The Best Open-World Games with Environmental Puzzles

Key Takeaways

Open-world games often use puzzles to better engage players in their environment.
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom builds upon Breath of the Wild’s power interactions.
Hogwarts Legacy integrates spells and puzzles in its rich open world for players to enjoy.

As a seasoned gamer who’s seen his fair share of open-world adventures, I can confidently say that these games have left quite an impression on me. From the intricate puzzles of Outer Wilds to the hacking escapades in Watch Dogs 2, each title offers a unique take on the genre that keeps me coming back for more.

Nearly all high-priced games strive to encompass an expansive world that encourages players to freely explore while progressing the story at their leisure and discovering various side quests along the journey. To attract a broad range of gamers, many of these titles are packed with game mechanics tailored for diverse player preferences.

Consequently, it’s understandable that most open-world games incorporate puzzles in one way or another. This approach provides a break for players after being immersed in action sequences, and some games earn extra praise when these puzzles are seamlessly integrated into the game environment, making their solutions feel as organic as possible.

7 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Link’s Powers Can Interact With The Environment In Meaningful Ways

In “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” an enormous leap was made in open-world gaming, so it was expected that “Tears of the Kingdom” would further enhance these systems. This means players will have access to a variety of clever abilities in the sequel, enabling them to effortlessly control the environment.

Solving puzzles in Tears of the Kingdom is an exhilarating experience due to the numerous possible solutions, and the fun is amplified by the flexibility offered through the Ultrahand ability. In other words, this game’s design skillfully enhances the joy that players find while playing it.

6 Hogwarts Legacy

The Fifth-Year Student Can Use Spells To Complete Certain Puzzles In The Open-World

At long last, fans have been granted the chance to fulfill their most fervent dreams by studying at Hogwarts themselves. The expansive universe of Hogwarts Legacy is bursting with mysteries hidden within and surrounding the school, making it a thrill to discover them.

Users need to discover magical abilities and employ them to manipulate the surroundings and solve specific riddles. As challenging as deciphering Field Guide instructions or participating in Merlin Trials can become over time, the cleverly designed puzzles dispersed throughout the game world compensate effectively for any inconvenience.

5 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

The Open-World Hub Of Prague Is Packed With Optional Brain-Teasers And Dynamic As Players Go Through Missions

In a new take on its open-world design, Mankind Divided delivers outstanding outcomes. Although the city of Prague appears compact, it showcases remarkable vertical complexity, uses the environment to tell compelling stories, and is filled with mysteries that players can easily lose themselves in while they explore.

In this game, since it was initially designed as an immersive simulation, almost every infiltration attempt transforms into a sort of small puzzle for the player to solve. They might connect the dots, discover hidden vents, or uncover less apparent paths to gain access. As players progress through Prague during significant missions, the environment changes, keeping the open-world hub vibrant and filled with exclusive content.

4 Outer Wilds

Players Must Pay Attention To The Environment To Make Progress

As a gamer, diving into the captivating open-world of Outer Wilds, I can’t help but feel the thrill of unraveling its enigmatic narrative. The task at hand: preventing the universe from self-destructing after each time loop. The journey is filled with intricate puzzles that often require a keen eye and patience to decipher hidden clues scattered throughout the environment, which, as a player, I find myself engrossed in reading to uncover.

One of the rare games that leaves players yearning to start over as soon as they finish, so they can relive the unique adventure once more. The riddles are clever yet not aggravating, and the mere act of exploring feels like its own prize.

3 Watch Dogs 2

Hacking Feels Natural And Properly Integrated With The Open World

As a gamer, I found myself yearning for a brighter take on the Watch Dogs universe after the first game left me feeling weighed down by its somber narrative. Thankfully, the sequel delivered just that! Instead of vengeance being the main focus, the hackers in this installment are presented as cyber champions, striving to make a positive impact. To top it all off, the hacking mechanics have been significantly enhanced, making them feel more fluid and seamlessly integrated within the open-world environment.

This feature encourages diverse, spontaneous gameplay situations where burglaries and hacking incidents could transform into puzzle-like challenges. Players can then employ their tools and abilities to devise distinct solutions for each predicament. It’s a significant advancement and a much-desired element from the initial Watch Dogs game.

2 The Pathless

Features A Bunch Of Ingenious Puzzles That Can Be Real Tough To Decipher At Times

A captivating game named “The Pathless” offers exciting open-world exploration and emphasizes puzzles that seamlessly fit into the gameplay rather than appearing forced. These mental challenges may prove tricky to solve, but enthusiasts of the core game mechanics are likely to find it intriguing enough to give it a try.

Exploring landmarks in an open environment and gathering lightstones provides enjoyable gameplay, complete with occasional stealthy encounters. Unveiling the mystery of the obelisks as you make steady progress is a satisfying reward for those who appreciate the charm of “The Pathless“.

1 Immortals Fenyx Rising

Takes A Page From Breath Of The Wild With Its Puzzle Design

Following the triumph of “Breath of the Wild”, Ubisoft gave approval to a project that drew inspiration from Nintendo’s groundbreaking success. Although some might find the inspiration a bit too obvious, “Immortals Fenyx Rising” offers exciting combat and a delightful script to keep fans captivated for the long term.

Just as you’d anticipate from a game reminiscent of recent Zelda titles, Fenyx Rising incorporates a good number of environmental puzzles that offer an enjoyable shift in gameplay. While the puzzles can become somewhat excessive at times, fans accustomed to Breath of the Wild and its sequel will find themselves comfortably engaged with the cleverness of these brain-ticklers.

2024-10-27 18:25