5 Best Open-World Games With A Focus On Disease And Infection Mechanics

Summary

Dying Light 2 Stay Human immerses players in a post-apocalyptic world with a focus on disease and infection mechanics.
The Long Dark challenges players with survival against wild animals, harsh weather, and various diseases.
In Fallout 4, players must manage radiation sickness with RadAway while interacting with numerous NPCs.

In open-world games, you’re given a lot of freedom in terms of gameplay choices, such as deciding how to approach the game, selecting your weapons and items, and even customizing your character’s appearance while you traverse through these expansive worlds. Some games may focus more on the main story, while others are renowned for their captivating narratives.

Games in an open world can take place in diverse settings such as medieval fantasy kingdoms boasting exceptional smithies, bleak dystopian future cities, or post-apocalyptic landscapes where the strong survive. In these last scenarios, game creators may introduce intriguing mechanics that involve factors like hunger and overall health conditions. Here’s a list of some outstanding open-world games emphasizing disease and infection dynamics.

5. Dying Light 2 Stay Human

Inhibitors Work As A Way To Increase Aiden’s Stats

Several parkour moves for exploration
Aiden can use

22 years after the first game, we find ourselves in Dying Light 2. The story follows a new character named Aiden Caldwell. This installment maintains its focus on parkour, allowing players to scale walls, jump from great heights, slide, and even wall-run to swiftly traverse the game’s map.

Similar to other games in this genre, combat primarily involves close-quarters fighting, and melee weapons have a limited lifespan, making players consider their tactics thoughtfully. In the expansive world of Dying Light, you’ll frequently discover structures called “Inhibitors”. These can be interacted with by Aiden to boost his abilities. It is hypothesized that these Inhibitors enhance immunity towards THV, a fictional concept representing aspects of antibodies and immune system response. Although not a real infection or disease mechanism, it adds depth to the gameplay experience.

4. The Long Dark

Afflictions Play A Significant Role In Survival

Five different survival difficulties
Players must avoid things like wild animals and life-threatening diseases

The Long Dark isn’t recommended for individuals with an unfounded dread of stranding in a desolate region and having to endure until help arrives. Instead, this game immerses players in the harrowing survival tale of Will McKenzie, a man compelled to survive the treacherous Canadian wilderness, confronting all the perils it harbors – not just extreme weather conditions and hunger, but also threats from wildlife, contagious diseases, and infections.

As a hardcore survivor in this game, I’ve got to keep an eye on several key factors if I want to make it through alive. These include my calorie intake, body temperature regulation, hunger pangs, exhaustion levels, and other essential aspects. But watch out for the “Diseases” – these nasty bugs can range from Cabin Fever and Chemical Poisoning to Dysentery, Food Poisoning, Hypothermia, Infection, Insomnia, Intestinal Parasites, and even Scurvy. And don’t forget that the game offers five different difficulty levels: Pilgrim, Voyageur, Stalker, Interloper, and Misery – each one more challenging than the last!

3. Green Hell

Treating The Different Types Of Ailments Takes Time And Knowledge

There are many ailments that can affect players’ character
Finding food and shelter is critical

Green Hell takes place deep within the Amazon rainforest, offering an immersive first-person experience. This open-world game challenges players to endure extreme conditions as they scavenge for essentials like food and resources hidden throughout the terrain. The goal is survival against overwhelming adversity.

In Green Hell, it’s not just about locating sustenance, but players must also discover shelter and set up multiple bases to maintain their survival. Additionally, the game provides players with a smartwatch that monitors their diet to help them stay fit. Common injuries in Green Hell include infection, laceration, leeches, rash, venom wound, fever, and food poisoning. Treating these wounds is crucial, making infection and disease key elements of this game.

2. Unturned

Players Must Be Very Careful To Ensure Their Sickness Bar Is In Check

Simple game mechanics that are fun
Players must be on the lookout for their sickness bar status

At first glance, Unturned may appear quite simple, but beneath its straightforward facade lies a solid foundation for an engaging zombie survival game. Although it lacks intricate game mechanics and flashy elements, it offers everything essential to deliver a thrilling experience. Players can opt for Survival mode, where their characters are dropped onto the game map with clothing that matches their skill set. To stay alive, they must scavenge for supplies, weapons, and other necessities to fend off relentless hordes of zombies.

As players engage in the game, they’ll observe a health meter on their display. Their goal is to maintain this meter above zero at all costs, for if it drops to zero, the character will succumb to illness and perish. Those who have mastered Unturned may find themselves craving new challenges, and fortunately, they’ll discover a wealth of games similar to it available for exploration.

1. Fallout 4

Radiation Poisoning Is A Real Threat That Must Be Kept An Eye On

Tons of different NPCs top interact with
Radiation sickness can be treated with RadAway

In conclusion, we have “Fallout 4“, widely regarded as the most acclaimed game in the series so far. The appeal of the “Fallout” series is manifold, including the diverse creatures players may stumble upon, the intriguing blend of retro and modern technology, and not least, the array of both romantically and non-romantically engaging NPCs that players can engage with.

Although some might say that illness and infection aren’t essential parts of playing Fallout 4, radiation sickness significantly impacts the Sole Survivor’s journey within the Boston Commonwealth. Players can contract radiation sickness by consuming contaminated water or food, which leads to a variety of troublesome symptoms that make gameplay more challenging. Fortunately, RadAway is available – a handy item for removing radioactive substances from one’s system. Additionally, the radiation poisoning system in Fallout 4 allows for the creation of powerful character builds, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the gaming experience.

2025-02-19 11:35