Open-World Games With The Best Dungeons

Key Takeaways

Bethesda’s Oblivion, Diablo 4, and Skyrim offer outstanding dungeon designs rich in detail and rewarding exploration.
Nintendo’s Zelda: Breath of the Wild and FromSoftware’s Elden Ring also showcase unique and engaging dungeons.
Open-world games have become havens for exceptional dungeon design, weaving challenging levels seamlessly into their vast worlds.

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the vast, fantastical worlds of video games, I can confidently say that these three titles – Skyrim, Breath of the Wild, and Elden Ring – stand out as some of the most exceptional adventures ever crafted. Each one offers a unique take on dungeon design, a crucial element that has always been at the heart of the RPG genre.

For quite some time, dungeon layout has been a significant aspect of game design, allowing players to navigate through an area teeming with adversaries, riches, sub-quests, and potentially a substantial prize upon vanquishing a final boss. This concept is derived from its counterpart in Dungeons & Dragons, and dungeons in specific video games have grown popular due to their role as challenging tests for players.

Open-world games have not only broadened the boundaries of traditional role-playing games but have also emerged as exceptional platforms for intricate dungeon design. From the painstakingly crafted dungeons in titles from Bethesda and FromSoftware, to the ingenious design strategies employed by Nintendo, open-world gaming has developed a distinct affinity for this concept. These dungeons can be subtly embedded within the game world, or so seamlessly integrated with the geography that the entire game appears as a cohesive, interconnected puzzle in a remarkable fashion.

7 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion

Fourth Entry In Long-Running RPG Series Features Outstanding Dungeon Design

Bethesda began crafting the subsequent version of “The Elder Scrolls” right after completing “Morrowind.” Their focus was on upcoming home consoles like the Xbox 360, as well as PCs, with an aim to create a vast open-world that remains striking even today. This world is adorned with incredible dungeons scattered throughout its territories.

Set in the Tamriel province of Cyrodiil, the game Oblivion boasts some of the most impressive dungeons within the series. These dungeons are scattered throughout Cyrodiil and range from simple to complex, with some even featuring multiple levels and alternative paths. Populated by hordes of goblins, bandits, necromancers, and vampires, the dungeons in Oblivion are a delight to traverse, showcasing Bethesda’s signature handcrafted atmosphere.

6 Diablo 4

Franchise’s First Foray Into Open-World Produces Spectacular Dungeons

In keeping with their usual pace, Blizzard delayed the release of Diablo 4 for over a decade since the third game. However, instead of following the traditional path, they chose to transform Diablo 4 into an open-world adventure, leveraging advancements in console and PC technology. This daring move proved successful, with Diablo 4 becoming one of the most captivating installments in the franchise.

In Diablo 4, the dungeons are primarily structured around elements known as Aspects. These Aspects serve to boost the Codex of Power and grant more potent abilities to your items. The design of these dungeons is meticulous, offering a variety of adversaries and diverse gameplay mechanics. Some dungeons involve solving puzzles, while others emphasize combat and action. In total, there are over 100 dungeons, and mastering them all in pursuit of the most elusive Legendary Aspects is one of Diablo 4’s most significant achievements.

5 Final Fantasy 15

The World Of Eos Is Packed With Terrific Dungeons

In response to the criticism about the linear and restrictive design of the Final Fantasy 13 trilogy, Square decided to go all out for their next mainline game by creating a massive, expansive world for their new story. The world of Eos is incredibly vast, with a map that feels overwhelming even now, and it’s packed with an array of impressive dungeons to delve into and conquer.

Sprawled across its vast expanse, Eos hosts numerous dungeons and caves that seem like colossal tasks to conquer. Characterized by their immense sense of scale and labyrinthine structure, the dungeons in Final Fantasy 15 frequently provide excellent incentives, such as potent weapons and items. Additionally, they offer challenging boss battles towards the end, upholding the tradition of optional superbosses within the Final Fantasy series.

4 Fallout: New Vegas

The Nuclear Wasteland Of The Mojave Features Franchise’s Best Dungeons

Prior to Bethesda acquiring the rights for “Fallout”, a third installment named “Van Buren” was in production at Interplay and Black Isle Studios. After the ownership changed hands, elements from “Van Buren” were incorporated into “Fallout: New Vegas”, resulting in some of the most fascinating and engaging dungeons the franchise has seen yet.

Similar to how Fallout 3 featured before it, the expansive open-world of New Vegas is dotted with a multitude of vaults, subterranean hideouts, and abandoned subway stations. These intriguing locales offer a thrilling experience as you navigate through chilling encounters with ghouls and super mutants in the vaults, and face hordes of absolutely petrifying Deathclaws within some of the underground caves.

3 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Skyrim’s Vast Open-World Showcases Incredible Dungeons

Without a doubt, numerous remakes and adaptations have solidified the fact that The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim was not only one of the most remarkable journeys of the 2010s but also an global sensation. Delving into Skyrim’s vast, incomprehensibly rich universe reveals some of Bethesda’s most captivating and enthralling dungeons ever conceived throughout their history.

In the expansive universe of Skyrim, dungeons are common features. These vary from outdoor bandit camps, where defeating a group of thugs yields a reward, to complex, multi-tiered caves and underground networks. The chambers in these dungeons can be immense, and the diverse combat methods offer different strategies for each one. Whether you prefer using stealth and a bow to take down enemies in the shadows or charging in with a sword, the fun lies in the fact that this exceptional RPG’s longevity isn’t just due to its mechanics, but also its remarkable dungeon design.

2 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Over 100 Shrines And Four Traditional Dungeons

Back in 2011 when Skyward Sword dropped, Nintendo was already tinkering with the Zelda blueprint laid out in Ocarina of Time. Fast forward to 2017, they took things a step further by introducing an open-world setting for the series, a first for this legendary franchise. Now, let me tell you, if there’s one thing the Zelda games have always nailed, it’s those mind-blowing dungeons!

In “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” Nintendo constructed a vastly expansive open-world version of Hyrule that held a sense of familiarity yet surpassed the scale of any prior games. Similarly, the dungeons underwent an upgrade; this game presented two distinct forms of its classic video game dungeon. Over one hundred shrines provided individual challenges, enemy interactions, and puzzles, largely centered around specific mechanics. The massive Divine Beasts, on the other hand, showcased more traditional “Zelda”-style dungeons. These dungeons were exceptionally well-crafted, displaying Nintendo’s renowned prowess in game design, puzzle construction, and boss battles.

1 Elden Ring

FromSoftware’s Legacy Of Amazing Level Design Shines In Open-World

Following the massive success of “Demon’s Souls” in 2009, FromSoftware refined and mastered the art of what is now recognized as the Soulslike genre. Through games like “Dark Souls,” “Bloodborne,” and “Sekiro,” FromSoft perfected a level design that resembled a 3D Metroidvania-style open world. However, with the release of “Elden Ring” in 2022, FromSoft dared to explore what would occur if they transferred their innovative level design and combat systems into an expansive open-world environment. This bold move proved to be incredibly rewarding.

Due to their exceptional focus on intricate details, FromSoft was an ideal match for the open-world genre because they utilized their exceptional skills to construct dungeons that seamlessly blended with the game world. These dungeons appear as if they have naturally grown within The Lands Between, nestled discreetly in hidden corners or almost sculpted directly onto the landscape’s structure, leaving players awestruck even two years later.

2024-09-28 21:05