Best Open-World Games With No Real Objective

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Open-world games offer a lot of freedom and plenty to explore. However, they often still steer players towards specific objectives. A good example is *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt*, where the main character, Geralt, is searching for Ciri. While players aren’t *forced* to go after her immediately, the story makes it feel like an urgent task.

This isn’t necessarily a drawback, but some open-world games intentionally avoid giving players a clear main goal. Instead, they focus on letting you explore and enjoy the world at your own pace, offering freedom beyond a specific objective.

Minecraft

The Ultimate Goal Is To Have Fun

When you begin a new game of Minecraft, you create a ‘seed’ which generates your own unique world. From there, you can immediately start gathering resources and building. The game doesn’t have a traditional story, though there’s a lot of hidden background information for players who are interested in discovering it.

In Minecraft, you can build anything you imagine – from farms and underground caverns to massive cities and famous landmarks. You can even battle monsters after dark! Whether you play solo or with friends, there are no set objectives; you decide what you want to achieve.

Elden Ring

Survival Is Your Goal

FromSoftware games are known for letting players explore and overcome challenges, rather than following a strict storyline. Like their previous titles, Elden Ring doesn’t have a central plot, but it features a vast and dangerous open world for players to discover.

While *Elden Ring* doesn’t focus heavily on crafting or relaxing activities, players are free to battle enemies and bosses at their own pace, with a lot of freedom in how they explore. Some areas are locked until you’ve progressed in others, but you’ll likely discover them naturally as you journey through the game’s world. And if you’re finding it difficult – it *is* a challenging game – you can team up with other players through co-op.

Fallout 76

Try And Make The Apocalypse More Livable

Unlike other Fallout games, Fallout 76 doesn’t begin with a detailed introduction or story. Players immediately begin exploring the world, fighting creatures, and building items. While Bethesda has since added more story-driven quests through updates, they aren’t the main focus of the game.

I think what’s really cool about Fallout 76 is how free it feels compared to other Fallout games. You’re not stuck following a story about finding someone’s kid or getting revenge – you can just explore and do whatever you want! It’s actually a perfect game to jump into the series with, and even better because you can play with friends. It’s a blast to wander Appalachia with your buddies!

Sea Of Thieves

Sail With Your Mates

Sea of Thieves focuses more on the experience of *being* a pirate than fast-paced action. While updates have added more things to do and places to visit, it’s a game that’s open for exploration right from the beginning, and it’s best enjoyed when playing with others.

I’ve always dreamed of sailing, and while going it alone sounds amazing, honestly, it would be way more fun with a whole crew of my friends! Imagine us singing sea shanties, maybe even having a little swashbuckling fun with any rivals we come across, and definitely searching for buried treasure. That’s the pirate life, right? And the best part is, out on the open ocean, it feels like anything goes!

No Man’s Sky

Travel The Universe

Okay, so No Man’s Sky is a lot like Sea of Thieves, but instead of being a pirate on the ocean, you’re basically a space explorer! You fly around in your ship and visit a crazy number of planets – seriously, it feels endless – and every single one is unique. It’s all about traveling and discovering new worlds.

While there’s some combat, *No Man’s Sky* is mostly a relaxed experience if you follow the guidelines set by a galactic council. You can gather resources to build things, study strange creatures to create a catalog, or even build a base for others to explore. It’s a game where you’re free to play however you want – whether you’re focused on completing objectives or simply enjoying life on a new planet.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

No Badges In Sight

Traditional *Pokémon* games usually focus on earning Gym Badges and catching Pokémon to become a champion. *Pokémon Legends: Arceus* includes some familiar elements, but it’s primarily a different kind of *Pokémon* game – a spin-off title.

The game has a story you can follow, but the focus is really on exploring a large, open world. You can spend your time catching Pokémon, battling them in real-time, or doing other activities like crafting Poké Balls – there’s plenty to do!

Palworld

Create A Pal Army

Palworld is similar to Pokémon, but gives you a lot more freedom. Instead of Pokémon, you collect creatures called Pals. The game doesn’t have a traditional story; you’re simply placed in the world with a list of optional goals to help you learn the game, or you can explore and play however you like.

Palworld lets you capture Pals to use for everything – riding around, fighting battles, doing work, and more. It’s clear that Game Freak and Nintendo could take some inspiration from it, and it’s possible that Palworld was the basis for the recently announced Pokopia.

Infinity Nikki

Jump Up And Look Good

Infinity Nikki is a free mobile game where you play as Nikki, a character striving to become a top fashion icon. The game starts with a story, and you can complete quests to unlock new items, but you’re free to play however you like – there’s no pressure to follow a specific path.

Players aren’t limited to pre-made looks; they can discover materials and create unique outfits by exploring the game world. While some of the coolest items are available through purchases – it’s a gacha game, after all – you can still have a lot of fun with *Infinity Nikki* without spending any money.

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2025-10-07 06:05