Best Open-Zone Games, Ranked – Investment Policy

Summary

Open-zone vs Open-world debate.
Classic games like GTA and Sonic inspired modern open-zone games.
Bloodlines, Borderlands, and The Outer Worlds are examples of popular open-zone games.

In a more relaxed and readable style: Sonic Frontiers was initially dubbed as the first ‘open-world’ Sonic title, but the developers preferred to label it ‘open-zone’, as it offered multiple interconnected maps rather than one expansive one. However, this design isn’t an original concept of Sonic Team. The large, individual worlds seen in Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas originated as separate maps in the original, top-down Grand Theft Auto game before they were transformed into standalone groundbreaking games.

Games that offer a free-roaming experience, such as GTA5 and Yakuza/Like a Dragon, still embody the concept of open-zone games, even if not strictly open-world. These titles allow players to explore their worlds at their own pace, with GTA5 allowing you to race anywhere within its game world, while Yakuza/Like a Dragon allows you to complete the main campaign before delving into its subsidiary stories. Such games can be considered as those that are more expansive in terms of exploration compared to traditional open-world games.

8. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines

Plenty For Players To Sink Their Teeth Into

Many enthusiasts of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG) may have entered the mysterious realm of bloodsuckers through “Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines“. Released back in 2004, this game was a trailblazer, earning a cult following despite its glitches and challenges. Players could choose their vampire archetype and decide between first-person or third-person perspectives before being unleashed in the bustling city of Los Angeles.

In the initial stages of being a vampire, you’re free to roam across four different areas, but if you wish to advance through the narrative, you need to accomplish your tasks in sequence. For instance, you must settle matters in Santa Monica first before moving on to Hollywood, then fulfill objectives in Hollywood before venturing Downtown, and so forth. However, there’s no pressure as each location offers various activities and side missions that can be completed before you move on. Players have worked out many of its initial issues, making it a good idea to revisit the original Bloodlines before its eagerly anticipated sequel is released.

7. Borderlands 3

How Open is This Looter Shooter?

The question remains whether the original Borderlands games can truly be categorized as open-world titles. While players have the freedom to traverse through expansive levels, blasting enemies and collecting loot along the way, they primarily advance through the game by moving from one mapped area to another, unlike games such as Fallout 4 or Cyberpunk 2077 where exploration encompasses a continuous, vast sandbox environment.

Just like other games in the series, Borderlands 3 is often regarded as the best. However, opinions may differ. Regarding gameplay, players can either finish the main story first and save side missions for later or complete side missions area by area until they’ve finished the game entirely. Despite its exploratory elements, it’s essentially a collection of interlinked smaller worlds rather than one expansive world. This could be an advantage, as some open-world games can make exploration feel tedious.

6. The Outer Worlds

How the Unreliable Became Reliable

The creators behind the beloved isometric Fallout games, Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky, chose to move away from the post-apocalyptic setting of their famous series and instead created a new first-person RPG called The Outer Worlds. This game offers a more optimistic take on the atompunk genre, as opposed to the darker wasteland theme prevalent in their earlier Fallout games.

As a space-faring adventurer, I embark on an interstellar journey reminiscent of ‘Fallout’, where I craft my unique avatar and allocate attributes across various skillsets. Instead of dashing from one galaxy edge to another, I leap between distinct realms via the Unreliable, my trusty starship. Each mission, whether it’s a main quest or a side story, carries weight and impacts my gameplay experience in unique ways. Though it might seem shorter in scale compared to other RPGs, its rich narrative provides ample reason for multiple playthroughs.

5. Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Poké-Monster Hunter

The influence of Pokémon on the world is undeniable, yet it doesn’t shy away from borrowing elements from other popular franchises. When fans started playing Pokémon Legends: Arceus, they noticed similarities to the Monster Hunter series due to its open-world design based on different biomes and a more action-oriented approach to catching Pokémon. The game features five distinct biomes that players can quickly travel to using their camps.

