RPGs That Shouldn’t Have Been Open World

Summary

Not every RPG needs an open-world; linear games can have stronger gameplay pillars.
Dragon’s Dogma’s combat shines, but its inclusion of an open world could’ve been more engaging.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey suffered from a bloated open world, taking away from its strengths.

In recent days, open-world role-playing games have gained immense popularity. These games bring together two highly favored gaming styles, offering players the chance to embark on a thrilling journey through a captivating universe teeming with additional content to discover and hidden mysteries to solve.

As a dedicated fan, I’d like to share my perspective: Not every RPG necessitates a sprawling sandbox setting. Some games might have shone brighter if they had opted for a linear narrative instead. It’s not that we’re longing for the exclusion of an open world in these role-playing games, but it’s worth considering that the other core aspects of these titles could have been more robust with a more directed approach.

6. Dragon’s Dogma

Combat Could Have Been Less Repetitive Without A Sandbox

One of the standout aspects of playing Dragon’s Dogma is undeniably its combat system. Players are captivated by discovering the unique move sets associated with different character classes, or Vocations, as they engage in battles against swarms of enemies and formidable bosses. The epic encounters offer an extraordinary opportunity for players to scale their adversaries and deliver devastating attacks from unexpected angles.

Although an open world setting offers enjoyment, it falls short when it comes to optimally integrating a sandbox within a video game. Some of the diversions can seem insignificant. Players often yearn for a more immersive experience through a semi-open world design or even a linear progression. Such changes could make combat encounters feel more purposeful and less random.

5. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

The Bloated Open World Took Away From This Title’s Strengths

Historically, the Assassin’s Creed series has been known for its open-world design. It’s noteworthy that many players have expressed a desire for a more streamlined experience in Odyssey, as they found the vast world to be overly cumbersome and monotonous to explore. The game map is expansive merely for the sake of being expansive, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.

At some point, players found themselves wishing that the game had chosen to be either a Role-Playing Game (RPG) or an open-world title. By attempting to blend both styles, it ultimately failed to excel in either category. This lackluster performance led many fans to petition for a return to the series’ original concepts rather than persisting with this approach.

4. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

The Filler Content Gets Grating To Deal With

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot offers an enjoyable gaming experience, encompassing the entire Z Saga. Extra content, serving as both prequels and continuations, is available via DLCs. The combat is engaging, though it may be considered somewhat simple, and fans particularly admire its authenticity.

Despite its visually appealing open world, the game’s lack of substantial rewards from the main story can slow down the progression and decrease players’ overall enjoyment. If the game were to emphasize its narrative more and reduce unnecessary open-world tasks, many players would likely appreciate it more. Instead, a fast-paced Dragon Ball action game might be preferred by most over an open-world Dragon Ball game that offers a mix of positive and negative experiences.

3. Final Fantasy 15

The Story Doesn’t Work With A Sandbox Structure

In simpler terms, “Final Fantasy 15” is an enchanting game set in an expansive open world, without a shadow of a doubt. Yet, towards the end, the story’s complexity overshadowed the open-ended aspects, making the gameplay more linear rather than sandbox-style. This raises questions as to why such emphasis was placed on the open world at the outset if it wasn’t fully utilized later on.

Instead of focusing so much on incorporating a sandbox feature, more attention should have been given to developing Insomnia’s story and gameplay before Noctis embarked on his road trip. This would have ensured a smoother narrative and gameplay experience. Although the open world evokes a sense of adventure, some confusing design aspects make players question the purpose of exploring these visually stunning landscapes.

2. The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall

The Open World Is Too Huge And Uninteresting

In some open-world games, their immense size can sometimes work against them. This is particularly noticeable in the game ‘Daggerfall’, which is staggeringly large yet lacks substance to explain its vastness. Most of these environments are procedurally generated, giving them a repetitive feel. If Daggerfall had respected the technological constraints of its era and offered players a compact, finely crafted world, it might have gained more supporters.

1. Mass Effect: Andromeda

Fans Missed The Focused Structure Of Previous Games

Mass Effect: Andromeda is often debated as one of the most contentious Role-Playing Games (RPG) ever made, with numerous players expressing disappointment that it doesn’t meet the high standards set by Commander Shepard’s grand journeys. The open-world aspects were initially intriguing, but they ended up contributing to the game feeling overly bulky instead.

A more concentrated and immersive experience in the vein of traditional adventures might have been a better fit for the fans, as opposed to the expansive, open-ended level design found in Mass Effect: Andromeda. While the hub worlds in this game are impressive, the feedback indicates that an approach similar to the original series might have been more satisfying for the majority of players.

2025-07-05 17:14