Best Open-World Games That Created Trends

Summary

Leaving the Vault Moment from Fallout 3 sets the stage for open-world exploration in many RPGs.
Radio Towers, like in Far Cry 3, have become a common way for games to reveal map areas gradually.
Game developers prioritize immersion like Red Dead Redemption 2’s seamless gameplay and day-night cycles from Shenmue.

Over the past ten years or so, the open-world genre has reigned supreme in the video game industry. What sets these games apart and makes them such an enjoyable experience goes beyond their expansive explorable landscapes and captivating gameplay mechanics. Instead, it’s the innovative approaches that each game takes within its gameplay that truly stands out. Given the multitude of open-world games that have been produced, it’s no surprise that developers often draw inspiration from successful titles, which in turn can lead to popular trends emerging within the genre.

When something like a mechanic, system, or concept gains popularity and becomes a trend, it doesn’t automatically imply its necessity in an open-world game. Instead, it simply means that we often see it more frequently to enhance the player’s experience. This could be related to storylines, combat, or even navigating the map. Many trending elements consistently show up in games, so let’s explore the pioneering titles that initially introduced these trends.

Fallout 3

Every Modern Open World Game Needs That ‘Vault’ Moment

For any dedicated RPG and open-world enthusiast, the initial step out of Vault 101 at the start of Fallout 3 is a memory they’ll cherish forever. The game’s early hours are spent exploring the dim and dismal Vault, shielded from the outside world. So, when you finally break through those long-sealed doors to witness the breathtaking expanse of the post-apocalyptic wasteland, it’s a sight that truly takes your breath away.

Breath of the Wild and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, where developers choose to do this to make the world seem as vast and impressive as possible once players are given the freedom to explore at will.

Far Cry 3

Radio Towers Have Stuck Around For The Long Term

Ubisoft hit a jackpot with Far Cry 3, developing a game that many believe is one of the most impactful in the open-world genre. One standout feature that gained significant popularity was the radio towers. Upon scaling these tall structures, players could uncover a piece of the map, facilitating exploration to some extent. At first glance, this concept may have seemed interesting, but it wasn’t long before similar information beacons became a common sight in open-world games.

Having radio towers in the game allows developers to conceal many parts of the map until players explore and reveal those areas gradually during their adventure. This is why these towers have gained widespread popularity, and given that numerous contemporary open-world games continue to use them, it seems they won’t disappear any time quickly.

Minecraft

Reward Players For Returning With Constant Updates

Back in the day, Minecraft was just a charming sandbox game where we mainly constructed, excavated, and fought off some zombies at night. Fast-forward a few years, and it’s become an entirely different beast, filled with countless items, creatures, and blocks. It’s hard to believe that this iconic open-world game has evolved so much, but the credit goes to Mojang for tirelessly updating the game over time.

In the open-world gaming genre, DLC packs as a common feature didn’t really take off until after Minecraft popularized them. Games like Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky are recent examples that follow this pattern, offering incremental changes and updates over time. Even Final Fantasy 15 saw the developers release an updated version of the game, aiming to improve key aspects of the gameplay and overall experience.

Just Cause 2

Take To The Skies To Make Navigation Easier

In the world of video games, it wasn’t “Breath of the Wild” that first introduced the concept of soaring through the skies, but rather “Just Cause 2”. Before players could explore Hyrule from above in Nintendo’s game, they were already gliding over landscapes in “Just Cause 2”. The initial “Just Cause” game faced criticism for lengthy travel times between points A and B. To address this issue, the developers at Avalanche Studios equipped players with a parachute and grappling hook. This allowed them to swiftly and effortlessly glide across the environment after jumping from high locations.

This feature enables players to reach their destinations without having to navigate through treacherous mountain ranges or thick forests, while simultaneously offering a stunning display of the world’s cities, villages, and natural landscapes. It appears that numerous open-world games, such as Horizon Forbidden West and Saints Row 4, have followed suit by incorporating some form of aerial travel to enhance the core gameplay experience, making it more captivating and enjoyable.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Immersion Became A Top Priority For Rockstar When Creating Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 stands out as a game that significantly elevated the standard for open-world games, offering numerous advancements. Although the western setting hasn’t been widely adopted by other open-world game creators, one element that has been embraced is the extraordinary level of detail put into creating an immersive experience. Since its release, immersion has grown in importance within the genre.

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The game achieves this seamless transition by eliminating loading screens entirely. Instead, when Arthur engages in conversation with one of his campmates to initiate a mission, the game smoothly transitions back into gameplay without interruption from lengthy loading screens. This continuous flow of gameplay is made possible thanks to advancements in modern hardware and technology. However, it was particularly Red Dead Redemption 2 that demonstrated that larger open-world games could effectively eliminate the need for loading screens altogether.

Shenmue

The Birth Of The In-Game Day And Night Cycle

In 1999, when it first came out, Shenmue held the title of being the most expensive game ever produced. Sega spared no expense in developing what they envisioned as a completely novel genre. Nowadays, we classify Shenmue as an open-world game, although it pales in comparison to the expansive worlds found in many modern games. However, it’s safe to say that this was a highly ambitious project that pioneered several mechanics that are still significant within the genre today.

The day-night cycle, a feature often adopted and refined by developers, has had an interesting impact. In the case of Shenmue, it became a challenge as players were required to wait for minutes or even hours to interact with specific NPCs. Contrastingly, games like Death Stranding 2 and Dying Light showcase the evolution of this system, with day-night cycles now being extensively used to make game worlds appear more authentic and realistic for the player.

Grand Theft Auto 3

Killing Civilians Is A No-Go In GTA 3, And Pretty Much All Open World Games That Came After

One might frequently hear people refer to Grand Theft Auto 3 as a pioneer in creating the template for modern open-world games, given its significant role in shaping the genre we know today. This groundbreaking game laid the groundwork for numerous influential concepts, one of which was the integration of a police system. Although players are free to wreak havoc across the game world, taking the lives of innocent civilians will inevitably attract the attention of law enforcement, forcing players to consider their actions carefully when navigating the streets.

Since most open-world games, unlike Grand Theft Auto, don’t revolve around criminal activities, it’s logical that developers have maintained this pattern to discourage players from becoming overly immersed in such actions. Games like Skyrim, Cyberpunk 2077, Sleeping Dogs, Red Dead Redemption, and many others have been implementing this rule for a considerable time now, by penalizing players for killing non-playable characters who aren’t part of the mission.

2025-08-02 12:35