The Greatest Open World Maps With Verticality

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As a gaming enthusiast, I must confess that the expansive open worlds in video games are truly breathtaking. Yet, there’s a common trait among them – they rarely encourage or even allow vertical exploration. Most times, you find yourself confined to a 2D plane, which is enough to navigate from one location to another. Honestly, it makes me wonder about the essence of terrain features like topography!

In some game worlds, they effectively incorporate verticality. Instead of just moving forward, backward, left, and right, they let you climb up or descend too. This could mean scaling a skyscraper, diving into the ocean depths, or simply going up and down within a single building – these variations make for an engaging gameplay experience.

In terms of movement or direction, if we’re talking about moving forward and backward or up and down, we’re dealing with verticality. This added dimension in gameplay, navigation, and layout creation is a valuable addition that’s always appreciated.

10.
City of Glass

Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst

The show revolves around running. It must be quite dull if the characters could only move forward on a straight path. Fortunately, the series offers a lot of up-and-down action to keep things interesting.

Perches atop the stunning, albeit fictitious, City of Glass. These roofs don’t conform to a single height, creating an intriguing landscape that offers ample vertical variation.

As a dedicated player, I’d have to say that without its impressive vertical layout, the game would lose much of its allure. Thankfully, in the City of Glass, it’s all about leaping, swinging, scaling walls, and speed-running across the cityscape. There are even moments where you can launch yourself over vast chasms using a grappling hook. But remember, keep your eyes front and center – looking down isn’t recommended!

9.
Kyrat

Far Cry 4

Among all mountain ranges, what stands taller than the highest one found in the fictional land of Kyrat, which is said to lie within the mighty Himalayas?

In the stunning mountains of Kyrat, exploration methods abound, such as wingsuits, which were first seen in previous games, and the grappling hook, newly introduced in Far Cry 4. Notably, the grappling hook facilitates numerous platforming challenges that enrich the gaming experience by adding variety to the gameplay.

Apart from conventional means, you might find it thrilling to navigate through the towering mountains on a hang glider or helicopter. These vehicles can prove incredibly handy, especially when tackling the more challenging, steep landscapes of Northern Kyrat. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t enjoy the adrenaline rush of firing a machine gun from up in the air while soaring on a hang glider?

8.
Night City

Cyberpunk 2077

Johnny Silverhand might harbor a desire to destroy Night City completely, yet it’s worth noting that this metropolis boasts one of the most impressive open-world landscapes, characterized by its ample vertical exploration opportunities.

In the metropolis known as Night City, you’ll find towering skyscrapers alongside sprawling streets perfect for high-speed car chases. Beneath this surface lies a network of subterranean passages where shadowy figures can hide. Night City is much like an onion – it has depth and complexity, with each layer revealing a different side to the city.

In this game, the cybernetic enhancements provide several boosts for movement, such as the reinforced ankle cybernetics that grant you a powerful leap after charging up.

This action doesn’t go unrewarded because there are usually external paths for ascending buildings that can be used instead of using the internal stairs, just in case you prefer not to take them.

7.
London

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

In contrast to earlier periods, the architecture of 19th-century London was technologically sophisticated, leading to an average increase in building height for the series.

Or simply:
The advanced architectural technology of 1800s London resulted in taller buildings compared to previous settings in the series.

Due to the immense size of these structures, you are provided with a grappling hook to expedite your journey. This proves useful when scaling renowned and towering landmarks such as Big Ben or St. Paul’s Cathedral. Without the grappling hook, climbing them would be quite laborious.

In Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, while not boasting the highest structure in the series, numerous buildings stretch multiple stories high, allowing for a greater degree of vertical exploration compared to the limited rooftop and ground-level navigation seen in previous Assassin’s Creed installments.

6.
Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Looking at that mountain, you might think it’s just a picturesque backdrop, but let me tell you, mountains are more than mere spectacles; they are challenges to be conquered. So, go ahead and climb it!

