to feel overlooked. Players don’t have to play the first game to understand the sequel in general, but the experience and story of the original add depth to Henry’s story, particularly to the ending of the second game.
Unfortunately, the combat in both games is rather clunky, and that is more pronounced in the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance. It has the feel of the RPG style used in games like Skyrim, but with a story and mechanics rooted in history rather than fantasy. However, players who get used to the mechanics are in for a treat, especially if they’re fans of historical fiction.
Sleeping Dogs Is a Sleeper Hit
It’s devastating that Sleeping Dogs is such an underrated open-world game. A basic description would be that it’s similar to GTA, but set in Hong Kong; the truth is that this game is so much more than that. Players get to experience life as an undercover cop whose job is to take down the Triads from the inside, which is naturally a dangerous task.
The high stakes of Wei Shen’s job, combined with the beauty of the world and storytelling that makes most characters sympathetic in some way, create a masterpiece. Even with a definitive edition, Sleeping Dogs hasn’t received the level of recognition it deserves, and it should be on the must-play list for any player who enjoys action and open worlds.
There are so many elements that go into open-world games that can set them apart from what feels like an oversaturated genre, but even amazing games can inevitably end up being missed or dismissed by players for any number of reasons. Sleeping Dogs is a true hidden gem that’s worth going back to years later.