10 Open Worlds That Would Be Absolute Nightmares to Actually Live In

Summary

Video games offer escapism, but the open-worlds depicted may be nightmare scenarios compared to reality.
Survival in settings like zombie apocalypses, post-apocalyptic worlds, or haunted forests is depicted as extremely challenging.
Life in these virtual worlds often entails struggles with monsters, scarcity, war, and constant danger.

Video games transport their players into immersive, vast realms, offering an enchanting escape from everyday life for short periods. This is one reason why video games, along with being entertaining in themselves, are a popular means of escape for countless individuals.

As a dedicated gamer, I often find myself immersed in the captivating open-worlds that video games offer. Yet, when I pause to ponder about these virtual landscapes and consider the possibility of actually stepping into them, a sense of unease creeps in. The enchantment of video games starts to dissipate as I realize that many of these open-world settings would be far from idyllic if they were real. Here’s a list of some open-worlds that no gamer would willingly accept an “Isekai” trip to anytime soon.

10. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

War And Monsters Across The Continent

Living as an ordinary person within the realm of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, reminiscent of Earth’s 13th century, would be a challenging existence. As you navigate through this game, you’ll encounter numerous villages and towns that portray a life strikingly similar to what one might have experienced during the real medieval era.

A life marked by poverty, famine, and a lifespan barely reaching 30 years is fraught with hardship and struggle. Add in monstrous creatures and endless wars, and the situation becomes grim indeed. Even extraordinary individuals such as mages and witchers would find little solace in their lives – mages hunted for their magical powers, and witchers enduring harsh childhoods to spend their days battling monsters.

9. Days Gone

Cardio Is Key In The Zombie Apocalypse

In a zombie apocalypse, life becomes unbearably harsh. The modern world’s amenities have vanished, replaced by hordes of mindless creatures. Encountering another survivor might even prove more daunting than confronting a zombie.

In the realm of zombie games, Days Gone stands out as exceptionally challenging due to its association with the 28 Days Later genre. Unlike traditional zombies, the undead in this game, known as Freakers, exhibit extraordinary endurance and speed, behaving more like pack-running marathoners rather than lethargic creatures. This added dimension to the survival gameplay necessitates an athlete’s level of stamina just to outrun these relentless adversaries.

8. Dying Light 2: Stay Human

Nightmarish Zombies In The Aftermath of the Haran Virus

In the game world of Dying Light 2, much like in Days Gone, life becomes a terrifying ordeal due to society’s collapse and the presence of zombies roaming the land. The type of zombie you encounter in Dying Light 2 varies, ranging from the familiar undead to powerful monsters such as Volatiles.

In this post-apocalyptic world where various forms of the undead roam, survivors face an even greater challenge as they must account for more factors compared to standard zombie apocalypse scenarios, making their already tough lives all the more stressful. The silver lining is that certain infected creatures are less active during daylight, offering a brief respite that can make survival slightly easier.

7. Fallout 3

The Nuclear Devastation Of The Wasteland

At first glance, Fallout 3 may appear to be one of the less harsh environments on this list, as it features settlements like Rivet City that suggest a slow rebuilding of infrastructure. However, it’s important to remember that these settlements come with their own set of challenges, and beyond them lie vast tracts of land inhabited by mutated creatures and dangerous bandits. Venturing anywhere or collecting supplies is always a risky endeavor, as the chance of being attacked or harmed remains high throughout your journey.

6. Metro: Exodus

The Miserable Life of Post-Apocalyptic Russia’s Metro System

In essence, Metro Exodus shares a comparable situation with the Fallout series. Both narratives depict societies that have emerged following a nuclear catastrophe. However, dwellers in the Metro‘s subterranean tunnels may find themselves living under sunless conditions, subsisting on rations and enduring cramped, unsanitary quarters. The scarcity of resources has also given rise to various factions within these underground societies, each imposing a certain degree of authoritarian rule.

5. Mad Max

Surviving An Australian Desert Full of Bandits

In the desolate wasteland of Mad Max, I’ve learned that resources like food, water, and fuel hold far greater worth than precious metals. Food and water are scarce commodities, more valuable than gold itself. Fuel, in this world, is a close second, powering the destructive machines of the ruthless gangs that roam the landscape in their armored vehicles.

In such a universe, it’s difficult for survivors to travel far without vehicles, especially since Mad Max’s world is predominantly vast, arid landscapes. Existence in this setting would be a continuous battle, with individuals frequently resorting to violence even over basic necessities like a single glass of water.

4. Diablo 4

Demons Everywhere In Sanctuary

Just like many other dark fantasy games, life in the world of Diablo 4 is inherently grim because of its medieval-inspired backdrop. However, what sets Diablo 4 apart is that Sanctuary, the game’s primary setting, finds itself in a perpetual state of conflict due to the ongoing battle between heaven and hell.

In Diablo 4, it seems like players barely take a few steps before encountering a group of wandering demons. Navigating through the game world as an average person could be a terrifying experience, especially when you might stumble upon hordes of giant goat-like monstrosities on your way to the well. Given how intensely Diablo 4 has heightened the franchise’s ominous darkness, it’s astonishing that anyone manages to stay alive at all.

3. Elden Ring

The Dead World Of The Lands Between

In Elden Ring, there are an equal number of serene and picturesque places as there are daunting and ominous ones, making it appear, compared to other games listed here, as if it could be one of the less harsh worlds to inhabit. However, in keeping with FromSoftware’s signature style, The Lands Between is a realm brimming with death and despair.

In Elden Ring’s game world, almost every being you encounter aside from fellow Tarnished characters is either hostile, undead, or mentally unstable. Adding to this, the world teems with incredibly powerful monsters and places that could have offered sanctuary lie in ruins. As a result, surviving in this world seems all but impossible.

2. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

In The Grim Darkness Of Warhammer 40k’s Future, There Is Only War

In Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader, players assume roles of privilege far removed from the typical existence in the 40k cosmos. The majority aren’t afforded the luxury of commanding their own starship. Instead, they’re either trapped within the sprawling maze of a hive city, enduring grueling work in the city’s shadowy underbelly, or conscripted into the Astra Militarum for cannon fodder duty. This latter role may pit them against unspeakable terrors such as Tyranids or entities summoned from the Warp.

Even joining one of the 40k’s other advanced civilizations, such as the Aeldari or the Tau, wouldn’t guarantee a peaceful existence. The Aeldari, for instance, faced near-extinction when their indulgent lifestyle brought forth the Chaos God Slaanesh, who devoured the souls of many of their kind. Explaining all the reasons why life in the Warhammer 40k universe would be unpleasant is a task that requires numerous lists to fully cover.

1. Darkwood

Trapped In A Haunted Forest In Poland

Acid Wizard’s game Darkwood immerses players in one of gaming’s scariest environments: a part of Poland transformed by evil powers into a haunting supernatural woodland teeming with various monstrosities.

Spending a day in the forest is already challenging, as you need to gather resources while evading or combating mutated creatures and other desperate survivors. However, it’s during the night that the danger significantly increases. Those without a secure shelter and power source for lighting will face the terrifying unknown lurking in the dark. Even with a safe shelter, the eerie sounds of the forest at night and encountering supernatural events can push anyone to the edge of sanity.

2025-05-02 03:38