Open-World Games That Let You Build a Life

Many role-playing games, and games in general, revolve around saving the world or a kingdom. While this is a familiar storyline, it works well if the game has interesting characters and compelling side quests. In open-world games, players might even lose interest in the main story and choose to explore instead.

Players might eventually grow tired of constant fighting and repetitive tasks, and that’s where these games offer a welcome change. If someone wants to relax and create a different kind of experience, building a life within these games can be a perfect escape.

Minecraft

Just Have Fun

Minecraft doesn’t push players to follow a specific story or complete big tasks. It’s a freeform game where you can do pretty much anything you want. If you’d like to gather powerful weapons and armor to battle creatures in the dark, you can definitely do that.

The game focuses on creating a life however you envision it – whether that’s a cozy home with a small garden or a thriving village where you play as the leader. It’s easy to learn, making it perfect for both new and experienced players interested in trying out Minecraft.

Dragon Quest Builders 2

Friend Island

Dragon Quest Builders 2 takes place in a world made of blocks, and it plays a lot like Minecraft. However, unlike Minecraft, there’s a real threat of darkness trying to wipe everything out. As you progress through the game, you’ll rebuild villages that have been ruined by monsters, and you can choose to simply restore them to their basic state or create something truly impressive.

Players looking for a relaxing escape can visit a separate island where they and up to three friends can collaborate to build and manage their own village.

My Time At Sandrock

A Sandy Marriage

In My Time at Sandrock, you play as a new builder who arrives in a struggling, desolate town. Your goal is to revitalize the area, create a life for yourself, and help the town flourish.

The game offers some enjoyable action and a story, but it’s relatively small in scale. At its core, it’s a life simulation game where you can customize your home, grow crops, and find a spouse.

Palworld

Live Free With Your Monsters

Palworld is often described as a mix of Pokémon and Minecraft, but with a more realistic world. Players create a character and explore a vast landscape where they can establish a base. At this base, they can build homes, grow crops, create defenses, and construct workshops for crafting.

This game stands out because of how you collect monsters – you don’t just catch them, you build relationships with them. They can fight alongside you, serve as your ride, and even help out with tasks back at your base. While there’s a story, it doesn’t really affect how you play the game.

Grounded 2

Shrinky Dinks

Even though Grounded 2 is still being developed, it’s already more expansive than the original game, demonstrating significant progress from Obsidian Entertainment. Players take on the role of a miniaturized hero in a brand new backyard setting, continuing the story as one of the chosen children.

The primary aim isn’t to save the world, but to return to a normal life, and that’s key. However, players can also adapt and thrive by collecting resources and battling creatures. You can craft everything from houses and furniture to weapons and armor.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Nuts And Bolts

With the addition of underground areas and sky islands, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a much larger game than its predecessor, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game also features a familiar, high-stakes threat: the return of Ganon and a potential world-ending catastrophe.

This time around, players won’t just wander around putting off the main quest. They can actually build structures like homes and even create vehicles, offering tons of opportunities for creativity in the expansive world of Hyrule.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Welcome To Dondoko Island

While Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth does involve a dangerous cult and rogue Yakuza in Hawaii, it’s not about the end of the world. It’s a captivating new Yakuza game where you explore Honolulu and progress through the story with turn-based combat.

The game also includes lots of fun side activities to keep you busy, such as taking silly photos, playing classic arcade games, and even delivering food. One of the most relaxing and creative things you can do is explore Dondoko Island, where you can design and decorate your own house and shape the island however you want.

Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time

A Life For Every Player

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is an action role-playing game where you choose a class – called a Life – and embark on quests to help others. You can play at your own pace, and each Life offers unique crafting and gathering skills, like those of a cook or a woodcutter.

Even simple tasks, like collecting firewood, help move the story forward and let players gain experience, ultimately allowing them to build and customize their own home. It’s a fantasy experience with more ways to progress than many other RPGs available today.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

The World Is YOUR Property

Okay, so Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has a really complex story, but basically, you’re trying to link up different safe zones across Mexico and Australia, one by one. You can rush through the story if you want, but honestly, the fun comes from really getting into the role of Sam and becoming the ultimate delivery person. It’s all about how much you want to commit to the experience!

Players can connect with other players’ bases to unlock new crafting recipes for items like equipment and housing. The game allows you to build anything you want, anywhere, and these creations will be visible to others online, making for a shared and dynamic world.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Just Keep Playing

While Skyrim lets you do things like buy a house or make your own weapons and armor, it’s not really known for its crafting system. What Skyrim does best is create a huge, immersive world that’s easy to get lost in – there are tons of caves and side quests to discover beyond the main story.

Despite being released back in 2011, many fans haven’t actually completed the game, and that’s perfectly fine. It’s designed to be played however you choose.

2025-12-13 08:35