The most mentally exhausting open world RPG

If a game causes you stress, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Think of it this way. Do you prefer feeling nothing at all or feeling a little bit of comfort rather than feeling completely immersed in a challenging and stressful experience? Everyone's answer will be different, but there's definitely a big niche for players who enjoy being pushed and challenged in a healthy way while playing a game.

If you don't mind being mentally overwhelmed in a good way – powerful enemies, difficult and complex systems, bosses that feel impossible, worlds that are a mix of survival and RPG – these open world games should be your next destination. Yes. It's a very stressful game. But you won't find any game as rewarding as the next one.

gothic 2

Gold is old but has enormous challenges.

that Gothic The game has always been known to be brutal and unsuitable for beginners. gothic 2 In the same vein, it continues to brag about a world that is immediately hostile and unforgiving towards you. At first I faced enemies that were nothing and had no scaling at all. Instead of throwing you a friendly bone like many modern games do to start off slow, it expects you to adapt to the environment. Are the enemies too tricky? Unfortunately, please come back when you feel better. Add in the lack of precise quest markers and a world map that forces you to remember where to go and what your recent progress has been, and it already becomes a tiring experience if you're not familiar with the way the game is made without holding it in your hands.

Additionally, leveling can feel very slow and punishing. If you choose the wrong stats, it will be a long time before you can level up again. Leveling, on the other hand, actually feels rewarding and important. But it's a game like this: gothic 2 Grinding it is very rewarding because not only does it make your character stronger, but you as the player also become smarter. This is a real learning experience, and like anything else that presents a challenge, you have to be prepared to fail in battle and make a fool of yourself first before you can master anything.

pathology 2

You are the town's only hope

pathology 2 It's a mentally challenging experience, not only in gameplay but also in setup. If you've ever wondered (for some terrible reason) what it feels like to be a plague doctor caring for an entire village, fighting to be the last one standing, this is the game for you. The atmosphere is incredibly dark and oppressive, and you constantly feel helpless as you try to make decisions for the betterment of the characters around you. Unfortunately, there are very few choices that feel truly good. Each sacrifice comes with a sacrifice that will drain you emotionally.

That said, there's no other game as good as this one pathology 2At the same time, it also raises other concerns, such as one's own survival. Yes. In addition to the mental strain, you must manage hunger and thirst and gather resources. You are the only one who can help others. But would you put your own survival before the survival of others? When a game has a time limit, it can lead to despair and limit your decision-making and resilience. Regardless, the game is one of the most thrilling and immersive survival game experiences in existence and does a fantastic job of conveying the horror of enemies you can't physically fight with your fists. It's a game worth the trouble.

external

A very punishing survival RPG

Preparation is always the key to success, external I will teach you that lesson by force if necessary. Most gamers are into fast-paced games where the immediate dopamine experience and rush are best. external We combat this notion by teaching that slowing down is the best and safest way to move forward. great gothic 2You start from nothing and grow into a hero. The path is quite long and difficult, and is filled with tough enemies from the medieval fantasy world of Aurai. It is brutal, uncompromising and has no quick moves. So be prepared to walk a lot and ensure your safety while doing so.

small mistake external It can get out of hand quickly. If you die, your injuries will slow you down and limit your combat abilities, making you a weak target for just about everything in the world and forcing you to retreat significantly. If you forget to sleep and hydrate, you will face the consequences of fatigue. You might get sick, and don't even think about underestimating some of the enemies in the game. If someone catches you off guard, it's an immediate “GG”, so you should always be on your toes, plan, and think ahead. What and why it still works great external Here's what you must experience: GothicIt's a learning process for the player. You're not watching your character get overwhelmed, you're learning from your own mistakes what works and what doesn't. Nothing is given for free, so conquering dungeons and defeating bosses that have been giving you a hard time is exhilarating. It's even better if you're struggling with friends.

Kensi

An intense survival experience unlike any other.

Very similar to a punitive atmosphere. Gothic games and externalwe are Kensi. This is a game you'll either hate or love because of its open-ended mechanics. Sure, it allows you to decide who you want to be, but the world is not at all easy for you. At first you are nothing and you will not be able to defend yourself in any battle. There is a possibility of dying, shedding blood, or becoming a slave in the wilderness. As the game tries to test your patience and break your motivation, it doesn't throw you any bones or give you any instructions on where to go or what to do, so expect to bust your guts over and over again. If you suffer a setback, such as failure in battle, the consequences are quite severe, usually requiring a long recovery period to regain your health, and possibly even losing a limb forever.

Life in the world so far Kensi It continues. It's a bit of a simulation in that everything in the game operates on its own. Villages are raided and the various factions in the game clash with each other with or without players. From the beginning you are constantly trying to get out of a hole and this is where many players tend to give up. But there's a reason why Kenshi is so incredibly beloved by so many, and that's the freedom to write your own epic journey. There is no great story without frustration. Considering how open the world is and that you can basically go anywhere, talk to anyone, and interact with anything, it can be very rewarding to see your characters, and later, after countless heartbreaking failures, your entire team evolve into something tangible.

Elden Ring

The land in between stands mercilessly against the tarnished.

I won't lie Elden Ring It may be the mildest game on this list in terms of how punishing and mentally exhausting it feels, but it still deserves praise for being both an open world RPG and a Soulslike. In typical Soulslike fashion and FromSoftware style, you can expect it to be spit out into the world without too much guidance. Yes, there is a short tutorial dungeon. But as soon as you walk into the first exterior of Grace in Limgrave, you'll encounter a Tree Sentinel. Elden Ring.

The Lands Between is filled with increasingly smaller dungeons, POIs, and enemies to roam with unique characteristics that will drive you crazy. Even small, inconsequential enemies can feel frustrating and challenging at first due to limited combat knowledge, equipment, and low stats, forcing you to play like a coward and gain experience. That said, in Soulslike style the bosses are equally unfair. They are often much larger than you, and sport attacks that can stun you, grapple you, and trap you in a combo of multiple smaller attacks if you're not prepared to dodge. You're always a little on guard. Elden Ring's It's a world waiting for the next strange enemy with its own unfair gimmick, whether it's a roaming Crucible Knight, a giant troll, or even a Malenia in the boss room. As with all Soulslikes, the rewards after defeating a boss that's stuck you for hours are unparalleled. Upgrade your gear and stats and earn runes that allow you to upgrade better weapons and armor, increasing your character's power with each kill. There are builds and playstyles that can trivialize many of the game's challenges, but it's still Soulslike at its core, definitely stressful but hugely rewarding for those who aren't completely versed in the genre.