10 Open-World Games That Make You Feel Like You're Completely Alone

Summary

Open-world games evoke feelings of loneliness through isolated environments and limited interactions with characters.
Games like Subnautica, Death Stranding, and The Witness use loneliness to enhance the player’s experience.
Loneliness in games like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild creates a sense of isolation.

Loneliness carries a strong, intense emotion. It often triggers feelings of sadness, anger, and utter despair within individuals, driving them to act impulsively, sometimes in hasty and potentially unwise ways that only worsen their circumstances. This sensation is not unfamiliar to many of us in our personal lives; however, it can also be elicited by immersive open-world video games.

In some video games, the players find themselves as solitary figures in perilous landscapes, while others put them among multiple characters, though with a distinct trait that leads to intense feelings of detachment. Yet, there are titles that offer flexibility: interact socially with the other characters within the game or elect to embark on their journey alone. Regardless of the choice, these open-world games masterfully create an atmosphere where players experience profound isolation, utter seclusion, and profound loneliness.

10. The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter

A Paranormal Investigator Searches For A Missing Boy

An experienced investigator endowed with psychic talents, Paul Prospero journeys to the deserted town of Red Creek Valley, Wisconsin, following a letter from a resident boy named Ethan. Yet, upon his entry into the town, Paul finds that Ethan is nowhere to be found. By employing both extraordinary and common detective skills, players venture at their leisure through Red Creek Valley, exploring the mysterious deaths and disappearances that have taken place within the town, allowing them to choose their own sequence of investigations.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter excels at stirring deep emotions of solitude and desolation. Essentially, it’s a horror game, but what makes it frightening isn’t jump scares; instead, it’s the revelation of chilling events that transpired before the player arrives. The eeriness intensifies as hints emerge suggesting that Paul might not be the only spectral presence haunting Red Creek Valley.

9. The Pathless

A Hunter And An Eagle Seek To Remove A Dangerous Curse

In the setting of The Pathless, a solitary hunter navigates a deserted island under the shadow of a potent curse. This game was developed by Giant Squid, who previously created Abzu, another game centered around exploration in a desolate environment. Unlike Abzu, where players interact with numerous creatures in its bustling aquatic ecosystem, The Pathless offers a unique experience. Initially, the entire cursed island is accessible to players from the beginning. Moreover, the only other living being the player encounters is a solitary eagle.

While it’s true that the eagle represents the Eagle Mother, a deity specific to this island, this doesn’t diminish the sense of isolation experienced during gameplay. The Hunter, whether fortunately or unfortunately, is embarking on this journey alone, purifying the cursed spirits and thwarting the Godslayer at each encounter. This solitary task can be crushing, although it’s eased slightly by the occasional presence of the Eagle Mother. However, the bittersweet conclusion to the game serves as an even greater source of sorrow when considering the loneliness that has been endured throughout the journey.

8. No Man’s Sky

The Universe Is What You Make Of It

In other words, No Man’s Sky is a game that could unfold in multiple directions due to its dynamically created “open cosmos”. Exploring this vast universe entirely is practically impossible. However, there are numerous activities to engage in, such as meeting various NPC characters, participating in epic space battles, and interacting with space stations filled with merchants and alien beings. Moreover, the game’s multiplayer feature can help combat any feelings of isolation players might encounter while playing.

An alternative method is available for players. Instead of venturing out into multiple planets or solar systems, they can choose to establish their base on just one planet, embarking on a solitary journey of exploration. The only obstacle to this approach is a potentially more intricate pathway for progression. If gamers opt out of multiplayer interactions, disregard NPCs, and bypass the main quests, they may experience an unusual sense of isolation, knowing they are the lone inhabitant on an entire planet.

7. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Link Is On His Own This Time

In most games within the The Legend of Zelda series (except possibly for the Hyrule Warriors), there is a profound sense of solitude that can be felt. However, this feeling is particularly strong in Breath of the Wild, as it becomes apparent from the beginning when Link awakens from his slumber, suggesting he’ll be embarking on most of his journey alone.

While it’s true that there are several small towns in the expansive Hylian world, each with a handful of residents, and occasional encounters with Zoras, Gorons, Gerudos, and hidden Korok seeds make Link feel slightly less isolated. Yet, these characters remain confined to their respective locations. This gives an added depth to the solitude, for despite the acquaintances players may make, once Link’s mission resumes, he finds himself back on his own journey again.

6. Subnautica

The Sea Was Angry That Day, My Friends

As a seasoned gamer, I can confidently say that Subnautica barely requires any introduction. It’s a captivating sci-fi open-world survival game that drops you into the role of a shipwreck survivor on an alien ocean world. Your only human interaction comes from an onboard computer, leaving the rest of your journey up to your wits and skills. You’ll need to explore the vast underwater landscape in search of supplies, all while trying to figure out a way to escape this mysterious planet.

In Subnautica, loneliness strikes hard from the get-go. Perched atop your initial escape pod, serving as your base, you stare out at the unending sea of blue, a sense of vulnerability overwhelming you. Soon enough, you’ll be compelled to plunge beneath the waves, forsaking your modest sanctuary and venturing into the inscrutable depths alone. The further down you swim, the more ominous the environment becomes, and the larger the aquatic creatures native to this planet grow. Those with a fear of deep waters should exercise caution.

