Open world video games are quite all the rage these days as they provide a lot of content for the players to keep themselves entertained. With a large expansive open environment, these games rely on the player’s curiosity and exploration to get the most out of the game, while also bringing a sense of scale to the world, which linear titles can’t easily match.
Several linear or semi-open video games that are great in their own way, but would be a significant improvement if they decided to approach the gameplay in an open world.
However, some titles only work best in their native settings and wouldn’t have the same feel and style if converted to an open-world medium.
This list includes both types of game suggestions, five of which would be great as open-world games, while five definitely won’t work in that format.
Open world games greatly expand the maps and playing area
1) Downfall
After Doom saw a resurgence in 2016, with a soft reboot and updated aesthetic, there was a lot of love for the new series. ID Software has had enough success releasing a sequel titled Doom: Eternal, which in some ways even improved upon the first game and saw the action return to Earth.
Doom’s red hellscape vibe with gold lighting would work wonders in an open world environment. This game series already has a lot of growling enemies to fight against, along with some tougher variants, which are perfect for an open-world environment. Several NPCs spread across the map to brighten up the world, and it’s almost here.
As an open world, Doom shouldn’t offer too big a map, though, as the same repeating environment of a hellscape overrun with lava can get too mind-numbing.
Instead, Doom should be set in a post-apocalyptic city dominated by demons, but where a portion of the human population is still present. A fight for the survival of humanity could be a good starting point for the next game in the series.
2) Titanfall
It doesn’t look like Respawn will be returning to the Titanfall series anytime soon, with their continued success from Apex Legends and the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor game. Nevertheless, if the developer ever returns to the series, an open world game might be the best way to differentiate it from the generic FPS shooting genre.
Respawn has already shown that it is capable of creating different environments, either through the different maps seen in Apex Legends or the worlds of Jedi: Fallen Order. However, it has yet to release a true open-world game with an explorable map littered with side activities and quests to undertake.
The titan mechanic could work great in the open areas, which can be used in the traversal and offensive weapon mode. Although this can be used in some parts of the world to provide a linear progression of the story. Add in some great character arcs for the player and their AI partner, and Respawn has a great game ready for release.
3) God of War
The new God of War series has taken a very different approach to its predecessors, moving to a semi-open hub format from the hack and slash games they used to be. With the new story set in the Norwegian lands far to the north, the story has taken Kratos and his son Atreus on a long journey across different realms.
However, the Norse saga is coming to an end soon, possibly with the upcoming God of War: Ragnarok, or perhaps the next title after that. But with new pantheons of gods already teased, the return of the series is already guaranteed. If it changes its gameplay style to an open world environment, it could take the series to new heights.
As shown in Elden Ring, it’s perfectly possible to have a large expanse of open map while also containing specific linear areas that serve to advance the story. God of War has already shown how it can weave in a linear portion of the semi-open world, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to bring things to a fully open world.
4) Bioshock
Rumor has it that 2K Games is working on a new Bioshock game, which will be a new addition to the series after 2013’s Bioshock Infinite. This series has mainly stayed in the linear game orbit and has occasionally opened some levels to a greater extent. However, after nine years, it’s time for the series to change things up a bit, and going open world seems like a great idea.
There are some predictions that the game will indeed be an open environment experience, with certain job openings calling for a writer who can work in an “open world environment.” Many such fans are anticipating official news about the project, which has no release date yet.
After the first two Bioshock games mainly took place in the underground city of Rapture, and Bioshock: Infinite takes action in a flying city in the clouds, it is a wonder in which environment the new game will take place. Regardless of what it is, if it has an explorable map, it should have some variation in the design.
5) Tomb Raider
While the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot trilogy came close, these titles weren’t exactly open-world games. They contain Lara Croft’s original story and saw her become the Tomb Raider that everyone knew her, but contain only semi-open sections, which allowed the players some freedom to explore.
