Open-World RPGs That Expect You To Ignore The Main Story

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Many open-world role-playing games prioritize storytelling, encouraging players to focus on the main quest. A prime example is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which creates a sense of urgency – it feels like something terrible will happen to key characters if you don’t stick to the path.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a great example of this trend, especially since it appeals to fans of the original Final Fantasy 7 who are eager to see how the story unfolds with these new changes. Like other open-world RPGs, it encourages players to explore its world, even if those games also have compelling stories. As we look at more examples, this approach will become more obvious.

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The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

The First Game That Dared You To Get Lost

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim really popularized the idea of open-world freedom in gaming. While it began with a dramatic escape and a dragon attack, the main story wasn’t the point. Once that initial sequence finished, players were free to explore and do whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted.

The game’s relaxed style made it more enjoyable to develop your character and complete challenges, and it also made revisiting the main story later on much simpler. This freedom is a key reason why people still appreciate the game today.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Expanding Your Viking Empire

In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, you play as Vikings trying to take over England and build their territory. The game encourages players to go beyond the main story – exploring the world and developing both their settlement and character are key to success and give you a strong base to fight from.

As a player, I really appreciate that the game encourages you to explore and get stronger before rushing the main story. It just feels right – building up your resources and power makes the whole experience so much smoother. If you try to barrel through everything, you’re going to have a seriously tough time!

Borderlands 4

All About The Guns

The story of Borderlands 4 follows Vault Hunters arriving on Kairos, a planet isolated from the galaxy for hundreds of years until recently. While the plot involves stopping a tyrannical empire and aiding a rebellion, it relies on familiar tropes.

The core of the Borderlands series has always been collecting awesome loot. The game world is built to reward players for exploring and taking on side quests, all in the hunt for rare and powerful guns. While the story is decent, most players buy Borderlands for the loot and the fun of playing with friends.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Hard To Ignore Those Waves, Bro

The story in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is compelling and fast-paced. It begins in Japan, but quickly moves to Honolulu where the main character, Ichiban, finds himself with amnesia. He needs to figure out how he arrived, locate his mother, and stop a dangerous cult – all at the same time.

While players are eager to progress the main story in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the game frequently interrupts them with optional side quests. These side activities aren’t just distractions; they’re designed to help players gain levels and earn money for better equipment. Because the game is quite difficult and doesn’t have difficulty settings, completing these side quests – or ‘grinding’ – is often necessary to become strong enough to continue the main storyline.

Diablo 4

All About Character Builds

Like many games in the genre, Diablo 4 focuses more on collecting powerful items than telling a captivating story, though its story is better than that of Borderlands 4. Diablo is a classic ‘looter’ game that has remained popular because players enjoy improving their characters, whether they play solo or with others online. Without its engaging gameplay, the game’s rich backstory wouldn’t be enough to keep most players interested.

In Diablo 4, you create and customize a character, selecting from different classes, and then explore a vast, open game world from a top-down perspective. If you’re playing alone, it’s especially important to complete optional side quests and gain levels before tackling the main story missions, as those can be very challenging for under-leveled characters without help.

Final Fantasy 15

On A Bro-ad Trip

Final Fantasy 15 starts differently than most Final Fantasy games. The story begins with Noctis and his three friends taking a road trip in a car that unexpectedly breaks down, forcing them to push it to a repair shop. This journey isn’t just about fixing the car; it’s a chance for them to explore the world, grow stronger, and ultimately prepare to confront a powerful empire.

Players gain experience by completing challenges like battling enemies, finishing quests, and exploring dangerous locations. Leveling up feels natural because it’s woven into the game’s story, rewarding players for taking their time and enjoying the journey to the next major goal.

Xenoblade Chronicles X

Rebuilding Civilization

In Xenoblade Chronicles X, discovering the world is the most important thing you do, and it’s how the game begins. As a new member of the human colony New L.A., you’re tasked with exploring an alien planet and building beacons. These beacons act as fast travel locations, help you map the area, and allow you to gather resources.

The story gradually becomes more intense as the alien inhabitants start to resist, but the plot unfolds slowly, almost as if the game wants you to take your time. Xenoblade Chronicles X is also quite difficult, meaning you’ll likely need to spend time leveling up and gathering resources.

Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning

All About Action

In Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, you start the game having mysteriously come back to life, defying fate itself. While the mystery of your resurrection is presented, it doesn’t actually play a significant role in the overall story.

Okay, so I’m really into open-world RPGs, and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is one that totally flew under the radar. The developers clearly focused on making the combat amazing, and it shows. You spend most of your time battling monsters, exploring the world, and doing those typical side quests to level up and get stronger. Honestly, the story isn’t the biggest draw, but the gameplay is just so good, it makes it a fantastic and seriously underrated game.

Sand Land

Have A Sandy Adventure

Sand Land tells the story of demons and humans joining forces to search for a legendary source of water in a world covered in sand. The game requires a few hours of play to fully understand what makes it special – a unique and central tank that plays a key role.

Okay, so once you finally connect to the world in the first city, the game really wants you to go explore – and you should! It’s totally manageable without doing every little side quest, but honestly, the story is intriguing enough to pull you in. What really hooked me was the combat – battling everything from small skirmishes to massive fights, especially once you unlock the mech. It’s a really cool gameplay loop!

Starfield

Bethesda’s Space Epic

Similar to Bethesda’s popular game, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Starfield focuses more on the experience of exploring space than on telling a complex story. You play as someone who starts as a miner and becomes an explorer searching for mysterious artifacts, and the game is really about freely discovering and enjoying everything the universe has to offer.

In this game, players have a lot of control over customizing their character, from skills and equipment to their spaceship. Unlike games like No Man’s Sky, Starfield focuses on a strong storyline and engaging gameplay. If you’ve ever wanted to explore space, Starfield is definitely worth a look.

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2026-02-17 08:35