The best open world RPG where you hunt huge creatures

any Open world RPG Fans know how important it is to have interesting enemies to fight within a world. Because without a strong challenge, exploration can feel pretty flat. However, there are many great examples where players can not only take on monstrous enemies, but win battles by physically hunting them down across the map, and then remind themselves of their victory by donning armor, picking it up from drops, or crafting it using the creature's hide.

The act of vanquishing massive enemies and then using their flesh into functional gear is incredibly satisfying. Especially when the enemies themselves are difficult and frustrating to take down. It also leans heavily on the role-playing aspect of the genre. It's common for a brave hero to face a tremendous threat and come out on the other side bruised but unbroken, wearing new clothes and showing off his strength and skills to the world.

monster hunter wild

It's right there in the name.

• A massive enemy threat with extensive mechanical depth.

• Armor sets and weapons made from monster materials.

monster hunter wild The entire progression loop is built around tracking down, studying, and killing the giant beasts that dominate the ecosystem. Each hunt is a multi-stage chase across dynamic terrain, where creatures behave more like apex predators than mere targets, and some require serious cooperation to take down, even as a group.

The real reward comes after the battle. Carved scales, claws, and fangs can be crafted into elaborate sets of armor and weapons that visually reflect the identity of the defeated monster. Wearing gauntlets of thundering plate or bone, hunters become walking trophy exhibitors, carrying all the evidence they need to show the world their mechanical prowess and strategic prowess.

horizon zero dawn

Mechanical monster ready to collapse

• Complex enemy types and attack patterns.

• Progression involves farming and defeating enemies.

horizon zero dawn It turns traditional monster hunting into a futuristic battle where mechanical beasts roam the land, and it's your job to fight for what's left of humanity and take back Earth. Encounters are not just basic battles of stats, but truly exciting skirmishes that require attention to everything from dismantling components to focusing on weak points, and each element feels almost like a puzzle at first glance.

While even smaller machines feel dangerous, the towering Thunderjaws and Stormbirds are considered legendary machines that players must treat with the utmost respect if they are to face them. Victories grant visual rewards in the form of armor sets and weapon upgrades, giving players a tangible incentive to explore and track down each mech type to become the true warrior they were born to be.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arison

Everything from reptiles to demons

• The focus is on exploration and combat discovery.

• Giant free-roaming creatures can be found all over the map.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arison It presents a world where gigantic creatures have as much freedom as the players. They have been seen roaming the land, ready to take on anyone who gets too close. Cyclops patrol the forest paths, griffins descend from the sky, and chimeras roam the night. Many of these larger creatures can be interacted with in much more engaging ways, allowing players to climb on top of enemies and attack vulnerable spots from entirely new angles.

The environment also plays an important role. A high vantage point or nearby fire can be equally important in determining the outcome of a battle. Players must focus on their surroundings and choose their moments carefully. Otherwise, you will have to face the consequences of rushing in blindly. Materials looted from these monsters become the basis for new armor, weapons, and enhancements, giving progression a personal feel. Because each new piece of equipment represents a specific battle and the monsters fallen to the player's blade.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Take on challenges that exceed your abilities

• Cosmetic trophies can be obtained by completing contracts.

• Contracts require research and preparation well before combat begins.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt It treats monster hunting like a job, putting contracts at the forefront of both the main and side gameplay loops. Every major creature has its own unique folklore, weaknesses, and habits, turning the hunt into a research quest rather than just combat. The process of research and tracking reinforces the idea that these beasts are part of the living world and not just obstacles to be removed from the path.

Rewards for successful hunts often come in the form of rare mutagens and trophies, the latter of which can be mounted on Geralt's saddle or used to enhance weapons and armor, providing both visual and mechanical benefits. Ultimately, carrying around the head or claws of a defeated creature becomes a symbol of professional success and a risky contract successfully concluded by none other than the player himself.

external

Open map full of enemies

• A harsh world full of risks and rewards.

• There is a practical element to taking down creatures.

external Monster hunting is presented as a matter of survival rather than glory. The open world is harsh and almost all resources are limited. This means players have no choice but to travel into an unknown world to find materials that will allow them to survive. Even if it means defeating fearsome enemies in the process.

Items collected from fallen creatures become the backbone of a player's equipment, and it doesn't matter if you find rare drops or get a basic set of leathers. Everything has a purpose and a reason to collect it. Because of how well survival and combat mechanics are intertwined, each set of gear not only becomes a gauge of a player's combat prowess, but also a true survival milestone that can be proudly worn and benefited from at the same time.

Elex

Mutants and machines merge into one

• Hunting and faction progression are integrated into one system.

• Rare components become the main source of advancement.

Elex Blending science fiction and fantasy, the post-apocalyptic landscape is overrun with giant mutant beasts and mechanical threats of all shapes and sizes. Many of these creatures roam freely, causing unexpected and dangerous encounters during your explorations. These encounters are truly unforgiving, especially early on, making fighting large monsters head-on feel truly threatening.

If players successfully defeat enemies, they will earn several rare components that can be used to craft powerful equipment and upgrades, allowing them to take on even more powerful opponents. Armor sets often reflect the harsh and destructive nature of the world, and after countless victories and fierce victories, players will find themselves completely at one with the creatures that inhabit this strange but beautiful land.

Conan Exile

Man vs. Beast in its purest form

• Focuses on base building and survival.

• Combat acts as a perfectly orchestrated barrier to progression to the next level of gear.

Conan Exile It places survival and monster hunting at the center of a brutal open-ended sandbox gameplay loop. The world is filled with towering beasts, ancient horrors, and mythical creatures lurking in ruins and wastelands, and players must carefully consider their own needs both within and outside of combat if they are to have any chance of defeating their enemies in combat.

Because of how primitive the world is, the fact that the armor sets reflect the beasts themselves is to be expected, but the variety of components and number of enemies is still surprising, no matter how much time players invest into the game. Moreover, stronger enemies produce rarer materials, encouraging repeated exploration into dangerous areas. The result is a progression system where strength and appearance are directly tied to the player's ability to find, hunt, and conquer monsters.

Elden Ring

Where gods and creatures collide

• It features a huge list of massive bosses.

• Armor sets are directly tied to slain enemies, especially boss armor sets.

Elden Ring It sends players into a vast world filled with ancient dragons and otherworldly horrors, but despite their fearsome appearance, they can all be defeated with enough skill and patience. Many of the battles are optional and hidden in far corners of the map or deep in forgotten ruins, but many of these more obscure enemies are also the most interesting.

For large-scale battles, players receive Memories as rewards that can be exchanged for spells, shields, and weapons, and most major boss armor can be purchased after being defeated. In addition to more flashy combat, players can gain access to equipment from defeated enemies large and small, turning virtually every encounter into a new opportunity for style and power upgrades.