Best Open-World Games For Urban Exploration

Highlights

Big, sprawling open-world games offer players unprecedented freedom with expansive maps full of activities to explore.
Sometimes a smaller urban setting offers better environmental storytelling, detail, and a faster-paced exploration experience.
Games like Fallout 4, Watch Dogs 2, Batman: Arkham Knight, and Cyberpunk 2077 provide rich urban exploration experiences for players.

I’ve spent most of my life exploring the nooks and crannies of cities, climbing rooftops, and diving into the rich history that hides in plain sight. My favorite games have always been those that transport me to a living, breathing urban environment. These are the games where I feel like a true explorer, uncovering secrets and making discoveries around every corner.

In recent times, open-world games have grown significantly in size. There’s a heightened focus on developing extensive maps teeming with activities. Some games now strive to build maps representing entire countries, while others even attempt to create solar systems.

As a gamer, I’ve found that sometimes taking a more compact approach can lead to richer gaming experiences. The most memorable video game cities are masterfully crafted with intricate stories told through their environments. By delving into their densely packed urban areas, I encounter fewer empty spaces and a greater concentration of discoveries and challenges. The following games go beyond just having cities as backdrops; they invite me to fully explore every nook and cranny, scaling buildings and venturing down every street, immersing myself in the true essence of urban exploration.

1 Fallout 4

Post-Apocalyptic Boston

Best Open-World Games For Urban Exploration

In terms of urban exploration, Fallout 3‘s Washington D.C. and Fallout 4‘s Boston offer vast territories to discover. The primary distinction lies in the navigation experience: Fallout 3‘s disconnected Washington areas posed challenges due to technical limitations, making it a frustrating experience at times. In contrast, Fallout 4‘s Boston boasts an improved design, making it a pleasure to traverse – despite the presence of raiders, ghouls, and mutants, which may not be considered pleasurable by all standards.

Many fans would agree that Fallout 4 isn’t the best Fallout game. Its story is a bit dull, and to make the game more accessible, Bethesda ripped out a lot of the RPG elements fans love. But it is a great game for urban exploration. There are tons of buildings to explore, many of them unmarked, and each has its own story. Rotting out around Fallout 4‘s bombed-out buildings never gets old, and the near-constant presence of enemies means there’s rarely a quiet moment.

2 Watch Dogs 2

Hacking San Francisco

In the sequel of Watch Dogs 2, developers addressed numerous concerns raised by players about the first version. The expanded open-world, modeled after San Francisco, offered double the explorable area and was richer in activities. Additionally, the hacking capabilities were significantly enhanced, resulting in a more immersive experience for the player.

In Watch Dogs 2, the game map is filled with concealed side activities and collectibles. The immersion in this Ubisoft production is remarkable, making players feel compelled to investigate every hidden corner, alleyway, and rooftop. Although some aspects of the game lean towards science fiction, the map comes across as a vivid, dynamic urban landscape inviting exploration.

3 Batman: Arkham Knight

Stalking Gotham’s Night Sky

Choosing between Batman: Arkham City and Batman: Arkham Knight for this discussion was a tough decision. While Arkham City is widely regarded as one of the best open-world superhero games, if not the best, Arkham Knight fell short of expectations for some players. However, when it comes to urban exploration, Arkham Knight offers a slightly more immersive experience.

To begin with, “Arkham City” had a smaller explorable area in comparison. While “Arkham City” offered an impressive map, it was confined to only one part of Gotham. This led to a more concentrated exploration experience, which some players enjoyed, but left them longing to venture beyond its borders and discover the rest of Gotham city. Furthermore, “Arkham Knight” expanded fans’ horizons by providing the Batmobile. Though some disliked the intense tank segments, many found joy in speeding around Gotham in the iconic vehicle. The map of “Arkham Knight,” despite its expansiveness, was brimming with challenges such as puzzles to solve, riddles to uncover, and side missions to accomplish.

4 Gravity Rush 2

Gravity-Based Exploration

Exploring the cityscape of Gravity Rush 2 is an experience few games can match in terms of raw enjoyment. The game’s unique mechanics allow players to manipulate gravity, turning exploration into an exhilarating adventure. Once you’ve mastered these mechanics, gliding through the expansive open world becomes a delight as you search for hidden collectibles, finish side quests, and overcome various navigation obstacles.

Exploring the urban landscape of this game feels incredibly authentic and immersive. The open world is filled with breathtaking sights that are a pleasure to behold, and the freedom to fly around and absorb the scenery is genuinely enjoyable. While the map may not offer the same level of dynamism or activities as other games, the experience of discovering new areas remains exhilarating.

5 Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

Looting Washington D.C.

