Top Open-World Games Packed with Unique Activities You Can’t Miss

Summary

Many open-world games often strive to make side activities and points of interest during exploration feel varied from combat and item collecting.
Yakuza 0 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth offer diverse gameplay mechanics and dozens of unique mini-games to play.
Red Dead Redemption 2 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 bet on immersive and meaningful activities in line with their settings.

Open-world games are famous for their extensive landscapes and numerous attractions, usually signified by question marks on the map marking various optional tasks. Although some open-world games merely add more camps or bases to conquer or chests to plunder, exceptional ones endeavor to offer more substantial side activities, brainteasers, or mini-games that provide a fresh twist and make exploration feel more diverse and exciting.

In any open-world game, the cycle of combat and exploration serves as its bedrock, but it’s the exceptional games that boast an array of engaging side activities. Players chase question marks with enthusiasm, anticipating intriguing discoveries or rewarding challenges. These activities range from complex puzzles to peaceful pastimes, entertaining mini-games, and more – essentially, these open-world games provide a wealth of map activities. The experience of clearing points of interest becomes an exciting adventure instead of a mundane task.

As a gamer, I prefer open-world titles that don’t solely revolve around one main activity or mini-game, like The Witcher 3 with its focus on Gwent or Star Wars Outlaws and their Sabacc gameplay. Instead, I enjoy games that offer a rich tapestry of diverse activities and intriguing points of interest to explore.

1. Red Dead Redemption 2

Natural Exploration Of Wilderness Coupled With Leisure Games

In contrast to other open-world games, Red Dead Redemption 2 emphasizes a more realistic and immersive exploration of the Wild West, rather than relying on mysteries or surprises. The game subtly hints at its hidden treasures and abandoned settlements, leaving their discovery up to the players’ keen observation skills. Side activities are mainly found within Dutch’s camp, where players can partake in tasks such as chopping wood, or in various towns and cities. In keeping with Rockstar’s style, there is a wide variety of diversions available, including games like poker, dominoes, blackjack, and Five Finger Fillet.

While navigating the untamed wilderness in Red Dead Redemption 2, players will find that the game’s core experience revolves around activities such as hunting, gathering resources, fishing, and so forth, rather than random meetings with strangers or side missions. At night, players have the option to establish temporary campsites anywhere on the map, which they can use for tasks like maintaining their weapons and horses, preparing meals, testing herbs, and other such pursuits.

2. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Hand-Crafted Open World With No Filler Or Repetitiveness

As a dedicated fan, I can confidently say that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its successor, Tears of the Kingdom, are two of the most captivating open-world games I’ve ever played. They offer an unprecedented level of freedom, encouragement for exploration, and activities that truly reward creativity. Unlike many games, they don’t rely on traditional map markers to guide you; instead, the allure of discovering hidden gems lies in natural exploration. No matter where you wander, there’s always something intriguing just beyond the horizon, waiting to be uncovered.

In The Legend of Zelda series, instead of having unnecessary filler content, open-world games are packed with intriguing Korok Seed puzzles hidden in nature, challenging climbing spots, and the opportunity to experiment with cooking mechanics at campfires. Additionally, there are exciting activities like shield surfing. Now, in Tears of the Kingdom, the interactivity of the world has been elevated thanks to its advanced crafting system and unique abilities such as Ultrahand and Ascend.

3. Yakuza 0

The Gold Standard For Open-World Filling With Wildly Diverse Activities

The entire Yakuza series is consistently ranked among the most entertaining open-world games due to its rich assortment of activities and mini-games, each with distinct gameplay dynamics that ensure endless entertainment. Although the series’ worlds are usually smaller compared to other open-world games, they are brimming with eccentric and varied activities, minimizing repetition. Among these, Yakuza 0 is particularly noteworthy as one of the series’ finest installments, impressing even by its own lofty standards.

In the bustling cities of Yakuza 0, you’ll find a wealth of activities and side quests that offer an extraordinary range of gameplay experiences. From rhythm games testing your timing to fast-paced racing, social mini-games, and even leisurely pursuits like karaoke or fishing, this game delivers a diversity far surpassing what you might find in titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Mass Effect: Andromeda, or Star Wars Outlaws. The business-related activities that are the series’ trademark are here, but there’s so much more to explore. You can lose yourself in games of shogi, mahjong, poker, or disco dancing, all for pure enjoyment. And let’s not forget the various arcade game simulators! What sets this game apart is that even the simplest side quests can introduce novel gameplay mechanics, ensuring each interaction remains fresh and unpredictable.

4. Ghost Of Tsushima

Points Of Interest Blend Varied Mini-Games, Setting’s Flavor, And Narrative Beats

In the vein of Ubisoft’s open-world format, Ghost of Tsushima populates the map of Tsushima Island with assorted points of interest and Mongol outposts to conquer. A good chunk of the game’s mysteries lead you to enemy camps or fox dens for unlocking new charm slots. However, some side activities in the game are exceptionally enjoyable and impactful, combining engaging mechanics, a Feudal Japan-inspired atmosphere, enticing rewards, and compelling storytelling elements.