Instead of following the traditional Pokémon series pattern by engaging in turn-based battles, these Pokémon will directly assault the player character, particularly the more aggressive ones. This means players must be more strategic when trying to catch them all. They’ll need to choose the appropriate Pokémon for traversing water, climbing mountains, or flying through the sky, or find ways to dodge attacks from the last Legendary they require to complete their collection, otherwise, they might be sent back to the nearest camp.

4. Dragon Age: Inquisition

Choose Your Own Adventure, If You Dare

Many games adopting an open-world format often fall under the action RPG genre due to their resemblance to the traditional, tiered layout where easier, entry-level zones are segregated from more challenging areas. Nevertheless, some have opted for a broader scope and allow players to venture into areas inhabited by significantly stronger enemies even when their party is still relatively low-level, potentially leading to difficulty or even defeat.

As a gamer diving into the epic world of Dragon Age: Inquisition, you’ll find yourself navigating through vast open zones, each map uniquely separate yet interconnected. Once you’ve earned access, the freedom to roam and explore is all yours! If you fancy detouring from the main quest, there are plenty of side missions waiting for you.

However, beware that encounters don’t scale with your character levels. So if you want to steer clear of some tricky situations, it might be wise to hold off on certain areas until you’ve leveled up a bit or equipped yourself with some powerful gear. Happy gaming!

3. Monster Hunter World

Wild or World, The Hunt Is Still On

Monster Hunter has transitioned from a beloved niche Japanese game to a world-wide sensation. Unlike traditional RPGs or games focusing on skill advancements, the player’s abilities are largely influenced by their equipment in

Each game adheres to an open-zone design, allowing each location to present unique quests that may involve slaying monsters, catching them, or gathering resources. The latest release, MH: Wilds, provides smooth transition between hunter settlements and sprawling biomes. Nevertheless, some enthusiasts opt for Monster Hunter: World, appreciating its enhancements such as enhanced crafting and in-game monster drop details, while still maintaining the difficulty of earlier versions, pushing players to work harder to dodge being hunted themselves.

2. God of War Ragnarök

Roaming Through The Realms One at a Time

The God of War series by Norse mythology, despite evolving, retains elements of its initial linear action-adventure style. Mostly, the game’s realms are composed of interwoven paths, filled with various monsters, treasures, and hidden items tucked away in corners. Kratos seldom ventures off these established paths into valleys or other areas. However, there are influences from open-world games, such as completing additional objectives for bonus lore, loot, or experience points, and collecting items to obtain rewards or trophies/achievements.

In the opinion of many gamers, the narrative and concentrated gameplay of God of War (2018) appeals more to them, however, God of War Ragnarök stands out due to its expansive open-world design, providing numerous locations to explore through its unique fast-travel gates. By venturing into every nook and cranny of the Nine Realms, players are rewarded for their efforts in preventing Ragnarok, even though some realms may offer fewer activities than others. While players might find less action in Helheim or Niflheim compared to its predecessor, they will spend countless hours exploring the jungles of Vanaheim and the swamps of Svartalfheim to uncover all their hidden treasures.

1. Super Mario Odyssey

Stepping Forward and Backwards at the Same Time

3D platform games such as Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie, originally released in the early days, can be categorized as open-world games due to their free-roaming nature. Players could traverse different parts of the game world at will, collecting Power Stars or Jinjos, among other objectives, before moving onto another section. However, as time passed, some of these games became more linear, requiring players to progress from point A to point B, even though this progression now included jumping up and down, left and right, as well as all around, rather than simply moving from left to right.

As a fan, I must say, Super Mario Odyssey returned to an open-world approach. While there are still instances where you need to go from point A to B, it’s brimming with diverse tasks that entice wandering off the main path. For example, you can jump rope in New Donk City or trace patterns in Tostarena. These activities not only add to Mario’s Power Moon count but also unlock more locations for players to delve into and discover. Consequently, the game fosters a spirit of exploration. It’s broken down into sections and regions, similar to its RPG and adventure contemporaries, or like Mario did way back in SM64.

2025-08-31 09:35