5. Shadow Of The Colossus

A Boy, His Horse, And A Fallen Civilization

Shadow of the Colossus stands out as one of the most barren and solitary open-world games ever crafted. The player traverses a sparse landscape, encountering minimal content. Alongside Wander, his horse Agro, the voice of Dormin, an unresponsive (or deceased) woman Wander accompanies, and sixteen ancient colossi, the only character who verbally communicates is Dormin, through enigmatic riddles. This setup fosters a sense of isolation even before the gameplay begins.

When they accomplish their task, the sensation becomes intensified a hundred times over. With no one available to guide them to the next giant statue, they must venture forth under the guidance of sunlight bouncing off Wander’s sword. Agro, their sole ally, can only communicate through growls and whinnies. Moreover, each successful exploration results in the disappearance of another colossus from the world. By the end of the game, Wander stands completely isolated, and it is the player’s choices that led him to this solitary state.

4. Death Stranding

Sam Porter Bridges, Apocalypse Mailman

In contrast to many top-tier games, Death Stranding stands out as one that embraces innovation, and it’s no surprise that Hideo Kojima was behind its creation. The story revolves around Sam Porter Bridges, a delivery man for the Bridges company who is assigned the task of expanding the Chiral Network, a network of interconnected hubs, or “Knots”, which form the last remnants of civilization after an apocalyptic incident called the Death Stranding.

As a solo gamer, I seldom meet folks in person; instead, I interact with holographic entities who hand me cargo and a mission destination. Then, I’m off—usually on foot, dragging my cargo along. Accompanying me is a robot baby, initially called “BB,” but affectionately dubbed “Lou” by me. Lou isn’t much of a chatterbox; she’s just a baby, you see. This means I have plenty of monologues during my lengthy journeys. Occasionally, I cross paths with people who engage me in conversation, but they never tag along on my adventures, offering only brief respite from the solitude that I’ve willingly embraced.

3. Outer Wilds

The Heat Death Of The Sun Is A Lonely Place

In a sense, Outer Wilds embodies the essence of existentialism, offering players the role of an inquisitive space explorer. They receive their initial spaceship and suit to traverse the Hearthian solar system. Their mission involves unraveling various enigmas, such as the cause of the blast near Giant’s Deep or the reasons behind the extinction of the ancient Nomai civilization. However, their investigations are momentarily halted when the sun experiences an explosion.

It’s fortunate that in this game, characters find themselves stuck in a 22-minute time loop, which means they can restart their day every time the sun undergoes a supernova, thus prolonging their existence beyond the end of their solar system. The time loop offers a sense of control, yet also brings about a profound solitude. There are other characters exploring different planets in the solar system, but they do not share in the time loop experience and remain oblivious to their impending fate. This adds to the isolation as while there are non-player characters to interact with, they appear indistinguishable from dead aliens due to their lack of awareness about the sun’s expansion. The knowledge bestowed upon players by the time loop is a double-edged sword: a source of blessing and curse.

2. The Witness

Figure It Out For Yourself

Puzzle games typically prioritize intricate puzzles over developing rich and interactive Non-Player Characters (NPCs). However, it’s not that they don’t exist at all; instead, the emphasis is primarily on the puzzles while other elements play a secondary role. The game The Witness takes this approach to its utmost limit.

Adventurers discover themselves stranded on an isolated, seemingly deserted island filled with complex riddles. There are no maps or hints to aid them in solving these enigmas, no friendly characters to offer guidance. Instead, they must learn the intricacies of these puzzles through self-discovery, continually unraveling new layers only to face more conundrums. Occasionally, they may stumble upon the stone-cold remains that hint at the island’s past inhabitants. Over time, they’ll begin to understand that the entire island is one vast, interconnected puzzle, a truth they must uncover for themselves. Throughout their journey, however, they will never meet another living soul.

1. The Long Dark

Survival Of The Fittest

In contrast to many survival games, which can feel isolating, The Long Dark stands out as an exceptionally harsh and unforgiving experience. This open-world game is unique in that its survival elements are so intense, players often find themselves constrained rather than free to explore the world due to the relentless dangers posed by wildlife and weather conditions, all of which can prove deadly. In this game, you assume the role of a survivor who has crashed in the unforgiving Canadian wilderness following a geomagnetic storm.

In essence, The Long Dark offers a rich narrative experience with numerous NPCs, among them a doctor character who is frequently encountered during the storyline named Wintermute. Yet, in survival mode, these characters are either deceased or absent, leaving the player to fend for themselves. This means managing essential needs like hunger, thirst, and body temperature while navigating a treacherous frozen landscape, which carries the risk of severe injury. The game’s setting—the barren and perilous wasteland of The Long Dark—is unparalleled in creating an atmosphere that leaves players feeling isolated and vulnerable.

2025-04-12 18:39

10 Open-World Games That Make You Feel Like You’re Completely Alone