In the mythical highlands of Tamriel known as Skyrim, its mountainous terrain lends itself to a vast array of elevations. From the summit of the Throat Of The World to the steaming hot springs of Eastmarch, and even down to the depths of the Sea of Ghosts, this legendary landscape offers a broad scope for vertical exploration.

If you own the Dragonborn expansion pack, you’ll be able to employ the Bend Will battle cry to traverse dragons throughout Skyrim and Solstheim – a fantasy many players likely share following their initial encounter with Alduin in the opening sequence.

5.
Pacific City

Crackdown

As a gamer, a significant aspect of the gameplay involves gathering orbs to amplify my genetically enhanced character’s abilities, with agility being one such skill. Agility governs my speed and jumping height, which is indispensable when it comes to pursuing villains across rooftops at breakneck speeds.

Because skill orbs are linked to the enhancement of specific skills, it’s common to find agility orbs in locations that are elevated and difficult to access due to their association with agility.

Fortunately, Pacific City boasts an abundance of ascendable locations. The game design effectively utilizes the skill that an adequately leveled character can jump over 38 feet high, offering numerous options such as parking garages, billboards, cliffs, skyscrapers, and more for scaling.

Pacific City is bustling and full of life, offering a variety of choices to execute your endeavors, be it thwarting villains, embarking on treasure hunts, or simply stirring up some mischief.

4.
Central Gotham

Batman: Arkham Knight

After the chaos that unfolded in the infamous event, a part of Gotham was enclosed by a massive wall to keep the rampaging supervillains at bay. This enclosed area expanded into what we now know as Arkham City, named after the very incident. As a fan, it’s fascinating to witness how one tragic event can lead to such a significant transformation in our beloved city.

On the contrary, events unfold in the expansive and towering Central Gotham – the downtown district of the city, characterized by towering skyscrapers such as the Wayne Tower. Essentially, it encompasses all the islands in Gotham that were not featured in the previous games, resulting in a vast expanse that provides ample space for a superhero like Batman to oversee.

The towering, intricate structures in Central Gotham lend an impressive sense of height, a trait that Batman skillfully exploits using his versatile equipment such as a grappling gun or soaring through the air with his cape. As the Dark Knight, he’s always prepared to leap into action.

3.
The Crater

Subnautica

When considering the concept of ‘verticality’, one might first envision towering structures like skyscrapers or majestic mountains. However, let’s delve into the unexplored realms beneath us, the dark abyss of the ocean floor. This discussion revolves around the challenges and discoveries associated with exploring and enduring in these depths.

In simpler terms, the chart for Subnautica, known as The Crater, represents a volcanic pit on another planet that plunges approximately 8 kilometers or about 5 miles beneath the ocean level. This is far deeper than Earth’s average ocean depth, making it exceptionally deep.

As your equipment improves, you can venture further and farther, uncovering fresh landscapes teeming with resources and intriguing creatures. However, some of these creatures might see you as their next meal. This engaging gameplay cycle thrives on the map’s captivating details.

2.
New York City

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

, not to be confused with the equally vertical PS2 classic , is set in towering New York City.

In an open-world game, it’s essential to incorporate verticality. The experience just wouldn’t feel authentic without a character like the Web-Slinger traversing the cityscape and scaling structures such as the Empire State Building by swinging from web lines.

In the lineup of Spider-Man games, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 boasts the most expansive representation of New York City, the city that serves as Spider-Man’s home turf. This makes it an ideal playground for our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

1.
Villedor

Dying Light 2 Stay Human

The fictional city of Villedor in is a parkour wonderland.

In contrast to its predecessor which focused primarily on parkour and ground-based movement, Dying Light 2 significantly elevates this concept by introducing taller structures. With innovative tools such as the grappling hook and paraglider at your disposal, you’ll soar effortlessly from one skyscraper to another instead of simply jumping between houses.

In this game, the environment is structured to emphasize height, offering a rich diversity of gameplay experiences. It’s not just about battling zombies; you’ll also find yourself dodging, leaping over, and scaling obstacles when necessary. However, remember that other players are equally adept at moving around.

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2025-05-29 19:42