Non-Open-World Games That Still Give You Total Freedom

Open-world games offer players a lot of freedom and choice in how they play. Other games aren’t typically designed this way, but some still allow for significant exploration. These games, whether they feature sandbox elements or detailed interactive maps, can offer a similar feeling of discovery to open-world titles.

These games aren’t as massive as open-world titles, but they still offer players plenty of choices and a surprising amount of freedom. This can range from how you talk to characters to building and managing your own town. If you’re looking for a focused adventure with a lot of depth, these games are definitely worth exploring.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Nothing But Choice

Baldur’s Gate 3 immediately gives players a huge amount to do and see. Each section of the game opens up a large world that you can explore at your own pace, viewed from an overhead angle. You also get to fully customize your character, choosing everything from their appearance to their race and skills.

Throughout the game, you’ll encounter a diverse cast of characters and get to choose who joins you in challenging tactical battles, who sits on the bench, and even who you pursue romantic relationships with. What’s really great is that your decisions shape each playthrough, making every experience different. With its incredible range of choices and outcomes, this game is a standout title for fans of Dungeons & Dragons and well worth playing again and again.

Mass Effect

The Galaxy Is Yours

Okay, so playing Mass Effect, it really feels huge. You get to check out a ton of different planets, though usually you’re limited to just one area on each. And honestly, driving around on those planets in the Mako can be a little clunky! But even with that, there’s so much to see and do, tons of side stuff, that it really makes you feel like you’re traveling the galaxy with your crew. You get to build your own character and pick a class, which is cool, but you’re always playing as a human – you can’t pick another race, unfortunately.

The game features choices in conversations that can lead to positive or negative outcomes, impacting how you relate to other characters – even those you romance – and sometimes changing the story itself. You’ll also manage a team, deciding who joins you on missions and giving them commands during tactical, cover-based combat with RPG elements.

Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom

Reclaim Your Honor

Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom offers a large world to explore, connecting towns and dungeons in a way that recalls classic RPGs from consoles like the SNES and PlayStation 1. Battles happen in real-time, so they’re fast-paced if you’re comfortable with the controls. The game also lets you fight strategic, real-time strategy-style battles on the world map to regain control of lost areas.

The game puts you in the role of Evan, a prince who’s lost his kingdom. As you help him try to get it back, you can also build him a new castle and town. Developing these properties gives you helpful rewards and advantages.

Monster Hunter World

Hunt Or Be Hunted

Okay, so Monster Hunter World isn’t totally open world like some people think, but it’s a huge improvement over the older games. They ditched those loading screens between areas, which makes exploring and hunting way smoother. When you first start, you get to design your hunter and your Palico buddy – a little cat that helps you out. Then, after each hunt, you can use the stuff you gather to craft new gear and really customize how you play. It’s a great feeling to build up your equipment!

This game doesn’t have traditional classes, but your choice of weapon – whether it’s a bow or a massive sword – defines your playstyle. It’s best to team up with three other players online for successful hunts, because the monsters are incredibly challenging, even with top-tier equipment in this action RPG.

Dave The Diver

Become The Best Sushi Chef

Dave the Diver is a unique indie game that blends several different types of gameplay, creating a relaxing experience for many players. You play as Dave, who helps manage a sushi restaurant. During the dinner rush, you’re responsible for taking orders and serving drinks while a chef cooks the food, and your goal is to keep all the customers satisfied.

The core of the game revolves around deep-sea diving – players directly catch the fish they later serve in their restaurant. Earning money unlocks better diving equipment, allowing them to catch fish in more diverse ways. It’s a fantastic example of how a small game, with a creative and empowered development team, can become surprisingly engaging and fun.

Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels Of The Starry Sky

Party Up

Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Sky was a major step forward for the Dragon Quest series. It was the first core game released on a handheld system, the DS. Players can personalize their main character at the start, and then build a team of up to three additional characters after a brief introduction.

The game features a class system called Vocations, allowing players to build strong teams by learning and switching abilities. Players can team up with up to three friends using their DS systems for cooperative play. The game also let players share maps online, which was quite innovative for its time. These features paved the way for later ideas like StreetPass and SpotPass on the 3DS.

Dark Cloud 2

Time Is On Your Side

Dark Cloud 2 is a role-playing game where you travel through time with the characters Max and Monica to restore a broken timeline. When they arrive in each location, it’s deserted, so they explore dungeons to gather resources. These resources are used to save the people who live there and rebuild towns to the player’s liking.

In addition to battling monsters in dungeons, players can relax with activities like fishing and golf after clearing an area. Max also carries a camera to snap photos, which he can use to create new items. Despite being a relatively straightforward game, Dark Cloud 2 offers a surprising amount of content on the PS2, thanks to the dedication of its developers at Level-5.

Fantasy Life (3DS)

Live Your Life

Fantasy Life, created by Level-5, is a more accessible RPG designed to be a great starting point for new players. You begin by creating a character and selecting a ‘Life’ – a class that falls into one of three categories: fighting, collecting, or crafting. Like many action RPGs, you’ll improve your character by battling enemies – for instance, playing as a Magician and gaining experience.

Players can also gain experience by fishing or gathering wood as an Angler or Woodcutter. The game doesn’t limit you to a single class, and actually encourages you to try out all the different jobs and content it offers. Switching between fast-paced and relaxing classes gives the game a good rhythm and provides more variety. While the original game was only available on the 3DS, the sequel, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, is available on more current gaming systems.

2026-01-11 02:38