In the game ‘Ghost of Tsushima’, some captivating attractions are the bamboo training arenas, opportunities for haiku creation, and relaxing hot springs. The bamboo training areas engage players with quick-time events that challenge their reactions and recall, while the haiku compositions offer a calming respite from the action, rewarding them aesthetically. Lastly, the hot springs enable players to contemplate crucial story moments and characters, enriching Jin Sakai’s character development and personal journey.

5. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

A Wide Selection Of Unique Period Activities In Settlements And Beyond

In comparison to the latest installment in the series, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows“, the expansiveness of “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla” is unparalleled. The multitude of territories in Valhalla is simply astounding and while it presents numerous opportunities for exploration, it also comes with its challenges. Some aspects, like engaging cairn puzzles or modern platforming sections that disrupt immersion, can be frustrating. However, the side activities in Valhalla are not limited to combat or collection, offering a wider variety of experiences compared to Shadows.

In addition to its major storyline moments, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla offers a wide range of activities. For instance, Orlog is an intriguing dice game that combines strategy and luck, with enough complexity to keep players engaged for hours as they uncover new characters and synergies. There’s also flyting, a Viking-style rap battle where quick wit and rhyming skills are essential to outsmart opponents. The drinking mini-game might seem straightforward at first, but it gets progressively harder as the game goes on. Combine these elements with fishing, settlement construction, and river raiding, and Valhalla offers one of the most immersive worlds in the series. However, its expansive size can sometimes feel overwhelming.

6. Hogwarts Legacy

Capitalizing On Its Rich Background With Countless Activities For Harry Potter Fans

Hogwarts Legacy, in recent times, has proven to be one of the top-performing open-world games, primarily because it brings to life a cherished environment that Harry Potter fans had been eagerly anticipating for some time. Yet, it’s not just the setting that keeps open-world enthusiasts hooked; there are plenty of additional activities and intriguing spots to explore that extend the gameplay experience far beyond the first impression. As you delve into Hogwarts, its secrets and side activities are unveiled progressively, keeping a feeling of discovery alive for hours on end while introducing fresh gameplay elements at each turn.

In Hogwarts Legacy, although some attractions follow common open-world conventions like clearing camps and finding hidden treasures, the game offers more captivating experiences such as Broom Trials, Summoner’s Court, Crossed Wands Dueling Club, and the Dark Arts Battle Arena. The game also features Hogwarts castle, filled with intriguing environmental puzzles and secret nooks at every corner. However, what truly sets it apart is the Room of Requirement, a customizable personal space where Harry Potter fans can indulge in various activities like crafting, spellcasting, caring for magical creatures, gardening, brewing potions, and more. Unlike traditional points of interest scattered across the map, these activities offer an immense range, allowing players to lose themselves in the game for hours on end due to their diverse nature.

7. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

How Many Mini-Games Do You Want In An Open World?

In the second installment of its remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth generated a lot of buzz due to its innovative take on open-world design. The developers really pulled out all the stops, creating a world that’s almost on par with the Yakuza series in terms of the multitude of exciting activities and mini-games for players who love to explore. Additionally, Rebirth introduces Queen’s Blood, a card game with enough complexity to captivate deck-building enthusiasts, much like the Gwent game from The Witcher 3.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t wait to delve into the world of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth beyond the captivating storyline of Queen’s Blood. There are numerous other enthralling activities that have been added, such as mini-games featuring pianos, Chocobo racing, treasure excavation sites, jumpfrog platforming, stealth-based Cactuar challenges, a Dolphin show, and even a tower-defense mini-game at Fort Condor. By skillfully blending these diverse gameplay elements with an immersive narrative and a wealth of side quests and companions, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth truly deserves its spot among the elite open-world games of recent times.

8. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Authentic Medieval Simulator With Immersive Mechanics

In the sequel to Kingdom Come: Deliverance, they’ve expanded on the original game’s strong points, providing a broader and more polished open world with an equivalent assortment of side activities and mini-games scattered throughout various regions. One standout example is Farkle, an improved version of the dice game from the first installment, which can now be played in taverns. Furthermore, engaging mechanics such as alchemy and blacksmithing cater to players who enjoy a realistic and intricate experience when it comes to concocting potions or creating weapons.

In the realm of wilderness exploration, the sequel to “Deliverance”, titled “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2“, mirrors the path set by “Red Dead Redemption 2“. It offers random interactions with strangers, side missions, and cleared enemy camps. Additionally, it provides opportunities for hunting and various training grounds, including challenges in melee combat and archery. Boasting a broader range of options, smoother gameplay, and deep thematic layers, “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2” emerges as a crucial medieval open-world RPG. It is not its humorous side quests that make it unique, but rather its unparalleled focus on the intricacies of even the most minor activities.

2025-04-07 16:37