Open-World Games That Are Not What They Seem

This list contains spoilers!

Great open-world games create incredibly detailed maps that players can get completely lost in, often spending hundreds of hours discovering secrets, learning the game’s story, and exploring everything the world has to offer. This impressive level of detail and abundance of content has made the genre a key part of today’s gaming landscape.

Some people get tired of open-world games, finding that large maps and lots of quests can become repetitive. But the games on this list stand out by offering clever world designs and gameplay that keep things interesting and create truly memorable moments.

The Witness

It’s All Puzzles

Following his critically acclaimed game Braid, designer Jonathan Blow created The Witness. Braid, released in 2008, helped popularize independent games alongside titles like Spelunky and Super Meat Boy. The Witness is known for its stunningly colorful world and lack of direct instruction. Players are placed on a beautiful island with no explanation of their purpose or how to solve the puzzles. They must learn the rules of each puzzle type by starting with simpler challenges, eventually allowing them to tackle more difficult ones and activate a laser.

At first glance, the game appears to be just a collection of line puzzles, and they are exceptionally well-crafted, especially as you enter the mountain area. However, the game world constantly suggests there’s more to discover, with hidden audio recordings hinting at deeper secrets. Some players are understandably frustrated if they think the line puzzles are all there is, and sadly, some never find anything beyond them. But observant players will eventually – often after finding a clue at the mountain’s peak – realize the puzzles extend beyond the grids and are integrated into the environment itself – the clouds, plants, buildings, and everything around you. Finding your first environmental puzzle in The Witness is a truly brilliant gaming moment, and the joy of uncovering how meticulously designed the world is should be experienced by every puzzle enthusiast.

Subnautica

What Lurks Beneath?

The best way to play Subnautica is to go in knowing as little as possible, though this can be both a good and bad thing. The game starts with your spaceship crashing, forcing you to explore the vast ocean around you, which creates a feeling of discovery. At first, Subnautica might seem similar to Endless Ocean, a relaxing game where you learn about alien creatures and collect resources to escape the planet.

Players might gradually notice unsettling clues hinting at a hidden danger in the ocean depths, or they could be caught completely off guard by a terrifying leviathan and the Lovecraftian creatures that emerge. This creates a brilliantly crafted descent into horror, turning exploration into a mentally challenging experience as well as a gameplay one. The first encounter with a leviathan is truly memorable, and might make players think twice before diving into a new game unprepared.

Shadow of the Colossus

Does the End Justify the Means?

I’ve seen a lot of games try the twist where you, the player, are actually the bad guy because of all the enemies you’ve defeated, but Shadow of the Colossus was one of the first to really pull it off, and honestly, it still does it better than most. The story starts with this voice, Dormin, telling you that you need to defeat sixteen massive creatures, these Colossi, to bring a girl named Mono back to life. That’s pretty much all you do in the game – hunt down and take down these incredible beasts. And at first, you feel like a hero, like you’re accomplishing something amazing with each victory. It’s a really clever setup.

The player’s triumph over the colossi doesn’t last long. While Mono is brought back to life, it soon becomes apparent that the colossi weren’t simply mindless enemies. There are clues throughout the game – like the first colossus turning its back as the player approaches, as if it wasn’t looking for a fight – suggesting something more. The surprising revelation that the protagonist is actually possessed, ultimately leading to their death and Dormin taking control, completely changes how you view the game on subsequent playthroughs. It adds a layer of melancholy to the stunning, yet desolate, world.

Outer Wilds

A Mystery Like No Other

At first glance, Outer Wilds appears to be a sweet and simple space exploration game – a charming indie adventure. But it quickly becomes something much more. Players soon realize the universe loops every 22 minutes, transforming the game into a brilliantly crafted puzzle. The story’s secrets are seamlessly woven into the gameplay, creating a 15-20 hour experience that’s truly unforgettable.

Today, Outer Wilds is widely considered one of the greatest indie games ever made. It has an overwhelmingly positive reception on Steam and won the prestigious Seumas McNally Grand Prize. While it may not have achieved massive mainstream popularity, it remains a beloved game for those who experienced its unique world.

2025-11-14 18:04