10 Open World Games With Multiple Maps

Developing a comprehensive, immersive map that players can freely navigate often consumes a significant portion of the development process for open-world games.

This is why it’s so impressive when an open world game doesn’t just have one map.

In both the main version and additional content, certain open-world games offer distinct areas for you to discover and explore on their own.

It’s quite impressive, regardless of their size differences, when there are multiple gigantic habitable worlds existing together.

10. Elden Ring

Down Below And Into The Shadow

Stepping into Elden Ring, FromSoft’s first foray into an open-world Soulslike game, I found myself utterly captivated by the breathtaking and unique landscape of the Lands Between.

However, the Lands Between we see on the map are literally just the surface of the matter.

Located beneath is the Siofra River, a distinct subterranean realm accessible through massive lifts.

The Siofra River lies beneath us, a unique underground world that can be accessed by gigantic elevators.

While not as big as the primary map, exploring it all is still an undertaking.

Let’s not delve into the DLC region, known as the Land of Shadow, that spans approximately thrice the size of some of the main map’s zones.

9. Metal Gear Solid V

Visit Scenic Africa And Afghanistan

In the year 1984, Venom Snake and his mercenary group, Diamond Dogs, mostly carry out their operations in areas experiencing turmoil, as depicted in the game Metal Gear Solid V.

These include two maps: Soviet-occupied Afghanistan and the Angola-Zaire border in Africa.

In contrast, these areas exhibit significantly distinct landscapes. One is predominantly desert, while the other is densely covered by forests.

During your downtime between missions, feel free to scout around on the maps, ambush enemy bases for potential new allies, and track the native creatures for a bit of hunting fun.

Here’s one way I could rephrase that in a first-person perspective as a fan:

“What makes this even more intriguing is the fact that the adversary forces in these territories communicate in distinct languages. As a result, Snake finds himself in a situation where he must enlist various interpreters to bridge these linguistic gaps.

8. Fallout 3

Set The Scale Going Forward

The original two Fallout games had pretty sizable maps, especially for the late 90s.

Compared to it, Fallout 3 was significantly larger, offering a completely explorable Capital Wasteland instead of limited settings. This expansiveness grew even more with the additional content provided in the game’s downloadable expansions.

Although the downloadable content expansions, “Operation: Anchorage” and “Broken Steel,” didn’t introduce significant new locations (with “Broken Steel” significantly altering the game’s conclusion), the other expansions undoubtedly did so.

In our journey, we were escorted to the ruins of what was once Pittsburgh, then guided to the coastline of Maryland at Point Lookout. Lastly, Mothership Zeta provided us with the opportunity to delve into the featured extraterrestrial spacecraft.

7. Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

The Most Fleshed-Out Regions

Back in the day, when I was just starting out as a Pokémon trainer, it wasn’t until I got my hands on Gold and Silver that I could explore more than one map. It was a game-changer for me!

After you beat the Johto Elite Four, you could then take on the Indigo League over in Kanto.

Instead, the earlier Pokemon games aren’t open-world enough to meet our desired level of freedom and exploration.

With that in mind, a better Pokémon example is the multiple maps seen in Scarlet & Violet.

Apart from the primary expanse of the Paldea region, there’s also the concealed and inaccessible Area Zero crater that remains hidden and unreachable from the main map.

Should you own the DLC, it grants you access to explore not only the unexpectedly expansive region surrounding Kitakami Village but also the colossal underwater dome of Blueberry Academy.

6. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Going Up, Going Down

Initially, it appeared as though The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom would incorporate the entire map of Hyrule from its previous game.

Beyond Hyrule itself, there are two more areas waiting to be discovered if you venture both upward and downward.

High up, you’ll find clusters of drifting islands and remnants of ancient structures, cleverly placed over prominent landmarks.

Descend into a deep chasm, and you’ll encounter vast, shadowy expanses reminiscent of Hyrule, shrouded in gloom and darkness.

5. Assassin’s Creed

Touring The Holy Land

Almost every Assassin’s Creed game shares a notable similarity in the form of expansive landscapes for players to traverse and engage in various combat scenarios, often involving stabbing.

This commonality dates all the way back to the first game in the franchise.

Originally, “Assassin’s Creed” takes you on a trip through the significant cities during the era of the Third Crusade, which took place in the 12th century Holy Land.

Or:

In the initial “Assassin’s Creed”, you explore important cities from the time of the 12th-century Third Crusade that occurred in the Holy Land.

These places encompass Masyaf, Damascus, Acre, Jerusalem, as well as the expansive Levantine countryside stretching between each of them.

All of these locales are dense with the series’ usual abundance of collectibles.

4. Destroy All Humans 2

So Much To Invade, So Little Time

In the initial “Destroy All Humans” video game, you’ll be transported to multiple “Invasion Locations” scattered across both rural and urban areas of the United States.

While they meet the criteria for several open-world maps, it could be argued that Destroy All Humans 2 executed this concept more effectively.

Instead of portraying sparsely populated countryside regions in the U.S., the second game transports you into gritty representations of cities worldwide, where chaos can be unleashed.

This collection features a city modeled after San Francisco, California, an imitation of London, England, a caricature of Tokyo, Japan, a unique representation of Tunguska, Russia, and a lunar base inhabited by researchers.

3. Street Fighter 6

Multiple Cities To Punch

Street Fighter 6’s World Tour mode is the first of its kind in the franchise’s history.

As a devoted gamer, I can tell you it’s far more than a traditional arcade ladder or a simple story mode; it’s an expansive open-world playground brimming with moves to master and foes to fell!

World Tour mode has two massive city maps for you to explore.

In the beginning, you commence the game within Metro City, a city famed for its revered mayor, Mike Haggar. Eventually, your journey leads you to Nayshall, a distant Asian country.

Beyond the two primary locations, you also have the opportunity to explore smaller districts of other prominent cities and destinations, where you can encounter a variety of mentors.

Unfortunately, these areas aren’t accessible for exploration right now, but there are some Non-Player Characters nearby you could engage in conversation with.

2. No Man’s Sky

A Galaxy Of Potential

Initially, what made No Man’s Sky stand out was the promise of an expansive and ever-changing galaxy, created using procedural generation techniques.

The game initially faced some rocky beginnings, but with time, it managed to settle into its optimal shape and undeniably achieved its aim.

Each planet you explore within No Man’s Sky is, quite suitably, a self-contained universe. Every one of them boasts its distinct landscape features, vegetation and wildlife, as well as hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.

Later updates to the game also added space stations for even more exploration potential.

1. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Not Spoiling For Vacation Destinations

Initially, Like a Dragon: Infinite Riches, continues the story not too far from where we left off in the last game, with Ichiban continuing his work at the Hello Work in Yokohama.

Yet, a series of events led him to depart for Honolulu, Hawaii, marking the initial occasion that the show’s main character left Japan.

Initially, you find yourself in Honolulu, but further along your journey, you’ll have the opportunity to go back to bustling Yokohama, a city brimming with opportunities for discovery.

As a gamer, I can’t wait to step foot back into the familiar streets of Kamurocho myself! It’s like a dream come true for me, especially since it holds so much significance for Kiryu and his life story.

2025-02-04 19:30