Best Open-World Games For Nature Exploration

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Games offer a fantastic escape from everyday life. The gaming industry creates incredible worlds, from futuristic cities to frightening underworlds and imaginative alien landscapes. Many open-world games, whether set on Earth or elsewhere, feature beautiful natural environments that can be incredibly relaxing and immersive.

I’m a huge fan of games that let you really feel like you’re in nature, whether it’s wandering through dense forests or diving deep to see amazing plants and animals. If you’re like me and need an escape from daily life, you absolutely have to check out these open-world games that are all about exploring the natural world.

13. Red Dead Redemption 2

A Wild West Story

As a gamer, I’ve always loved Rockstar’s open-world games, but honestly, Red Dead Redemption 2 is on another level. The world they built is incredible – there’s just so much to do. Seriously, endless quests, tons of interesting people to meet, and places to discover around every corner. It’s easily their best game, in my opinion.

The game immerses you in the stunning landscapes of RDR2’s countryside. Every location, from lush farmlands and shimmering lakes to the deserted town of Colter and the bustling city of Saint Denis, is incredibly detailed. This impressive world-building ensures there’s always something to discover and keeps players engaged.

12. Genshin Impact

The Land Of Teyvat Is Magical

As a huge fan, I can tell you that Teyvat, the world in Genshin Impact, is just breathtakingly beautiful! What I love most is how open the world is – you can really lose yourself in all the amazing nature. There are seven different nations to explore, and each one feels totally unique. From the gorgeous, breezy city of Mondstadt to the towering mountains of Liyue, or even the frozen peaks of Dragonspine and the stormy islands of Inazuma, there’s always something new and beautiful to discover. Seriously, the areas in this game are incredible!

Exploring in Genshin Impact isn’t just about enjoying the beautiful views. The game has secret places, intriguing landmarks, and challenging puzzles that give players rewards when they solve them. Plus, with more nations still on the way, the world of Genshin Impact is constantly growing.

11. The Long Dark

Surviving The Canadian Wilderness At Its Coldest

Survival games are great for experiencing the outdoors. Titles like 7 Days to Die, Valheim, Conan Exiles, Enshrouded, The Forest, and Icarus offer challenging and replayable adventures in the wild. However, The Long Dark truly stands out with its harsh Canadian wilderness. What’s really cool is that you can adjust the difficulty to fit your playstyle – choose ‘Pilgrim’ for a more relaxed experience, or ‘Misery’ if you’re looking for a serious challenge.

Despite a few imaginative touches, The Long Dark feels realistic, especially when it comes to how you survive and the world around you. While it’s not as huge as some other games, the world still feels impressively large, and the game encourages you to explore it slowly and carefully, which makes it feel even bigger.

10. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

A Breathtaking Experience

It’s impossible to talk about open-world exploration without mentioning the Zelda games. Hyrule offers players a huge and exciting adventure with tons to discover. You can raid enemy camps for loot, but the game also features intriguing locations and challenging puzzles just waiting to be solved.

The world of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is massive and varied, offering everything from vibrant green fields to freezing mountains. The game excels at creating a believable and engaging world thanks to memorable locations like the ruins of the Temple of Time, the beaches of Necluda, and the challenging climb of Mount Lanaryu.

Hyrule feels incredibly vibrant and reactive. You can interact with almost everything – pick fruit from trees, watch grass burn, and even feel the effects of cold, which means you’ll need to bundle up to stay warm. It’s a beautifully designed open world where all the details work together seamlessly.

Tears of the Kingdom also qualifies.

9. Subnautica

A Vast Underwater Realm Teeming With Mysteries

The ocean depths remain largely unexplored by humans, and the game Subnautica lets players digitally experience the thrill of discovering a strange, alien ocean. It’s an exciting adventure filled with the wonders and dangers hidden beneath the waves.