Ubisoft is known for creating open-world games as their primary focus. Among these, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 stands out when it comes to urban exploration. In the game, you begin outside the White House with a mission to reclaim Washington D.C. from lawless gangs. This involves completing quests and thoroughly investigating every corner for additional content, resources, and hidden treasures.

When it comes to investigating the city in “Division 2,” you’ll stick mostly to ground level, with few complex maneuvers for moving around. The game brilliantly captures the gritty experience of exploring a war-ravaged urban landscape. Streets are chaotic and dangerous, filled with adversaries who attack without warning. Many buildings can be entered for scavenging, and resources lie abundantly. Various missions, like saving hostages or securing airdrops, blend seamlessly into the setting and keep things action-packed.

6 Yakuza: Like A Dragon

The Streets Of Yokohama Are Wild

For approximately two decades, the Yakuza series has showcased stunning urban backdrops. In a departure from previous installments, Yakuza: Like A Dragon took players to the unfamiliar yet captivating city of Yokohama instead of Tokyo. To everyone’s surprise, Yokohama proved to be just as engaging and exhilarating an exploration as Tokyo’s legendary streets.

In Yokohama, a vibrant city teems with activity. For an immersive experience, help Ichiban explore every nook and cranny. Following the Yakuza custom, this game is filled with numerous side quests and mini-games to discover, along with secret treasures. The game masterfully blends authenticity with more outrageous Yakuza elements than before.

7 Dying Light 2

Parkour And Zombies

Many fans of the first Dying Light game were disappointed with several aspects of its sequel, Dying Light 2. While the original Dying Light is widely regarded as one of the best zombie games, Dying Light 2 faced numerous issues at launch and continues to receive regular updates for bug fixes. The reason we’re discussing Dying Light 2 instead of its predecessor is due to this unfortunate circumstance.

In the realm of engaging parkour experiences and immersive first-person melee combat, both games shine brightly. However, when it comes to exploration, Dying Light 2 outperforms its counterpart with its vertically expansive design. The game’s second location in April showcases towering skyscrapers that initially seem unclimbable. These architectural marvels transform into intriguing challenges, urging players to link various parkour techniques and gadgets together to surmount them. Moreover, numerous tall structures feature open floors and interiors teeming with zombies and valuable resources for the player to scavenge and delve into.

8 Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

Exploring London’s Industrial Revolution

Although London is known as one of the most renowned cities globally, it’s surprising how scarce the high-quality open-world games depicting this historic city are. Among them, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate stands out. The game offers an engaging Industrial Revolution-era London experience with rich details, numerous activities, and plenty of landmarks to explore alongside hidden collectibles.

More recently, the franchise has abandoned city settings for larger, sprawling maps. For instance, Valhalla’s map is a compact representation of all England. It can be simple to overlook the enjoyment derived from investigating the older games’ urban terrains. The parkour in Syndicate suits London’s congested streets perfectly. In turn, combat feels more engaging and up close due to its confined urban settings, particularly when employing Jacob’s hand-to-hand fighting style. Despite criticisms of Ubisoft’s open-world layout, they have consistently excelled at urban adventure.

9 Cyberpunk 2077

Take A Trip To Night City

Cyberpunk 2077 might have had a rough start, but these days it’s considered one of the best open-world games. It’s as if CD Projekt Red looked at what made other urban settings work well, borrowed those aspects, and included them in Cyberpunk. For a start, Night City is just a gorgeous city to explore. Its streets are dripping in neon and, despite the futuristic setting, the city feels lived in.

In Night City, you’ll find an abundance of intricate details and hidden gems that elevate its world-building to an exceptional level. Although the action primarily takes place on the streets, there’s a captivating sense of height with numerous skyscrapers climbable, even if it doesn’t offer much practical benefit beyond the thrill of the challenge. To top it off, Cyberpunk 2077 offers an impressive selection of side quests, missions, and secret discoveries around every bend, making urban exploration in this game one of the most rewarding experiences in gaming.

10 Infamous: Second Son

Multiple Ways To Explore

As a huge fan of video games, I was looking forward to seeing Marvel’s Spider-Man featured in your list. But let me clarify, the Spider-Man series I adore is more about swiftly navigating urban landscapes than it is about delving into the depths of exploration. In those games, I soar through New York City, completing mission after mission, but seldom do I take the time to truly explore the metropolis.

In this game, which is set in Seattle, the main character Delsin navigates through the city’s bustling streets and crowded rooftops as he discovers how to harness his abilities. The game equally focuses on both areas, offering side objectives and collectibles along the way. Initially, Delsin’s mobility is restricted, compelling players to observe their surroundings and strategize the most efficient route from one location to another. Additionally, Delsin gains power from his environment, requiring players to regularly seek out objects that recharge his abilities.

2024-07-22 04:34