Open-World RPGs That Are Best Played Without Fast Travel

As a gamer, I have to say fast travel is one of the coolest things developers have added to games recently. It’s such a time-saver! I hate having to retrace my steps, and thankfully, fast travel lets me skip all that. It’s especially awesome when I don’t have a ton of free time to dedicate to playing – it means I can jump right into the fun parts!

While fast travel is convenient in many open-world games, sometimes it’s more enjoyable to explore naturally or simply use the game’s movement systems. Games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt really benefit from fast travel, and even though The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Red Dead Redemption 2 aren’t traditional RPGs, they also make good use of it. Now, let’s move on to the games that do prioritize a slower pace.

Elden Ring

Face Your Fears Head On

Unlike many RPGs, Elden Ring doesn’t rely heavily on simple fetch quests. The amount of back-and-forth travel these types of quests usually require feels almost comical in this game. While NPCs will guide you towards valuable items and encounters, it’s a different experience than traditional RPG quests.

The game world is large but packed with interesting things to discover, and quickly traveling around would discourage players from fully exploring it. If you’re playing with friends online, fast travel becomes even less useful. What really makes exploring Elden Ring enjoyable is Torrent, your horse, who can jump and make getting around a fun, bouncy experience.

Final Fantasy 15

Driving With The Boys

Unlike most RPGs, Final Fantasy 15 included a car for players to drive. It might break down at first, but you can quickly fix it with a short quest. While the car isn’t great on bumpy roads, you can always switch to a Chocobo to travel across rougher landscapes.

Players will likely prefer riding or walking over fast travel. Finding rare items, exploring magical spots, and completing quests are all more easily done by traveling the world directly, as fast travel can be slow and sometimes frustrating.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

A Denser Fantasy

Although it might seem unusual to suggest another Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth deserves attention because of its unique open-world design. Unlike Final Fantasy 15, which featured one large, connected open world, Rebirth is divided into detailed areas filled with things to do. Each area also has its own special Chocobo, the game’s iconic bird, with slightly different abilities.

Chocobos offer unique abilities like flying, wall-climbing, and surfing, making each new one you find exciting. They’re incredibly helpful for reaching hidden areas, finding valuable items, and completing quests. While fast travel between regions is convenient, exploring every corner of an area on foot is more rewarding, and gaining experience points is also a key part of the game.

Horizon Forbidden West

Hunting For Parts

Compared to the first game, Horizon Forbidden West features a significantly larger world with more activities. Aloy can now hack into machines – robotic creatures and animals – to either turn them into allies during fights or use them as rideable mounts. The game also adds a grappling hook and glider, making it easier to explore the environment.

It’s helpful to constantly gather parts to improve Aloy’s equipment, and you’ll find rare hunting opportunities more easily if you explore thoroughly. The game truly feels immersive when you live in and experience this post-apocalyptic world, always searching for resources or remnants of the past – there’s a strange beauty in the ruins.

Palworld

A Pal’s Work Is Never Done

Even though Palworld is still under development, the game world is already quite expansive and interesting for players to discover. Since Palworld combines elements of Pokémon and Minecraft, it’s worth noting that you’ll have a better chance of finding rare creatures, called Pals, if you avoid using fast travel.

Honestly, what really sets Palworld apart is how many different Pals you can ride! You’ve got land-based ones for speed, Pals that swim, and even flying types. Once you build a good team, getting around the world to find cool and rare creatures – whether they’re on land, in the water, or up in the air – becomes super easy.

Xenoblade Chronicles X

Working Toward My Skell

As a fan, I think Xenoblade Chronicles X has one of the most genuinely scary worlds to explore, right up there with Elden Ring. What makes it so intense is that everywhere you go, you’re running into enemies way stronger than you are – often twenty levels higher! But honestly, that’s part of what makes the game amazing. It really drives home the feeling of being on a hostile alien planet and trying to build a new home for humanity. It’s not just about the challenge, it’s about feeling truly vulnerable.

Okay, so for a big chunk of the game – maybe 20 hours or so – you’re mostly running around on foot, and honestly, you’ll want to use the fast travel system a lot just because the world is huge. But trust me, once you get your Skell license, forget about fast travel! The Skell is basically a mech you can fly or turn into a vehicle, and it makes getting around so much easier and safer. Plus, you’ll actually stand a chance against the tougher enemies with it.

Sand Land

A Sandy Trot

Sand Land is set in a future world devastated by a lack of water. An unlikely team – a demon and a human – are searching for a legendary source of water that could bring peace. Players control Beelzebub, the Prince of Demons, and engage in action-packed battles. However, the most unique part of the game is the vehicles, which you use for both getting around and fighting.

In Sand Land, players can discover a variety of ways to travel, including tanks, mechs, cars, and even creatures to ride. The game lives up to its name with vast, sandy landscapes, though you’ll occasionally find structures scattered throughout. With so many transportation options available, getting around shouldn’t feel like a chore.

Immortals Fenyx Rising

From Up High

Immortals Fenyx Rising was Ubisoft’s take on a game inspired by both Kid Icarus and The Legend of Zelda. Players create their own hero and explore a vast, detailed world based on Greek mythology. You’ll constantly find something to do – whether it’s racing, solving puzzles, or overcoming other challenges – often within just a few seconds of walking around.

The game offers a ton of things to do, sticking to the classic Ubisoft open-world style. If you want to complete everything, it’s actually better not to use fast travel. Beyond just the activities, exploring feels similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – you can climb almost anything and glide around, which is both visually appealing and enjoyable.

2025-12-28 08:35