Best Open-World Games With Science-Based Combat

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Open-world games are often set in fantasy worlds filled with magic and swords, or in sci-fi settings focused on gunplay. However, there’s a lack of games that allow players to experiment with unusual and creative scientific concepts within an open-world environment.

It’s not about literally throwing lab equipment at opponents, though that’s a funny thought! Science can enhance any weapon – even guns – to create more over-the-top action than you’ve seen in other open-world games. If you’re searching for unique, science-based combat, check out these examples.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Science For The Win

Peter Parker is a brilliant scientist—and a genuinely likable character—in the Marvel universe. That intelligence shines in *Marvel’s Spider-Man 2*, where players can unlock a ton of gadgets for both Peter and Miles, and even the web-slinging itself is rooted in scientific principles.

The Web Grabber fires webs in every direction, grouping enemies together for easy takedowns. The Sonic Burst temporarily stuns and disorients opponents, creating openings for players to attack.

The Outer Worlds

Literal Science-Based Weaponry

While many space games don’t focus heavily on futuristic weapons, *The Outer Worlds* definitely features some unique and powerful guns, including those that shoot lasers and elemental attacks like fire. These weapons are good, but what players really remember are the game’s creatively – and sometimes literally – named Science Weapons.

The game features weapons like the Gloop Gun, which freezes enemies with a sticky goo, and the Shrink Ray, which makes them tiny. It looks like this sequel really emphasizes science-based weapons, making it a good choice for players who enjoy that theme.

Fallout 4

The Post-Apocalypse Is Full Of Wisdom

The *Fallout* games appeal to a wide range of players, offering both traditional guns and futuristic energy weapons. There’s a unique satisfaction in using a laser gun to completely obliterate an enemy. *Fallout 4* expands on this by letting players fully customize their weapons, from guns to melee weapons, allowing for a truly personalized experience.

The Junk Jet is a particularly fun weapon, letting you fire almost anything you find – from plates to toys! It’s satisfying to watch the junk impact enemies in slow motion and send them flying. You can also modify your Power Armor to feel like a powerful, robotic warrior straight out of a wasteland movie.

Horizon Forbidden West

A Bow Above The Rest

In *Horizon Forbidden West*, the second installment of the series, players have even more options for crafting weapons and ammunition to battle robotic creatures in a post-apocalyptic setting. Aloy relies heavily on her bow, which she can customize with various ammo types. She also uses tools like the Tripcaster to set electric traps and the Ropecaster to restrain larger robots. Plus, she can hack into robots and turn them to her advantage during fights, proving she’s a true expert when it comes to machines.

Cyberpunk 2077

This Bullet’s For You

In *Cyberpunk 2077*, players explore a future where the line between humans and machines is blurred by cybernetic enhancements. You can heavily customize your character’s body, choosing to be more organic or more robotic, even adding things like hidden arm blades. Combat is also versatile, with guns offering effects like poison, and unique weapons like Skippy – a talking pistol that guides its own bullets to hit the target.

Sunset Overdrive

When Brands Become Sentient

Despite being an Xbox One exclusive, *Sunset Overdrive* often gets overlooked. It was created by Insomniac Games, the team behind the inventive weapons in games like Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank. This open-world game offers a unique take on the zombie genre, with citizens being turned into mutants by a poorly advertised energy drink.

The game lets players build incredibly unique weapons, such as ‘Nothin’ but the Hits,’ which fires records at enemies. Other options include the ‘TnTeddy,’ a dynamite-strapped teddy bear launcher, and the ‘Rivet Blaster,’ capable of creating an electric net to damage opponents. With so many creative weapons, the game consistently keeps players entertained and engaged.

Starfield

Star Wars

Starfield features energy weapons similar to those in The Outer Worlds, allowing players to quickly defeat enemies. The Equinox laser is frequently found, equipping both soldiers and bandits. While lasers are common throughout space as you travel between planets in your ship, the game also includes particle weapons, like the Novalight pistol, which combine elements of both traditional bullets and energy. Many players agree that Starfield offers the most satisfying gunplay of any Bethesda role-playing game.

Destroy All Humans

Humanity Never Stood A Chance

If you’ve ever wanted to get revenge on humanity, *Destroy All Humans* is the game for you. You play as Crypto, an alien whose mission is to observe—and wreak havoc on—people. He uses weapons like the Zap-O-Matic to shock unsuspecting citizens, and a special probe to either scare enemies or, well, extract their brains – which aliens use as money! And if things get tough, you can always take to the skies in your UFO and unleash some serious destruction.

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2025-10-10 14:46