Open-World Games With Best Wildlife AI

There’s something special about watching animals behave naturally. This often inspires game developers, who create games centered around animals or design realistic animal behaviors within their games. We’ve come a long way from simple hunting games like The Oregon Trail; today’s games feature wildlife with surprisingly complex and engaging artificial intelligence.

As someone who loves getting lost in big, open worlds, especially when there’s a lot of action or hunting involved, a few games really stand out to me. They all have these amazing creatures – sometimes monsters, sometimes robots, but always something that makes the world feel alive and detailed. And honestly, seeing how far the tech has come on consoles and PCs? It just makes me excited for what’s next!

Monster Hunter Wilds

Kaiju Fight!

Even though it doesn’t feature typical animals, Monster Hunter Wilds is a fantastic action RPG. A unique feature of this open-world game is that players can track giant monsters by following the trails of smaller creatures they’ve defeated.

You might see them battling smaller creatures and scattering herds, especially in the initial desert region. They also fight monsters that are equally powerful. It’s often just entertaining to watch these colossal beings clash and see who comes out on top.

Xenoblade Chronicles X

Danger All Around

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a role-playing game with a large, open world set on a new planet where humans are trying to build a life. You’ll find all sorts of creatures, from harmless animals peacefully existing in the environment to monsters battling each other.

Generally, monsters won’t bother players unless provoked or if they’re naturally aggressive. If monsters travel in groups, they’ll often defend the one being attacked. Larger, more powerful monsters that players aren’t strong enough to defeat yet might attack the party directly or fight other monsters to establish dominance.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

A Wild Pokemon Appears

The Pokemon games, especially the more recent versions, showcase impressive advancements. Modern technology allows developers to create Pokemon that behave realistically, wandering their habitats, interacting with each other, foraging for food, and generally avoiding players.

In games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus, you can either battle Pokemon or try to catch them quickly with Pokeballs. Battles usually involve one Pokemon at a time, though sometimes another will wait to help its ally.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Rope ‘Em If You Got ‘Em

Red Dead Redemption 2 lets you experience life as a cowboy or outlaw at the end of the 19th century. You can break and ride horses, hunt animals in the wilderness, and explore a vast frontier landscape.

Deer and rabbits will usually flee when you approach. Bears and cougars, however, might attack, or at least defend themselves if shot at, and they can be more intimidating than fighting other players.

Far Cry Primal

A Dangerous Life

Far Cry Primal is a unique entry in the Far Cry series, setting its story with a nomadic tribe around 10,000 B.C. The core of the game revolves around surviving by hunting with your tribe.

Animals are much more dangerous opponents than anything else in the game, and fighting them is different from using weapons against other enemies. While bows and spears can work against creatures like saber-toothed tigers and mammoths, these animals are powerful and will fiercely defend themselves, especially when they attack in groups.

Horizon Forbidden West

Robots In Disguise

Like Far Cry Primal, Horizon Forbidden West features a world where people live in nomadic tribes after a major disaster. However, instead of hunting animals, players hunt robotic creatures – the remains of machines that once dominated the Earth. These robots aren’t hunted for food, but their parts can be sold, used for crafting, or traded for income.

You can even reprogram these creatures to fight alongside you or ride them to travel quickly. They roam the world in groups, and will either run away or attack based on how you approach them – just like in many other open-world games.

Ghost Of Yotei

Guiding Friends

In Ghost of Yotei, you’ll encounter various animals while exploring between battles, though most are just there to make the world feel alive. Birds and foxes are special, as they actually offer something to the player. The game also features places to improve your character, such as hot springs that boost your health.

Golden Birds can take players to various places, and two other animals play a role in quests. Foxes will guide you to shrines, while wolves will lead you to where their packs are being held captive, and you’ll need to free them.

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Cucco Swarm!

Even though The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a fantasy adventure game, you can hunt realistic animals like birds and deer for food. You’ll also encounter and battle more fantastical, monster-like creatures.

Cuccos are bird-like creatures that usually stay peaceful in towns. But if you attack one repeatedly, a whole group will suddenly appear and start attacking you! This surprising behavior was first found in the game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

To Catch A Chocobo

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is an action role-playing game where you’ll mostly encounter monsters meant for fighting, rather than a diverse range of wildlife. The exception is the beloved Chocobos, which have been a staple of the Final Fantasy series for years. Each area of the game’s open world features a unique type of Chocobo that you can find and ‘catch’ by playing a series of stealth-based mini-games.

Once you catch a Chocobo, you can ride it to get around these areas. There are different kinds, some that can climb walls, run across water, and even use geysers to jump higher.

Dishonored

Release The Rats

In Dishonored, the number of rats infesting the city changes based on how players approach combat. Killing enemies attracts more rats, while using stealth and non-lethal takedowns keeps the rat population down. Essentially, a more violent playstyle leads to a city overrun with rats.

This change will make movement more challenging and could potentially cause harm. It’s a clever design choice that demonstrates the developers considered how animals could realistically contribute to the game’s story.

2026-01-14 20:12