Open-World Games That Never Really End

Key Takeaways

Open-world games offer endless gameplay opportunities post-main story completion.
Stardew Valley, Death Stranding, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and more provide hundreds of hours of replay value.
No Man’s Sky offers infinite universe exploration with regular updates enhancing gameplay.

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the vast expanse of virtual worlds, I must say that these three games truly stand out among the rest. Each offers a unique and captivating experience that caters to different aspects of my gaming preferences.

The delight of playing open-world games lies in the diverse range of gaming experiences they offer, often centered around exploration and travel within a large environment tied to the main storyline. However, beyond the core narrative, there’s often much more to engage with – tasks like discovering hidden items, tackling extensive side missions, or experimenting with various gameplay modes that reveal additional layers of the story.

It’s important to recognize that when some open-world games are labeled as ‘endless’, it doesn’t necessarily mean they lack a main story. Instead, there are two primary types: those that continually update and provide fresh content for players, ensuring there’s always something new to experience each time they play; and others that offer extensive exploration and entertainment even after the main narrative has been finished. The games on this list encourage numerous hours of gameplay, often with strong replayability factors. At their heart, these games never truly seem to come to an end.

8. Stardew Valley

Changing Seasons And Updates Keep This Farming Story Exciting

Main Story Length: Open-ended
How Long You Can Play For: Open-ended

In Stardew Valley, gamers inherit a farm in a tranquil countryside village. As the seasons change, so too do activities and objectives, ensuring there’s always a fresh task waiting to enhance the property. Key gameplay elements include fishing, mining, gathering resources, cultivating crops, and interacting with numerous villagers such as Pelican Town residents.

Stardew Valley is an incredibly engaging game, where it’s simple to develop a strong attachment. A single saved progress could offer numerous years of enjoyment, featuring chances to earn ancestral recognition, win contests, tend to livestock, and even start a family.

7. Death Stranding

Missions Continue After The Main Game Is Finished

Main Story Length: 40-50 hours
How Long You Can Play For: 100+ hours

In a world post-catastrophe, a phenomenon called the Death Stranding allows otherworldly creatures to wander freely across the shattered globe. The mission for players becomes one of uniting the scattered remnants of Earth’s population and unraveling the enigma behind the Death Stranding event.

After wrapping up the primary narrative, Death Stranding provides ample activities for players to delve into. They can proceed with constructing infrastructure, influencing the evolution or deterioration of communities, thereby shaping the world’s condition. Additionally, there are numerous delivery tasks to tackle, and the expansive open world presents countless chances for exploration in its breathtaking, realistic landscape. To add to this, the Director’s Cut version of the game introduces fresh elements and mechanics that deepen the storyline even more.

6. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Become A Viking Raider Or Hunt Templars In This Beautiful Map

Main Story Length: 60–70 hours
How Long You Can Play For: 160+ hours

In this Norse-themed version of the Assassin’s Creed series, players step into the shoes of a Viking explorer venturing into Britain. As an emissary in their newfound community, they aim to forge alliances within the foreign land, while the Templar plot takes a secondary role (though it does eventually intertwine with the narrative).

In contrast to some gamers who feel that the narrative of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla might be less captivating, the game map is widely appreciated for its breathtaking beauty and delightful exploration opportunities, as it features representations of actual historical landmarks. Post-storyline adventures involve seeking out rare armaments, engaging in river raids, tracking down secretive Templar members, and enriching the experience through free DLC expansions.

5. Fallout 76

Free DLCs And Updates Add Content For Players Post-Campaign

Main Story Length: 30–50 hours
How Long You Can Play For: Open-ended

In Fallout 76, players find themselves in the role of survivors trying to rebuild society following a nuclear disaster that devastated Earth, specifically in post-apocalyptic West Virginia. This game emphasizes multiplayer interaction, although there are numerous solo tasks available as well. A notable aspect is the expansive open-world recreation of Appalachia, now a desolate wasteland and the largest environment ever built within the Fallout universe.

Initially met with negative feedback, Fallout 76 has persistently enhanced with frequent updates, catering to the preferences of its players. Once the main storyline concludes, an abundance of side missions await, coupled with numerous free DLC quests and opportunities for expanding one’s base.

4. Elden Ring

A Beautiful, Expansive Open World That Demands Exploration In Depth

Main Story Length: 50–70 hours
How Long You Can Play For: 150+ hours

In the game called Elden Ring, players embark on a trip through the Lands Between, a realm filled with enigmas and profound history. The goal is to ascend as an Elden Lord, a title that can be molded by your choices and significantly impact the story’s conclusion. Throughout this adventure, you gather fragments of the Elden Ring in order to bring peace back to the world.

Fans adore Elden Ring due to its expansive, interwoven, and breathtakingly beautiful open environment that requires numerous hours to fully uncover. Although the primary narrative is relatively brief, delving into every detail and venturing down each path can consume a considerable amount of time. This world can be traversed solo or in cooperation with others, making the journey all the more enjoyable when friends decide to join along.

3. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

A Celebrated Dynamic Open-World Where Everything Can Be Explored

Main Story Length: 50-60 hours
How Long You Can Play For: 200+ hours

In the game Breath of the Wild, Link wakes up following a century-long slumber, discovering that Hyrule has been ravaged by a catastrophic event called The Great Calamity. A voice guides him, revealing that Link is destined to be the hero and vanquish the evil causing the destruction in Hyrule.

Following the conclusion of the primary plot, players have the opportunity to further immerse themselves in the vast realm of Hyrule, accomplish shrines, and discover Korok seeds. This game is often praised by fans as offering one of the best, most engaging open-world experiences out there today. The environment itself is designed for exploration, boasting awe-inspiring vistas that spark wonder and fluid movement options that make almost everything interactive. Essentially, in “Breath of the Wild”, journeying through Hyrule becomes an enjoyable way to invest your time.

2. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Unlock New Items While Exploring The Stunning World

Main Story Length: 50-70 hours
How Long You Can Play For: 200+ hours

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but express my excitement for “Tears of the Kingdom,” the sequel to the masterpiece that is “Breath of the Wild.” This game takes everything we loved about its predecessor and elevates it even further. The story unfolds when Link and Zelda stumble upon a startling secret hidden in the depths beneath Hyrule Castle, leading to its astonishing rise into the sky.

The game’s gameplay encompasses solving riddles, restoring the realm, and combating a reviving foe. Once the primary narrative concludes, there remains much more to discover within this vast open-ended environment, such as shrines, collectible treasures, and unfinished side missions.

1. No Man’s Sky

Infinite Opportunities For Exploration Across Space

Main Story Length: Open-ended
How Long You Can Play For: Open-ended

In the vast expanse of No Man’s Sky, the universe is perpetually endless, inviting players to delve as deep as they desire. Each celestial body presents unique resources and artifacts ideal for crafting settlements or powering spacecrafts, enabling continued exploration beyond current horizons.

The charm of this game lies in the fact that its universe is vastly expansive, making it impossible to fully explore, yet each planet presents a distinct environment, ensuring there’s always something fresh for players to encounter. Since its debut, No Man’s Sky has received frequent updates, keeping gameplay engaging by introducing new quests and adding new gear to the game. Even veterans of the game find themselves drawn back time and again by these continuous additions.

2024-12-11 11:34