Best Open-World RPGs If You Hate 100-Hour Fetch Quests

While often criticized, fetch quests are a common element in open-world role-playing games. Most large RPGs include them, as it’s difficult to create a deep RPG experience without some kind of task-based gameplay. However, games like Elden Ring, Kenshi, and Outward demonstrate that you can build a compelling RPG without relying on players endlessly collecting items for NPCs.

If you’re feeling burnt out from endless running, fast traveling, or collecting items for countless characters, or if you just need a break from huge RPGs with overwhelming quest lists, these games offer a refreshing experience that also respects your time.

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7 Days To Die

Your Quest Is To Survive, And The Rest Is Optional

Forget grand quests – what if an open-world RPG focused on simply surviving against relentless zombies? That’s the core of 7 Days to Die. It’s a standout zombie sandbox game where careful planning is key. From the moment you start, your goal is to prepare for the massive zombie hordes that attack every seven days – an event known as the Blood Moon. You’ll need to fortify your defenses and get ready for a brutal fight!

You begin with absolutely nothing and must quickly find essential resources like water and basic tools to build a temporary shelter before nightfall. While you’ll encounter traders offering quests, they’re optional – you can ignore them and play the game your way. The core goal is achievable without completing these tasks. What makes 7 Days to Die stand out is the freedom to prepare for increasingly difficult challenges, especially with each Blood Moon you survive, making it a refreshing alternative to games filled with time-consuming and unrewarding fetch quests.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Still Fetchy, A Little Deeper Than Your Usual RPG Experience

Although Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a lengthy game, it’s a rewarding experience. Its quests are more engaging than those found in typical RPGs, and the realistic medieval world – complete with believable characters and systems like learning to read and mastering swordplay – makes every bit of effort feel worthwhile.

Okay, so yeah, like most RPGs, there’s some running around collecting stuff – you could even say the main story is basically a big fetch quest. It’s hard to find an RPG without that, honestly. But this game balances those tasks with really cool investigation-style quests, which is why I think it’s so good. If you’re new to the game, the biggest challenge will probably be mastering the sword fighting – it’s super realistic! While you’re getting the hang of that, you can really soak in the world and all the little details. And the second game? Even more detail and realism – it’s awesome watching Henry go from a nobody to someone important on his journey.

Elden Ring

There’s No Quest Log, And The Path Is Yours To Choose

Okay, so Elden Ring is classic FromSoftware – meaning it doesn’t hold your hand at all. It’s a huge, beautiful open-world RPG, and like other ‘Souls’ games, it’s seriously challenging. What’s cool is there are quests, but the game doesn’t track them for you. It’s honestly refreshing to just wander around, meet people, get a little task, and maybe see them again later. It does mean you can easily miss things, and if you really want to finish every side quest, you’ll probably need a guide. But honestly? You don’t have to. It’s totally fine to just explore and see what happens, especially since you don’t even need to defeat every boss to progress!

Many of Elden Ring’s challenging bosses, including Malenia, are completely optional – you’ll only encounter them if you actively seek them out while exploring the vast world. The game encourages exploration and allows you to tackle areas in almost any order, especially during your first playthrough. This freedom lets you create a unique, personalized journey through the Lands Between, rather than simply following a rigid list of objectives. You’re free to explore and progress at your own pace, without feeling pressured to complete specific tasks.

Outward

Your Time In Aurai Is All About Learning The Ropes

If you haven’t played Outward yet, now is a great time to jump in before Outward 2 comes out later this year. It’s a really different kind of open-world RPG, blending survival elements with a challenging combat system that feels a bit like a Soulslike game – especially when you first start. You begin as an ordinary person in the world of Aurai, and the game doesn’t hold your hand. While you do have an initial goal – paying off a debt – you’re left to figure out how to do it on your own, without quest markers guiding the way.

Outward excels at making you feel like the author of your own adventure. Exploring the world of Aurai demands patience and skill, which you gain through overcoming challenges and learning from your mistakes. Even when your character dies, the game presents a random event explaining what happened, avoiding a rigid, quest-driven experience. Instead, you’re encouraged to improve and grow stronger organically. Much of the gameplay revolves around preparation – managing your health, staying hydrated and rested, and carefully packing supplies – making it a truly immersive journey.

Kenshi

100-Hour Freedom Simulation

No list of open-world RPGs would be complete without mentioning Kenshi. It’s a truly unique and immersive game, and it’s hard to imagine we’ll see anything quite like it again (except perhaps Kenshi 2). Kenshi offers incredible freedom, but it’s more focused on building and managing a squad while also surviving in a harsh, unforgiving world. It’s a challenging game that doesn’t hold back, and it’s not for the easily discouraged. However, those who persevere will find a surprisingly deep and rewarding RPG experience.

I’ve found that in Kenshi, you can really become anyone you want – a trader, a warrior, a farmer, whatever! But it’s not easy. It takes serious dedication and a lot of effort to build up your skills, especially your ability to survive. You’ll face setbacks, getting beaten up by bandits or even captured as a slave is a real possibility. There’s no hand-holding here, no quest log telling you what to do, and the tutorial barely introduces you to the game’s depth. Honestly, if you love exploring and hate being forced down a specific path or into a certain role, Kenshi is absolutely perfect. It’s a game that’s easy to lose hundreds of hours in, but trust me, it’s time well spent.

2026-04-04 01:35