With a new game in development, an open-world environment similar to Horizon Forbidden West’s design may add a new aspect to this age-old franchise. The game shouldn’t need to change much from the reboot trilogy in terms of mechanics, though, as hunting and foraging can still play a big part.
Since Lara Croft’s whole deal is action-adventure, some aspects of the Guerilla’s Games title, the expert free-form climbing mechanic, and exploring ruins would be a great base to build on. Combat could remain largely similar to the reboot trilogy or could be completely revamped, depending on its feasibility in the open world.
Open world games have their limitations too
1) dishonored
Being a stealth game series, Dishonored would not work in an open world. Imagine players attempting to complete the Ghost feat but are spotted by a random NPC on the map. This feat doesn’t work in an explorable open map, which would break tradition for fans of the series.
Developer Arkane has done their best work yet, with large, unconnected but open levels of Deathloop, which they have to stick to. It gives the perfect level of balance by being free enough to encourage players to use their powers and engaging enough to keep players entertained.
In a completely open setting there won’t be much to do in the non-linear parts of the game. The promise of a stealth game would fall apart at this point, which is exactly what happened with the Assassin’s Creed series.
2) Resident Evil
Resident Evil Village gave fans a certain kind of open world with the large village area where players can wander around at times. However, some of the best parts of the game were the isolated sections in the Dimitrescu Castle or the Beneviento House. And despite the game’s success, many still prefer Resident Evil 7’s horror experience.
Therefore, a completely open, explorable world would be wasted in the Resident Evil franchise. After all, open environments often lead to repeated encounters, which will ultimately detract from the horror experience, which is RE’s primary wheelhouse. It is also relatively more difficult to startle properly in an open environment.
Completely linear or semi-linear experiences are the best way to get a good Resident Evil game going. The survival horror aesthetic is the series’ strongest point, and they have to stick to it to deliver the best of what they do best. Other zombie games are played face up if players are in the mood.
3) The Last of Us
Speaking of other zombie games, The Last of Us is another series whose strength lies in its storytelling capabilities. However, this aspect is severely limited in large-scale open-world games, which cannot fully embody certain emotional moments, either because cutscenes don’t work as well as expected, or simply because there isn’t enough attention to detail for the motion capture.
In linear story-driven games, The Last of Us series shone spectacularly. It’s nearly impossible to develop a completely open setting with the same caliber of graphic detail, character design, and storytelling. No one would like Ellie having a touching moment with Dina while a clicker roams around in the background.
Technological issues aside, The Last of Us gameplay design is mainly based on stealth sections. As discussed earlier, stealth games aren’t the best candidates for turning into an open, explorable setting.
4) Life is strange
Life is Strange games are some of the best interactive drama branching narrative games out there, along with many titles from Supermassive Games and Telltale. The most recent LIS game also had a hub, where much of the story takes place. However, it had other sections, which also contain a lot of story elements.
This entry in the list illustrates how an open world environment doesn’t work for interactive drama games. Because of the branching nature of the story of these games, based on player choices, it would be quite a headache to program all the different capabilities in an open sandbox.
The Life is Strange series is excellent where it is today, with an emotional story with multiple endings, told in an artistic style that is now different from the franchise. Fans of the series don’t want it to change anytime soon.
5) Half-life
Valve will probably never make a Half-Life 3, perhaps because they like to let fans create their fanfiction about main character Gordon Freeman and how one day he ended up retiring, going home and being eaten by a stray head crab. They’re eager to keep the series going, as evidenced by Half-Life Alyx, a VR game that follows the Half-Life 2 character Alyx Vance.
Wherever the series is headed after this VR exclusive, many fans aren’t sure if they want it to be an open-world environment or not. However, the latest consensus seems to be that an open environment would detract from the linear FPS structure it is known for.
While it’s always a good thing to keep up with new ideas, it’s important to note that Valve does a good job on a linear level. This includes some great environmental stories and a good paced story. As such, Half-Life might be a good idea to stick to the well-detailed levels rather than an explorable map.
Note: This article reflects the opinion of the writer.
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