One of the most popular genres in modern gaming open world There are a lot of games in the category that all approach the formula quite differently. They all share a few basic elements that define the experience, such as large, explorable maps that allow players to achieve objectives in any order and in any number of ways. However, many open world games tweak other elements to stand out from the crowd or offer something new.
Not every experiment adds more good than bad, but successful ideas often become new elements of the genre. This is quickly adopted by other games, either through new approaches to map structure, various side activities, or general mechanics such as towers used to mark parts of the map. Of course, given the variety of approaches and individual tastes of players, everyone is likely to have their own idea of what a perfect open world game means.
With that in mind, today we'd like to outline some key elements or simple recommendations for creating an overall perfect open world game. Below are the most important factors that contribute to the most enjoyable playtime in the genre, as well as examples of games that excel in each area.
scale of the map
It's not too small, not too wide, and has little to no obstacles to exploration.
- yes: Red Dead Redemption 2, Stalker 2: Heart of Cornobyl, Assassin's Creed Unity, Batman: Arkham Knight
To create the perfect open world game, it's important to know the appropriate scale of your world. In many cases, a map that is too large can be just as bad for the experience as one that has a world to explore that is too small. Making the map too small can make the world feel artificial, while making it huge can tire players out with endless exploration.
Naturally, it's not just about the size of the world. Maps should also be densely packed with content, while still having enough empty space to be believable. There should be a variety of areas and unique locations sprinkled throughout to avoid monotony. Furthermore, freedom of roaming requires few progression restrictions that artificially prevent players from reaching certain areas or destinations visible on the horizon.
reactive world
NPCs and environments must react to player actions or evolve.
- yes: Red Dead Redemption 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, Assassin's Creed Shadow (as the seasons change)
This aspect is tricky because few games handle it well. Responsive worlds can be achieved through NPCs that behave realistically and remember the player's actions (e.g. faction dynamics), or through environmental changes that allow the player to shape or change their surroundings in some way. This helps create the consequences of player actions and make them meaningful.
Designing the dynamic and detailed large-scale environments typical of modern open world games is challenging, but there are ways to increase immersion. For example, a game may include seasonal changes, NPCs with reliable routines or dynamic systems that add unpredictability, or quests and central events that cause irreversible changes to parts of the map.
player agency
Different ways to solve primary and optional objectives
- yes: Cyberpunk 2077, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Dying Light 2 Stay Human
Some of the best open world games share one key characteristic with immersive simulations: they accommodate a variety of play styles and offer players a variety of ways to achieve their goals. The general pattern is to design worlds around three core gameplay pillars: stealth (or hacking if the setting allows), open confrontation through combat, and the option to use verbal skills or diplomacy to avoid violence entirely.
These systems allow players to choose how to engage enemies and objectives in open-world games, while also supporting a variety of character builds. Players can also switch approaches on the fly whenever they want to try something new.
Various guidance activities
The world has to offer a variety of things to do
- yes: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Yakuza 0, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Even with the right map scale and the freedom to play however you want, any good open world game should offer a variety of activities outside of combat to make exploration worthwhile. These may include various side quests, so-called map activities (question marks), collectible rewards related to important objectives, complex mysteries to be solved, or leisure activities such as crafting, cooking, or fishing.
The more, the better to create a feeling of immersion as if you are living in this virtual world. However, it's a delicate balance to maintain, as too many similar, repetitive tasks across global regions can lose interest and turn exploration into a map-clearing routine.
Evolving hierarchical combat
New ways to deal with enemies through high-level abilities or equipment
- yes: Ghost of Tsushima, Elden Ring
One of the most underrated aspects of open world games that provide dozens of hours of excitement is the multi-layered and varied combat that continues to evolve. It's not enough to introduce just a few abilities at the beginning or a limited skill tree with simple number-boosting perks. Players may become bored with combat that lacks variety. Instead, the best open world games ensure that players gradually gain new tricks. They become stronger not only by their stats, but also by unlocking new weapon types, completely different abilities, and more.
Variety is key to keeping players engaged, and the same applies to enemies and bosses. Many players lose interest when they discover the limits of their arsenal or skills, or when they encounter the same enemies over and over again, even in new and visually distinct areas of the world.
fast transport
Vehicles, mounts, and movement abilities — whatever you want
- yes: GTA 5, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Horizon Forbidden West, gave up
Given the scale of a typical open world game, players expect fast and dynamic means of transportation that go beyond simply running or teleporting from point to point using a basic fast travel system. Fortunately, developers have a variety of ways to make movement and navigation faster and more interesting.
From a variety of vehicles or vehicles, including exotic flight options, to unique traversal abilities that turn your movements into your own experience, there's little reason to overlook these features in an open world game. It's the perfect way to enhance the feeling of exploration and traveling through the environment. Additionally, all movement options can be integrated into combat to make combat more dynamic.
Balanced Storytelling
Avoid feeling like two different games are stitched together
- yes: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Elden Ring
Many open world games make the mistake of presenting their central narrative almost separately from the rest of the experience. These games often tell their stories through heavy exposition, cinematic cutscenes, or missions that can feel limited and predictable. This creates a gap between the story and the broader gameplay, as if it were two different games combined, which may lead some players to question whether the game should be open world.
This is probably the least strict rule, as some players prefer a traditional, cinematic narrative. However, it is difficult to implement without struggling with some part of the experience. Instead, developers should aim to take advantage of the genre and weave the story naturally into the world. There are several ways to achieve this. There's nuanced narrative and environmental storytelling, major NPCs with missions integrated into world exploration, and a story structure that holds hands and allows players to uncover the plot through exploration and unpredictable encounters.
