Open-World Games For Really Fast Movement

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Summary

  • Most open-world games use basic travel; a few reinvent movement with supernatural abilities or powerful gadgets that allow players to move really fast.
  • Infamous Second Son, Saints Row 4, Prototype 2, and Forspoken enable blistering speed in the open world via supernatural abilities.
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Just Cause 3 use advanced gadgets and special suits to shape exploration differently.

Even though many open-world games offer large areas to explore, they often stick to standard ways of getting around. Players usually walk, run, and sometimes climb, with a few games adding horses or vehicles for faster travel, but truly innovative movement options are rare.

Luckily, some open-world games let you travel quickly and creatively across their large environments, often without needing fast cars or other vehicles. These games usually give you special powers, cool gadgets, or a combination of both, making them some of the fastest-paced experiences in the genre. Let’s explore a few of them.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Web-Swinging and High-Speed Gliding

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 builds on the fantastic web-swinging from the first game and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and now lets both Peter and Miles use wingsuits. These wingsuits make getting around New York City incredibly fast – you can cross the whole map in just minutes – and are especially helpful during chases in the game.

Adding wingsuits to *Marvel’s Spider-Man 2* with few limitations might have actually made getting around *too* fast, with some players suggesting they aren’t even worth using much. Many are finding that sticking to the classic web-swinging is more fun, because of its smooth animations and the many ways you can interact with the city while traveling.

Just Cause 3

A Classy Grappling Hook and Wingsuit Combo for Fast Traversal

Many fans consider Just Cause 3 the best game in the explosive, open-world series. It took the over-the-top action to new heights and gave players incredible ways to get around. While you can drive vehicles, Rico Rodriguez’s grappling hook and wingsuit make traveling so fast and fun, you’ll rarely need to!

In *Just Cause 3*, players can move incredibly quickly and fluidly, almost like Spider-Man, using a combination of grappling and wingsuit flight. You can swing from anything – even moving vehicles like cars, planes, and helicopters – to pull off amazing stunts. The freedom of movement in *Just Cause 3* and *Just Cause 4* remains exceptional compared to many other open-world games even now.

Sunset Overdrive

Dynamic Movement Based on Grinding, Jumping, and Wall Running

Even now, Sunset Overdrive stands out for its incredibly unique way of getting around an open world, especially since it doesn’t use any cars or other vehicles. Instead of driving, players quickly slide along surfaces – a mechanic called “grinding” – and combine it with moves like zipping, wall-running, and bouncing off objects in the city to travel.

What makes getting around in *Sunset Overdrive* unique is that it requires real skill. Players need to learn and practice each movement to move quickly and efficiently through the game world – it’s not just about pressing a button. Even the water is cleverly used; you can briefly slide across it, or dive and jump to build up speed.

Infamous Second Son

Smoke and Neon Superpowers Enhance Movement

Getting around in *Infamous Second Son* isn’t quite as speedy as in games like *Spider-Man*, nor is it as original as *Sunset Overdrive*, but it strikes a good balance. The game offers fun and inventive ways for the main character to move using superhero powers. Along with classic parkour moves, Delsin Rowe can use his Smoke and Neon abilities to quickly and stylishly explore Seattle.

Moving around in *Infamous Second Son* is exciting and visually impressive. You can quickly travel using incredible powers like super-speed jumps and glides, and even use things in the environment, like vents, to reach rooftops fast. Every move looks fantastic, letting you create smooth and spectacular aerial combinations.

Saints Row 4

Supernatural Jump, Sprint, and Even Flying

I really loved how Saints Row started getting crazy after Saints Row 3, and it totally went off the rails – in the best way! – with Saints Row 4. It’s probably the most popular game for a reason. The whole thing is set inside a computer simulation, which is why you get these ridiculously awesome superpowers and crazy weapons. Basically, you’re taking on Steelport, but it’s a virtual version and everything’s over the top!

In *Saints Row 4*, you get the usual superhero abilities: super speed, gliding, and high jumps. You can even fly! What makes it stand out is that, unlike many open-world games, you can truly fly anywhere on the map without being limited to gliding.

Prototype 2

High-Speed and Fluid Jumping, Sprinting and Gliding

Prototype 2 expands on the fast-paced, ability-driven movement of the original game, offering a similar experience to Saints Row 4. Players can quickly navigate New York City using acrobatic parkour moves, including rapid sprinting, jumping, and gliding.

Considering this, the game doesn’t offer many useful vehicles. They’re slower than simply running with the main character, making them unnecessary. While moving around in *Prototype 2* feels quick and smooth, it isn’t very inventive, and the game relies too much on automatic movement. It seems the developers prioritized constant, over-the-top action over more complex movement options.

Forspoken

Fast-Paced Magic Parkour Full of Spectacular Acrobatics

While Forspoken hasn’t been a critical darling, it offers a unique experience thanks to its innovative combat and movement. Players control Frey, who uses a variety of powerful magic abilities to quickly explore the world of Athia. She can chain together fluid movements – like long jumps, quick dashes, and magical grappling – and even glide across water, creating a fast-paced and distinctive way to travel.

Once players learn all of the movement skills in Forspoken, they can move incredibly fast around the large world using what’s been called “Magic Parkour.” Even without vehicles, the game’s system lets you combine acrobatic moves with more complex actions, creating fast-paced and impressive ways to explore and battle.

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2025-09-27 02:41