It’s easy to imagine the ocean floor as a barren place, but Subnautica proves otherwise, presenting incredibly diverse and thriving ecosystems. You’ll discover vibrant life everywhere, from shallow kelp forests to deep underwater islands teeming with creatures – friendly ones like the Cuddlefish, and dangerous, alien sharks. Exploring the world is at the heart of Subnautica; players can swim and learn about the unique plants and animals inhabiting mysterious locations like the glowing Crystal Caves, fiery Lava Lakes, and expansive Grassy Plateaus that stretch across the ocean floor.

One of the best features of Subnautica is its positional audio, which helps players get a better sense of where things are around them. The game is also visually impressive, showcasing a unique and often strange underwater world.

8. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Alive And Diverse Open World

The world of The Witcher 3 is vast and captivating, but also dangerous for those who aren’t strong. Whether you’re exploring the thick jungles of Ard Skelling, witnessing the majestic Oak Tree Gedyneith, or encountering the grim Hanged Man Tree – a reminder of war’s harshness – The Witcher’s world perfectly balances stunning beauty with raw brutality.

Locations like the Seidhe Llygad Amphitheater ruins, the charming villages of Skellige, the bustling city of Novigrad, and the Witcher’s base at Kaer Morhen aren’t just beautiful to look at—they’re also full of rich history and stories.

7. Far Cry Primal

Experience The Stone Age

It’s hard to picture what life was like in the Stone Age. The Far Cry series offers a glimpse into that era with a game that feels familiar, but still provides a fresh experience.

In Far Cry Primal, you play as Takkar, a hunter who must build his tribe into the most powerful one in the land. While the story is present, the game truly shines with its stunning visuals, incredible character designs, and immersive prehistoric setting. The main gameplay revolves around exploring dense forests, taming powerful animals like sabertooth tigers and bears, and battling rival tribes.

6. A Short Hike

Relaxing Adventure In A Picturesque Park

Honestly, sometimes you just need to chill and play something relaxing, and that’s where A Short Hike comes in. It’s like, a totally peaceful adventure where you just wander around this beautiful digital wilderness. It doesn’t really feel like a typical game, you know? There’s no pressure from goals, enemies, or leveling up – it’s more like an interactive piece of art. It’s a really different way to enjoy games, and it’s super refreshing.

Man, Hawk Peak is just beautiful. Seriously, everywhere you look is gorgeous – the cliffs up north near Meteor Lake, that lonely Lighthouse, even just wandering through the forests in the provincial park. This game is all about exploring, and it nails that feeling of just… existing. It’s packed with those little, everyday moments that bring back memories of long summer days when you were a kid. It’s super relaxing and charming.

5. theHunter: Call of The Wild

Experience The Wilderness Realistically

For those who enjoy the outdoors and hunting, theHunter: Call of the Wild offers a realistic experience from the comfort of your home. As a hunting simulator, the game challenges players to track and hunt diverse animal species, just like a real hunter would.

The game boasts stunning, realistic forests. Whether you’re hiking through snowy mountains, walking across vast lakes, or exploring thick woods, Call of the Wild features beautiful natural environments that enhance the gameplay. Areas like Lakeside in Layton Lake District and the open fields of Hirschfelden Hunting Reserve are particularly impressive, filled with resources and wildlife.

The game brings the forest to life, letting players truly feel like they’re surrounded by nature. Realistic sounds – like leaves crunching, distant animal calls, and the wind blowing through the trees – create a deeply immersive experience.

4. Ghost of Tsushima

A Visually Stunning Masterpiece

Players consistently praise the intense sword fighting in Ghost of Tsushima, but the game offers much more than just combat. Its beautiful open-world recreation of feudal Japan is truly impressive, and the game’s graphics are top-notch, as you’d expect from a high-budget title. The world is incredibly detailed, filled with lush grass, realistic trees, and breathtaking scenery that will leave you amazed.

Mount Jaaku’s icy mountains are challenging to climb, but the breathtaking frozen landscapes make the journey worthwhile. The Golden Temple, with its beautiful towers, looks amazing both during the day and at night, making it a great place for taking pictures in the game. And the field of Equinox Flowers is truly one of the most beautiful sights you’ll find.

Ghost of Yotei also qualifies.

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2025-12-28 03:36