Open-World Games With Simple But Great Combat Systems

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home January 12, 2025 2 Views 16 Min Read
Open-World Games With Simple But Great Combat Systems

Summary

  • Some players prefer games with easy-to-understand controls and simple combat mechanics to unwind.
  • Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy offers enjoyable 3D platformer experience with straightforward gameplay.
  • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor provides an entry-level Souls-like experience with engaging lightsaber combat.

While there is nothing wrong with games having intricate combat systems or requiring a heavy amount of strategic thinking before even touching a button, not everyone plays a game to stress over complex gameplay mechanics. Some players are just looking to unwind after a long day at work or even spending time with family.

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Disco Elysium and Astroneer cover art

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Open World Games That Have No Combat

Favor the pacifist routes in your open-world games? There’s no other way with these particular titles, as they have no combat mechanics.

Some of the best ways to relax involve exploring open worlds, and many games offer enjoyable experiences with easy-to-understand controls. These games can range from superhero adventures to sci-fi explorations on distant planets, featuring combat that is both entertaining and simple to learn.

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Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

The Underdog Of The 3D Platformer Subgenre

There was a time when every studio was trying to replicate the same feel as Super Mario 64, with Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy being Naughty Dog’s attempt. Rather than a hub world to get to different levels, the titular heroes can run across the fantastical world to find collectibles like Precursor Orbs and Power Cells and those who enjoy 3D platformers can easily pick it up.

On top of the typical running and jumping, Jak can dash, punch, and spin, to attack enemies. With the different colors of Eco energy, Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy features different powers for combat as well as puzzle solving. It allowed the game to stand out from other 3D platformers and spawn two sequels and a racing game spin-off.

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Far Cry 3

The Third Game Set The New Gold Standard For The Franchise

While the first two games are good in their own ways, Far Cry 3 is where the series exploded to new heights, allowing players to freely roam the tropical Rook Islands fighting pirates. Part of what makes the gameplay in Far Cry 3 so satisfying is the freedom to go about every situation how the player wants, whether it’s charging in guns-blazing or utilizing a stealthy approach.

Far Cry 3 established the template that would become the gold standard for the first-person shooter franchise moving forward. Traversing through an exotic yet gritty location, hunting animals, clearing out criminal hideouts, and encountering show-stealing villains made gamers feel like hardened survivors without needing to make things complicated.

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Borderlands 2

Looter Shooters Wouldn’t Be Where They Are Today Without It

Combined with its signature absurdist violence and humor, Borderlands 2 is essentially the grandfather of looter shooters. It took everything that the first game did so well and amplified it with a better story and new characters. It helped start the tradition of new protagonists in every game, each having their own unique special abilities to complement the first-person shooter gameplay.

Split image of protagonists from No Man's Sky, The Outer Worlds, and Borderlands 2

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From Starfield to The Outer Worlds, gaming has come a long way to allow gamers the chance to free roam alien planets.

Considering Gearbox helped create Half-Life and the Duke Nukem games, it is no surprise that Borderlands 2 features top-tier first-person shooter gameplay. It is essentially an FPS version of Diablo, roaming massive areas, slaying legions of monsters, and collecting hundreds of loot.

An Iconic RPG That Is Still Easy To Pick Up And Play

Compared to most RPGs, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is one of the more beginner-friendly, but in the best way. After an impressive character creator, the player is free to explore the province of Skyrim how they see fit with any weapon or spell at their disposal, becoming a hero, villain, or something in the middle.

The combat in Skyrim is easy to grasp, with the left and right triggers controlling the corresponding hand. The character swings a weapon or casts the spell, with potions and food being a menu away that pauses the game. It’s an example of a game that is simple to learn but still has layers to master, hence why it remains an iconic RPG almost fifteen years later.

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The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Rather than worrying about some gimmick with the gameplay, The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker sticks to the basics of Link’s controls. He can use items, swing his sword, use a shield, and roll, just like in most games. However, the biggest difference with The Wind Waker is roaming the open seas.

While The Wind Waker did not invent the idea of traversing the ocean, it was revolutionary in its execution of the concept. With dozens of islands to explore and side missions to accomplish, The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker is as exciting as a swashbuckling voyage as it is relaxing, allowing longtime fans and newcomers to enjoy it.

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Assassin’s Creed: Origins

Changed The Gameplay Style Of The Franchise Forever

When Assassin’s Creed: Origins came out, it changed the overall gameplay of the franchise to lean more into the open-world aspect. Exploring the deserts and cities of Ancient Egypt as Bayek of Siwa features the classic Assassin’s Creed free-running but also introduces new combat that makes the player feel like a warrior.

Quasi-RPG elements were introduced with weapons and armor that grant the main character stats in Assassin’s Creed: Origins. Now, combat was more free-flowing with better control over attacks and this change complimented the quest-heavy open world. As a result, the sequels Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla embraced it as the new standard.

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Rise Of The Tomb Raider

Lara Croft Continues To The Ultimate Survivor

After the 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider took a new approach to Lara Croft with more exploration, Rise Of The Tomb Raider went even further with large explorable areas. There are animals to hunt, collectibles, and side quests to complete while Lara continues to evolve into the hardened survivor that she is known for.

Lara can not only fight with her trusty climbing axes, but she is armed with multiple firearms that she can upgrade. It results in fast-paced third-person shooter and melee combat that anyone can enjoy and makes Rise Of The Tomb Raider so addicting to play. This kind of gameplay would only continue to be expanded upon in its sequel.

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Batman: Arkham City

The Superhero Sequel That Proved That Bigger Can Be Better

Batman: Arkham City took what Batman: Arkham Asylum established and made the freeflow combat of Batman even smoother with new takedowns, faster movement, and even more gadgets, but remains just as enjoyable and accessible as it was in the first game. Only now, instead of a Metroidvania-esque island, it’s a fully explorable portion of Gotham City.

Split image of Batman in Batman Arkham Asylum, Arkham Shadow, and Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League

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It shows how simplistic yet satisfying the combat in Batman: Arkham City is when many AAA titles tried replicating it, such as Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor and Mad Max. However, it always comes back to Arkham City, and it laid the foundation for two subsequent games that expanded with upgrades to the same exploration and combat.

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Marvel’s Spider-Man

The Most Accurate Spider-Man Simulator

Seeing how popular Batman: Arkham City and Arkham Knight were, few were surprised that when Sony and Insomniac Games gave fans Marvel’s Spider-Man, it took a lot of inspiration from it. It has a similar combo-based freeflow combat system but with a focus on dodging instead of countering, leaning into Spider-Man’s agility.

To fit the character, Marvel’s Spider-Man also has web-based combat, which is implemented right into the melee combat, providing an authentic and memorable Spider-Man experience. The freely explorable New York City with a plethora of iconic villains and side quests to complete is the icing on a delicious Marvel superhero cake.

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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

The Lightsaber Combat Is Better Than Ever

Souls-like games such as Dark Souls and Elden Ring are not for everyone, so a game like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor provides a similar experience. Wielding a lightsaber as Cal Kestis in one of the most engaging Star Wars narratives feels like an entry-level Souls-like game without removing the fun factor and having enough challenge to keep the game from becoming dull.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor allows players to explore multiple planets while combining action RPG combat with mechanics like wall-running, climbing, and jumping, reminiscent of a Tomb Raider game. Players control Cal, who can switch between five different lightsaber stances and use various Force abilities. Few Star Wars games have delivered Jedi combat that is as satisfying as this.

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