The Best Open-World Games Set In Rural Towns, Ranked

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Many open-world games are set in fantastical lands or large, modern cities. However, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt stands out by immersing players in beautiful natural landscapes and towns and cities inspired by real European styles. In contrast, Grand Theft Auto 5 focuses on a massive city modeled after Los Angeles, with some surrounding countryside areas to explore.

I’m a big fan of relaxing games, and sometimes I just want to escape to the countryside! If you’re like me and love the idea of a slower pace of life, exploring peaceful surroundings, then you might really enjoy some games that focus on that. I’m going to share a couple, like Lake and The Good Life, and give my thoughts on how good they are overall, and especially how well they capture that cozy, rural feeling.

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10. Kona

Surviving A Winter Storm

I recently played this indie game called Kona, and it’s seriously atmospheric! You play as a detective, Carl Faubert, who’s sent to a totally deserted town in Quebec, Canada, back in the 1970s to figure out what happened to everyone. The graphics remind me a bit of those older PS2 games like Indigo Prophecy, but honestly, it adds to the vibe and isn’t a drawback at all.

Players will encounter some wolves, but the game mainly focuses on exploring a frozen, deserted town to find clues while trying to avoid the cold. Though not strictly a horror game, the setting creates a chilling and eerie atmosphere.

9. State Of Decay 2

Living In The Apocalypse

State of Decay 2 has improved significantly since it first came out and is now a strong entry in the zombie survival genre. In the game’s campaign, players build a community of survivors, each with unique strengths and weaknesses, and can establish their base in locations like Trumbull Valley or Providence Ridge.

Players will typically find themselves in a rural or wilderness setting, maybe with a few small towns nearby. Their main objective is to survive against waves of zombies by finding resources, creating secure bases, and occasionally fighting back to push the zombies away.

8. Dredge

A Seaside Horror Adventure

Dredge is a game with a simple, relaxing start. Initially, it’s a laid-back fishing experience where you catch fish, sell them, and use the money to upgrade your boat and equipment. However, the game gradually becomes more unsettling and mysterious as you play.

As players venture further from the main towns, the game’s horror aspects become more noticeable. You’ll encounter mutated fish, mysterious characters on deserted islands who offer quests, and terrifying sea creatures. The game is best experienced knowing as little as possible beforehand, but it generally creates a cozy, small-town atmosphere with the constant presence of the immense ocean.

7. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

A Simple But Riveting RPG

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is primarily an action role-playing game, but it offers more than just traditional monster hunting. Players can choose to be powerful fighters called Lives, or they can enjoy playing everyday jobs within the game.

In Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, players can choose jobs like Woodcutter to gather resources, then use those resources as a Carpenter to build things. Everything you do not only helps your character grow stronger, but also improves your starting town. If you’re looking for a relaxing and engaging open-world action RPG, this game strikes a perfect balance.

6. The Good Life

Looking Into Murder

In the series, The Good Life, journalist Naomi Hayward travels to the peaceful village of Rainy Woods to look into some strange stories. She quickly stumbles upon a murder, and even more surprisingly, discovers people are transforming into animals – cats and dogs – a fate she eventually shares.

The game features NPCs who follow daily routines, creating a predictable world for players to explore. Players can investigate the lives of these townsfolk and enjoy the surrounding environment by interacting with them in unique ways – like having conversations, secretly taking pictures, scavenging as a dog, or even sneaking around as a cat.

5. Lake

Death Stranding, Without The Death

Released in 2019, Death Stranding raised the bar for delivery-based games with its impressive production quality. If you enjoyed that game and are looking for a similar, more relaxed experience—without the dystopian setting—Lake is a great choice. Despite its simple graphics, the game creates a calming atmosphere as you drive and explore the charming town of Providence Oaks, Oregon, while delivering mail and packages.

In Lake, you play as a courier who gets to choose their delivery route and chat with the people they deliver to. You can also build relationships with these characters through optional side quests. Overall, Lake is a very relaxed and peaceful delivery game with minimal stress or conflict.

4. Deadly Premonition

A Small Town Murder

Deadly Premonition is a game centered around a murder in a small town, and it takes a lot of inspiration from the TV show Twin Peaks. Players control FBI agent Francis York Morgan, who arrives in Greenvale to investigate a single murder, only to find it’s connected to a series of past crimes involving mysterious red seeds. The central mystery revolves around uncovering how these events are all linked.

Similar to The Good Life, every character in the game follows a daily routine, and players can choose to investigate those routines or focus on the main story. Regardless of how you play, the same person will always be revealed as the culprit. Deadly Premonition really shines because getting to know its strange and memorable characters is more enjoyable than the game’s horror or action aspects.

3. My Time At Sandrock

Building Up Society

I’m really into My Time at Sandrock right now! It’s a chill life sim, kind of like Fantasy Life, but with way more stuff you can actually make. Basically, you’re trying to rebuild this town, Sandrock, and turn it into something awesome. That means heading out into the desert to dig up resources, and then using those to craft everything – buildings, grow crops, you name it – to make life better for everyone who lives there.

Wood and water are scarce in the game, making them the most difficult resources to find. While the combat is straightforward, it feels good to play. My Time at Sandrock is perfect for anyone who enjoys the cozy atmosphere of small towns and wants to help rebuild and improve one, and it also features a cast of lovable characters, some of whom you can even romance.

2. Far Cry 5

Sins Of The Father

In Far Cry 5, you play as a player who must help restore peace to Montana after the U.S. Marshals Service is decimated while investigating a dangerous cult led by Joseph Seed, known to his followers as “Father.” After the marshals are either killed or captured, it’s up to you to liberate the region by taking back the cult’s strongholds one by one.

The game features towns to explore and people to save, all set in a wild and beautiful part of Montana with dense forests, towering mountains, and stunning lakes. Gameplay is similar to other Far Cry titles – expect plenty of over-the-top action and explosive moments, even in this isolated setting.

1. South Park: The Stick Of Truth

A Quiet Mountain Town

South Park is famously portrayed as a small, rural town in television and movies, and the video game South Park: The Stick of Truth really brings that to life. Players finally get to explore the town as seen on the show, recreated with the same look and feel as a full-length episode.

Players get to pick a class and customize their character before jumping into exciting turn-based battles featuring iconic South Park characters like Stan and Butters. As they unlock new skills, they can explore more of South Park, discover tons of hidden references, and experience a crazy, funny story unfolding in the Colorado town and its surrounding mountains.

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2026-05-11 18:10