Open-World Games That Do What Ubisoft’s Open Worlds Never Could

Okay, let’s be real. I love a good open-world game, and I’ve played a ton of Ubisoft titles – Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, you name it. But honestly, after a while, they all feel pretty similar. Even their newer stuff like Immortals Fenyx Rising, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and Star Wars Outlaws fall into the same patterns. It’s not that these games are bad – they’re usually fun and I know what I’m getting into – but if you’re looking for something totally fresh and different, Ubisoft’s style of open world might not be it.

Many other game studios are also creating impressive open-world experiences. While some have borrowed elements from Ubisoft’s successful formula, others offer something completely different – things you’ll never find in a Ubisoft game. These studios are experimenting with unique gameplay, open-world structures, storytelling, and themes. Here are some open-world games that offer experiences Ubisoft’s top titles don’t.

Red Dead Redemption 2

A Slow-Paced Living World That Breathes Between Quests

Rockstar’s open-world games stand out from those made by Ubisoft, and really, from almost everything else in the genre. They’re in a class of their own. Red Dead Redemption 2 perfectly showcases this – with its incredible attention to detail, realistic game mechanics, and slower, more immersive pace, it’s considered a must-play for fans of open-world games.

Honestly, playing Red Dead Redemption 2 feels totally different from a lot of other open-world games like Ubisoft’s. Their worlds always feel like a checklist of places to go and things to do. But in RDR2, it genuinely feels like life is happening even when I’m not on a mission. The best parts aren’t always the quests; it’s just riding around, exploring, and running into random people and situations. That’s where the game really comes alive for me.

Elden Ring

Thrown In Blind, No Safety Net

A meme recently circulated showing what Elden Ring might look like if Ubisoft had made it – the screen was cluttered with instructions, hints, and control reminders. This joke hits close to home, because Elden Ring is famous for letting players figure things out on their own, with very little guidance or a clear storyline – a stark contrast to most modern Ubisoft games.

Unlike many modern games, Elden Ring doesn’t hold your hand. It drops you into a vast world and lets you discover things for yourself – figuring out the story and where to go is all part of the experience. The game also doesn’t have different difficulty settings; it’s challenging for everyone. While there are optional items that can help, it’s never easy.

Cyberpunk 2077

Mature Narrative And Complex Themes In A Triple-A Package

In 2015, CD Projekt Red essentially set the standard for open-world action-RPGs with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and many games from Ubisoft, like Assassin’s Creed Origins, have since borrowed from its design. While Cyberpunk 2077 largely sticks to that established formula, it also stands out by offering a surprisingly mature story and tackling complex themes that other developers, like Ubisoft, often avoid.

Despite being a major, high-budget game, Cyberpunk 2077 offers a bold and uncompromising look at a gritty future, even criticizing the ethics of large corporations. It’s rare for a game to balance such a strong creative vision with high production values so effectively. Cyberpunk 2077 stands out thanks to its realistic, flawed characters and a clear, meaningful story.

Death Stranding

Deliberately Slow And “Boring” At Its Core, Embracing Isolation

Even from the beginning, Death Stranding felt like a unique open-world game, and many wondered what you actually did in it besides walk. The answer, it turned out, wasn’t much – and that was intentional. The game was designed to be different from typical open-world games, like many from Ubisoft, which focus on giving players immediate rewards.

Rather than constant action and rewards, Death Stranding focuses on creating a sense of solitude, loneliness, and even a bit of monotony. It deliberately avoids the usual gaming techniques designed to give players quick bursts of excitement. The game emphasizes the experience of the journey itself, and with its long, story-driven cutscenes – a hallmark of Hideo Kojima’s work – it offers a uniquely slow-paced experience, a stark contrast to games like those made by Ubisoft.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Uncompromising Historical Authenticity Over Fun

Ubisoft has made many open-world games based on history, like the Assassin’s Creed series, but it’s difficult to picture them releasing a game as realistic, challenging, and detailed as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. This game from Warhorse Studio is a very realistic medieval simulation that doesn’t try to keep players entertained with easy progress, frequent rewards, or simple fun. It focuses on a true-to-life experience instead.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a deeply immersive game designed for players who appreciate realism and don’t mind a challenging, sometimes slow-paced experience. It’s not for everyone, and the game doesn’t try to be. Instead, it fully commits to its unique style, delivering a sincere and dedicated experience that feels truly special.

The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

A Playground Of Tools, Not Rules

Ubisoft’s open-world games typically don’t offer much room for creativity or going off-script. They strongly guide players with clear instructions, often resulting in a fairly linear experience. Don’t expect the same level of freedom and experimentation found in games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom when playing an open-world game made by Ubisoft.

Similar to the previous game, Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t hold your hand, giving you a real feeling of freedom as you explore its huge world. What makes this game special, however, is how its gameplay systems connect and work together. These aren’t strict rules, but tools that encourage you to try new things. Players can find many different ways to tackle challenges, constantly discovering creative interactions with the environment and clever solutions.

Shadow Of The Colossus

Pure Emotion Through Silence And Minimalism

Shadow of the Colossus offers a unique open-world experience, quite unlike the style made popular by games like those from Ubisoft. The recent remake stays true to the original 2005 game, creating a world that mainly serves as a beautiful backdrop for a quiet, story-driven adventure. It offers very little guidance and a minimalist narrative, making even the expansive game Elden Ring feel comparatively guided and structured.

Rather than relying on detailed explanations or guidance, Shadow of the Colossus connects with players on an emotional level, letting feelings drive the story and character development. This streamlined, intimate experience demonstrates how powerfully a message can resonate even with very little exposition.

2025-12-29 06:07