Open-World Games Where The Terrain Is Your Enemy

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Open-World Games Where The Terrain Is Your Enemy

Key Takeaways

  • Subnautica: Below Zero is an unforgiving open-world title with treacherous terrain and environmental hazards.
  • Elden Ring features challenging toxic swamps and debuffs that hinder player progress.
  • Fallout 4’s radiation mechanics pose a dangerous threat, with irradiated areas and water sapping player health.

As a seasoned gamer who’s weathered countless storms of gaming challenges, I must say that the open-world titles mentioned here are some of the most brutally beautiful environments I’ve ever encountered. The hostile terrains and treacherous landscapes in these games have left me feeling as if Mother Nature herself was out to get me!

There are numerous exciting open-world games that gamers can explore, each offering unique levels of challenge despite the genre’s broad spectrum. However, many of the most renowned open-world games today don’t shy away from presenting players with demanding obstacles.

One effective approach to creating a challenging open-world game could be to make the game world itself hostile rather than just increasing enemy numbers, especially in games with a zombie theme. In such scenarios, players will find themselves trapped in a hostile environment where they can’t escape, adding another layer of difficulty. For gamers seeking an environment as formidable as their enemies, here are some open-world titles to watch out for.

5 Subnautica: Below Zero

Immersing Players In Treacherous Terrain

In Subnautica: Below Zero, no location lacks the potential to drain players of their warmth and/or oxygen. As you delve into the icy wilderness above or the chilling depths below, be mindful that the environment can turn harsh in an instant, causing intense cold. The alien ocean in Below Zero exerts immense pressure, making unoptimized vessels vulnerable, while even shallow waters house geothermal vents capable of scorching players, or pockets where freezing ice water may trap you solid.

In the initial stages of Below Zero, the straightforward base construction might give players the impression that the game’s exploration would share the same accessibility. However, it doesn’t take much time before they realize that the environment in Below Zero is far from welcoming.

4 Elden Ring

A Dark Souls Staple Meets New Terrain Challenges

In Elden Ring, you’ll find many zones reminiscent of a classic Dark Souls element – the iconic toxic swamps, present since 2009’s Demon’s Souls. These poisonous wetlands and other areas plagued with even more potent scarlet rot pose significant challenges for players by making it difficult to traverse from one area to another.

In simpler terms, no extremely powerful character build in Elden Ring can withstand the continuous barrage of negative effects that regions such as the Lake of Rot impose on players, and when combined with seemingly weak opponents, these locations can present some of the toughest challenges within the game.

3 Fallout 4

Few Things Are Safe From Rads

In contrast to some elements from previous Fallout games that were criticized, Fallout 4’s radiation poisoning system introduces a challenging, straightforward, and tangible danger for the player. Essentially, radiation depletes a player’s Health Points (HP). The higher the rads, the lower the HP a player has. If radiation reduces enough of a player’s HP, even a simple radroach bite could be lethal.

One might ponder: How does a player acquire rads? Here’s the straightforward answer. They come from the water, operating reactors, craters, and active bomb sites, and for unlucky players venturing into the Glowing Sea, they are present everywhere and constantly. The environment in Fallout 4 swiftly establishes itself as a formidable challenge for players to conquer. To add to the difficulty, some of the finest gear in Fallout 4 is concealed within these irradiated zones.

2 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

Anomalies And Radiation Make For Hostile Environs

The video game “Shadow of Chernobyl,” inspired by the novel of the same name by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, presents a highly radioactive setting for players to endure while exploring for enigmatic anomalies – extraterrestrial relics that defy established scientific principles. In this twisted version of Chernobyl, every element poses a threat to the player in ways they might not comprehend.

An upgraded version of the classic STALKER series will shortly be available on Switch, allowing players to delve into the terrifying landscape of the Zone. However, staying alive in these challenging settings is far from simple.

1 Kenshi

There Are Literally Beams Of Fire Descending From The Sky

As a passionate enthusiast, I’d say it’s no surprise that one of the initial priorities for newcomers in Kenshi is securing a settlement. The continent’s environment is so intensely hostile that an unready player can find themselves in grave danger within seconds.

In the swampy marshes, players face perils that can bring them to a grinding halt due to acid rain showers. Meanwhile, those who believe the open wasteland of Venge offers clear sightlines for spotting dangers may find themselves second-guessing as orbital beams of fire repeatedly strike the area.

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2024-09-21 10:04