I remember when Skyrim first came out – it totally changed what open-world games could be! Even now, years later, I still see people playing it. It really set the stage for games like Elden Ring and Breath of the Wild, which are some of my current favorites.
Some games become timeless classics, likely still being played on future consoles like the PS7. However, other open-world games didn’t achieve the same widespread popularity – maybe dedicated fans explored them, or perhaps they simply went unnoticed. Let’s highlight these overlooked titles and explain why they deserve recognition alongside huge hits like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and other epic adventures.
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Sand Land
What Fallout Should Be
If you enjoy open-world games, you shouldn’t miss Sand Land. It’s especially meaningful as it was one of the final creations by the renowned manga artist Akira Toriyama. The game takes place in a desert world after a great catastrophe, and you play as Beelzebub, a demon prince, who gathers a team to search for water and end the conflict between demons and humans.
While players battle enemies using different abilities as Beelzebub, the most exciting part of the game is controlling powerful vehicles like tanks and mechs. The vehicle combat is truly outstanding, and even though the open world could be more varied, there’s still a lot to explore and do.
Another Crab’s Story
Who Lives In A Soulslike Under The Sea?
Popular Soulslike games like Nioh 3 and Elden Ring are well-known, but Another Crab’s Treasure is a hidden gem. In this game, you play as Krill, a small crab on a quest to reclaim his stolen shell as he explores an underwater world.
For now, players can use all sorts of junk – from pop cans to tennis balls – as makeshift weapons, each with unique benefits. Experimenting with these unusual items is a key part of what makes the game fun. While the open world isn’t huge, players should still enjoy this challenging, underwater Souls-like experience.
Fist Of The North Star: Lost Paradise
What If Yakuza, But It’s The Post-Apocalypse?
Sega’s Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the team behind the Yakuza series, created a game based on the well-known anime and manga Fist of the North Star, and it’s widely considered the most faithful adaptation. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise puts you in the role of Kenshiro, a martial artist who arrives in the desert city of Sphere City after the apocalypse. Between battling enemies – and yes, that includes physically destroying them – you can even take on side jobs like tending bar.
Players control Kenshiro and can defeat enemies with incredibly violent attacks, making the violence in other games like Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise seem tame by comparison. While the city is compact but bustling, and the desert areas are a bit bland, the game offers a passable open world. The truly captivating part, however, is the over-the-top, bloody combat.
The Good Life
It’s Raining Cats And Dogs
Okay, so I just finished playing The Good Life, and it’s… well, it’s a Swery65 game, you know? He’s the guy who made Deadly Premonition, which was famously amazing and terrible all at once. But The Good Life is way more chill, visually and in terms of how it feels. You play as Naomi, a reporter who moves to this super quiet little village to do a story, and naturally, she stumbles into not one, but two big mysteries.
This game features a quirky murder mystery where people, including a character named Naomi, can transform into cats and dogs. Players investigate the town’s residents and complete tasks for them, both as a human and in animal form. It’s a relaxed and surprisingly fun experience, largely due to its memorable characters and the unique ability to play as a feline or canine.
The Saboteur
Who Needs Color?
I absolutely loved The Saboteur! It’s this really unique third-person shooter set in World War 2 Paris, and the whole thing is in black and white, which is so cool. You play as Sean Devlin, a race car driver who joins the French Resistance to liberate Paris from the Nazis. The coolest part? As you free different areas of the city, color actually starts to return to the world around you, which is a brilliant way to show your progress!
Players have several options for taking down enemies: they can sneak around undetected, set up explosive traps, or engage in direct combat with a variety of weapons. Beyond the main missions, players can also drive around the French countryside outside Paris, discovering small towns and even participating in races. The game’s distinctive black and white visuals still make it stand out, and it’s currently available on Steam for anyone interested in trying it.
Mercenaries 2: World In Flames
Pay Me What You Owe
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is all about creating and experiencing chaos. Players choose a mercenary who’s been betrayed and sets out to get even. You’ll build up an arsenal of weapons and vehicles to cause widespread destruction as you fight to reclaim what’s rightfully yours. With powerful firepower and a variety of vehicles at your disposal, you can quickly overwhelm enemy bases.
While a new Just Cause game isn’t likely coming from Square Enix soon, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames offers a similar open-world experience with fantastic destruction. The main challenge now is finding a copy of the game and getting it to work on today’s computers.
Sable
Another Sand Land
Similar to The Good Life, Sable offers a relaxed and peaceful open-world adventure. Instead of fighting, you’ll spend your time exploring and solving puzzles. You play as a new explorer who travels across a vast desert on a futuristic bike, completing quests for small settlements that often lead to discovering ancient ruins.
While not as visually varied as games like The Witcher 3, Sand Land features impressive interiors within its ruins. The game looks fantastic, especially when traveling across the desert on a futuristic bike, thanks to its unique art style. Puzzles are fairly simple, and the platforming is generally accessible to most players.
Tchia
Breath Of The Wind Waker’s Odyssey
I’m totally loving Tchia! It feels like a bunch of cool ideas all blended together into this really chill, open-world game. You mostly just explore, which is perfect because there’s hardly any fighting. You play as Tchia, and the coolest thing is you can basically possess almost any animal – dogs, bugs, birds, fish, even rocks! You sail around these beautiful islands and just… be everything. It’s so unique and relaxing.
Players move quickly by seamlessly jumping between objects, creating a chain of bounces for speed or to build up momentum for gliding. While the controls aren’t always perfect and the game sometimes feels a little rough around the edges, Tchia is undeniably creative and ambitious. If you enjoyed games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, or Super Mario Odyssey, this game is worth a look.
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2026-02-23 20:09