Great Open-World Games with Too Many Collectibles

As someone who has spent countless hours exploring the vast digital landscapes of modern open-world games, I can’t help but feel a sense of exhaustion when it comes to collectibles. It seems like developers are in a constant race to see who can cram the most into their worlds, often at the expense of the gaming experience itself.

In many contemporary open-world games, there’s frequent criticism regarding the scarcity of characters and activities on the game maps. It sometimes seems as if developers are focusing more on quantity than quality to cater to those who believe bigger is better. However, other development studios adopt a contrasting strategy, jamming their games with an overwhelming amount of side content such that players often find themselves surrounded by map markers wherever they go.

As a gamer, I’ll tell you one strategy game designers use to keep us hooked is by stashing collectibles all over their virtual landscapes. This sets off completionists on a quest to meticulously explore every pixel and corner to achieve 100% completion. However, unlike the classic platformers of the nineties that pioneered the concept of treasure hunts, the sheer scale of these worlds can make this a grueling endeavor, often overshadowing what could have been an otherwise fantastic gaming journey.

1 Batman Arkham City

440 Collectibles

As a dedicated Batman fan, I can confidently say that among all the Batman video games ever created, Batman Arkham City stands out as one of the finest, both in its captivating narrative and immaculate presentation. The way it brings Gotham to life is nothing short of breathtaking, and it manages to ignite a spirit of adventure within players that many contemporary open-world games struggle to achieve. Regrettably, much like other titles in the series, it tends to overdo it when it comes to collecting items.

Players have a total of 400 unique items to discover across the game, along with an extra 40 added in the Catwoman DLC expansion. What might seem daunting isn’t just the amount of collectibles, but also the variety, as there are eight distinct sets: Riddles, Riddler Trophies, Tyger Cameras, Demon Seals, Harley Heads, Joker Balloons, Joker Teeth, and Penguin Statues.

2 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

320+ Collectibles

For some players, it’s not just the quantity of collectibles in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 that can be annoying, but rather the variety and the phased introduction of these items. With Marko’s Memories, Prowler Stashes, and Spider-Bots, players will frequently receive notifications as they navigate the city, and this is before considering the game’s 42 Spider-Bots.

It’s fortunate that finishing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 isn’t too challenging for most gamers, who can usually do it in 25 hours or fewer. However, if the game required collecting all 240 Tech Crates for a complete playthrough, it wouldn’t be so easy. Also, keeping tabs on 20 or more map symbols during gameplay isn’t something that would make the experience smoother either.

3 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

250 Collectibles

As a game enthusiast, diving into the thrilling world of Grand Theft Auto for the first time in its 3D version, I discovered a hidden quest: there are 100 elusive packages scattered throughout the game map. Completing this challenge rewards players like me with an arsenal of unique weapons, snazzy vehicles at our safehouses, and a cool mil in cash!

Incorporating all the bonus material developers added, collecting everything in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas became a challenging task for gamers. While it was primarily the races, stadium events, vehicle missions, driving schools, and export missions that extended playtime, the extra collectibles didn’t make things easier.

4 Horizon Forbidden West

250+ Collectibles

As a dedicated gamer diving into the world of Horizon Forbidden West, I’ve learned that completing this epic adventure isn’t just about finishing the main storyline. To earn the coveted 100% completion badge, I’ll need to navigate through various challenges. This includes wrapping up all side quests, Hunting Grounds, and Salvage Contracts. But wait, there’s more! Scattered throughout the game are a variety of collectibles that I’ll have to track down. These include elusive Black Boxes, Survey Drone Modules, Signal Lenses, breathtaking Vista Points, and Ornaments – just to name a few. The journey may be tough, but the satisfaction of fully mastering Horizon Forbidden West will be worth every step!

It’s great that most of these collectible packs enrich the game’s storyline and offer more than just “go here and click a button” tasks for players. However, there are way too many of them, and adding three new collectible sets with the Burning Shores expansion doesn’t make things any easier. Fortunately, players won’t need to find every Datapoint to earn the Platinum Trophy because there are hundreds of those scattered around.

5 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

1,000+ Collectibles

Just as its predecessor, “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” seemingly overflows with an extraordinary number of side quests, inspiring players to delve into every hidden nook and cranny of Hyrule, not forgetting the skies and depths that lie sandwiched in between. Remarkably, this game boasts fewer collectible sets compared to many open-world games these days, but there’s one set that might make some players feel it pushes boundaries a bit too much.

Just like in Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom features a thousand Korok Seeds for players to discover. This number might drive many players to distraction! Fortunately, Nintendo games don’t include Trophies or Achievements, reducing some of the pressure to complete the game fully. However, finding all these Korok Seeds is essential as it allows you to carry more gear, and with 1,000 seeds collected, every inventory slot becomes accessible.

2024-09-18 02:35