Best Open-World Games With Customizable Mounts

Key Takeaways

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
offers a vast selection of upgradeable mounts, from horses to drakes and boars, with customizable stats and unique skins.
Skyrim
goes beyond riding regular horses, allowing players to tame and ride dragons.
Red Dead Redemption 2
provides the most realistic and customizable horses in gaming, including nearly 30 breeds, upgradable stats, and flexible tack options.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I must say that each of these games showcases horses and mount systems like no other. Yet, if we’re talking about authenticity, immersion, and sheer horse-related fun, it’s hard to beat the equestrian escapades in Red Dead Redemption 2.

In expansive gaming landscapes, walking around can be tedious due to their size, so it’s understandable that gamers anticipate having rideable creatures in games where exploration of large environments is possible. Developers often aim to provide players with a variety of options for traversal, ranging from traditional animals like horses to more unusual ones such as deer, bears, boars, and even flying mounts, allowing them to move freely across the fictional worlds they’ve created.

In contrast to numerous open-world games that provide a solitary, non-customizable steed, typically sharing a unique connection with the main character (like Torrent in Elden Ring, Roach in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, or the multiple horse variants in Ghost of Tsushima where players can name them), there are also games that enable players to alternate among various mounts, each with distinct appearances, or even offer customization possibilities. Let’s explore some standout open-world games boasting advanced and adaptable mount mechanics.

6 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Enormous Selection Of Upgradeable Mounts Of All Forms And Shapes

In the grandest Assassin’s Creed installment yet, Valhalla builds upon the horseback riding system first introduced in Origins, providing a diverse array of mounts for players to select, develop, and traverse the game world. Unlike some other games, Valhalla doesn’t allow for extensive customization of your steed beyond selecting from an abundance of skins; however, the richness of the available options (such as horses, deer, wolves, bears, boars, lynxes, tigers, dragons, and drakes) sets it apart in the realm of open-world games featuring mountable creatures. Moreover, players can enhance their mount’s statistics, including sprint distance or swimming speed.

Players might also opt for either “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” or “Assassin’s Creed Origins“, which, like “Valhalla“, have a comparable method of using mounts, albeit with fewer choices in terms of types and skins. However, these games provide thrilling rides on mythical creatures such as Pegasus, Gullinbursti, and camels, giving the gaming experience an interesting twist.

5 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

From Riding Horses To Taming And Riding Dragons

Among Bethesda’s most celebrated games, the game known as Skyrim features an expansive horse riding system that encompasses ordinary steeds that you can either buy or discover and break in, plus some unique mounts like Arvak, Frost, Karinda, Shadowmere, and others. Additional options include more exotic beasts such as Unicorns, Reindeer, Daedric, and Dwarven horses, introduced in re-releases such as the Anniversary. These unique mounts not only possess special skills but also sport distinct appearances; regular horses can even be adorned with armor to enhance their stats and add a personal flair.

In the world of Skyrim, horses serve not just for traveling; they are also useful in battles. However, there are other mount options as well. The Dragonborn expansion introduces an intriguing aspect: players can train and ride dragons, significantly enhancing the thrill of exploring the game’s vast open-world environment.

4 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Plenty Of Unique Mounts Coupled With An Incredibly Flexible Crafting System

In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and more so in its sequel Tears of the Kingdom, a diverse collection of mounts is available for players to uncover and claim as their own. While horses, deer, and stags make up the majority, you can also momentarily ride creatures like bears or sandseals, introducing an additional thrill to your journey. Unique rides include the Golden Horse, Epona, the Giant White Stallion, the mysterious Stalhorse, and the legendary Lord of the Mountain.

Furthermore, “The Tears of the Kingdom” presents a remarkably versatile building system, empowering players to create almost any mechanical mount or vehicle they conceive, thereby stretching the limits of imagination within the game.

3 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Authentic And Immersive First-Person Medieval Horse Riding

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is praised for its commitment to accuracy, enveloping players in the daily life of medieval Europe. The horse system is no less detailed, allowing customizable steeds that can be bought and improved. Each horse boasts distinct characteristics – like speed, load capacity, bravery, and endurance – and various ranks (from zero to five), with top-tier horses coming at a hefty price.

In the game of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, players have the option to adorn their steeds with different types of gear such as saddles, bridles, spurs, horseshoes, which boost their attributes. Furthermore, these equines can be armored for defensive purposes in battle situations. It’s important to note that while numerous horses within the game can be swiped or momentarily ridden, only around 30 unique, tier-based designs can be personally owned, named, and customized by the player.

2 Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

Deep And Grounded, With Plenty Of Potential For Mounted Combat

As a gamer delving into open-world games, if you’re yearning for a remarkable and authentic mount system, give Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord a spin. Just as the name hints, horses (and more) are the cornerstone of movement and combat in this game. You can acquire various steeds, each with distinct stats like weight, speed, agility, and charge strength. Moreover, these equines have armor stats that you can tweak to optimize their battle prowess. Bannerlord also sports modifiers for horses, so you can swiftly grasp a mount’s best use in the game.

As a gamer, I’ve got to tell you that battles can be intense in this game, and your trusty steed is right there with you. Be mindful, though, because they can take a beating or even worse – be lost forever. This was somewhat present in the original ‘Mount & Blade’, but ‘Bannerlord’ takes it to a whole new level. It delivers a more contemporary gaming experience that promises historical authenticity and depth, making it an excellent choice for those who want an immersive, detailed journey.

1 Red Dead Redemption 2

The Most Customizable And Realistic Horses In Gaming, Period

In the game Red Dead Redemption 2, the standard for realism in open-world games was significantly elevated six years ago, and its portrayal of horses remains unequaled today. Horses are a crucial aspect of this game, with approximately 30 breeds from real life featured, each falling into one of several categories: riding, work, draft, or war. These equines have upgradeable attributes, allowing players to personalize their looks and even modify their hairstyles. Players can also name their horses and develop a relationship by feeding, grooming, soothing, and petting them. Over time, the bond between player and horse strengthens, adding an additional layer of immersion to the gameplay experience.

Furthermore, the personalization doesn’t end with just character adjustments. In Red Dead Redemption 2, players can tailor a wide range of tack options, such as saddles, horns, stirrups, and spurs, enabling them to craft a distinct equine companion. While the initial Red Dead Redemption had customizable horses too, Red Dead Redemption 2 elevates realism and customization to unprecedented heights, making it an outstanding choice for horse aficionados in open-world gaming.

2024-10-13 12:33