Best Open-World Games With Subtle Storytelling & World-Building

Open-world games have become so vastly bloated over the years that a clear-cut direction and a helping of hand-holding is almost necessary. A clear path to follow and a bold, dramatic story to hinge the entire experience upon is simply the easiest way out of overwhelming newcomers.

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These great titles offer easy onboard for players looking for accessible open-world games without overwhelming systems.

However, some open-world games are able to weave subtler stories, unraveling their world in slow and methodical ways that tease at a bigger picture. Games such as Hollow Knight and Dark Souls are shining examples of non-open worlds that manage this, but the titles on this list all feature entirely open or interconnected worlds that leave the player free to roam.

8

Kenshi

Total Freedom In A World That Begs To Be Explored

This excellent open-world sandbox features no main quest or narrative drive, instead allowing the player themselves to carve out their own story in its strange and hostile world. There’s rarely any straightforward exposition at play in Kenshi, and players that want to get a bigger picture of its world will have to strike out into the wastes and explore it.

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The lack of a central plot may turn some players away, but there’s a rich and mesmerizing world to explore here, despite its old-school visuals. It takes a little time to find everything that the game has to offer, but this is part of its subtlety. Though, Kenshi is also relatively inaccessible to newcomers.

7

STALKER: Shadow Of Chernobyl

A Vast & Surreal Wasteland With A Slow Burn

Systems

STALKER: Shadow Of Chernobyl is a hardcore survival FPS set in interconnected open-world environments. Supernatural elements are aplenty, with the infamous anomalies of the iconic “Zone,” providing dangerous obstacles that frequently shake up the long treks players must make.

However, the game’s world does little to reveal itself immediately. Players are fed small fragments of exposition; there are some walls of text. Aside from this, however, the game allows players to unravel its world and the stories behind its characters at their own pace. As more factions, characters, and other elements of the Zone are discovered and explored, the gaps in STALKER’s distinctively dreary world are soon filled in.

6

Dredge

A Calm & Eerie Experience That’s In No Rush

Dredge is minimalist both in its visuals and its gameplay, offering a truly straightforward and accessible experience that excels with its winning atmosphere. A Lovecraftian horror twist also keeps things interesting, unfolding an eerie narrative at a slow and deliberate pace.

The gameplay itself may be a little too minimal for some, and it doesn’t take long to get repetitive. However, there’s a certain tranquility to the tasks at hand, elevated by an immersive seafaring atmosphere. A sense of morbid curiosity also looms over the experience, providing a driving motivation to seek out the answers within the game’s unsettling world.

5

Rain World

A Harsh & Hostile Experience With Little Hand-Holding

There may be some argument whether Rain World constitutes a truly open-world game, as it’s made up of several interconnected regions rather than being one vast expanse. However, the fluidity of its design and the free-form nature of the exploration allows Rain World to champion player agency above all.

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From the very beginning, players are left to explore at their own whim. However, Rain World outright refuses to hold the player’s hand, pushing them into a dreadfully hostile world that quickly forces them to adapt. This harsh and hostile feeling matches the haunting, downtrodden tone of the game’s environments, and around this vaguely-painted world hangs an air of melancholic mystery, facilitated by a subtle hand that refuses to freely give out answers.

4

Caves Of Qud

A Unique Science-Fantasy World Brought To Life Through Subtle Texts

Caves Of Qud is a unique open-world roguelike RPG with an abundance of intricate systems that allow for a variety of approaches. While not a story-driven experience, its distinctive science-fantasy world and the subtle stories hidden within are arguably among its greatest strengths.

The story of the world and its people is never handed to the player freely; instead, it asks them to seek out its secrets and immerse themselves in its culture. This is easy, though, as the player’s imagination is likely to be fired up by the evocative writing and quirky character dialogue.

3

Outer Wilds

An Open Solar System Ready To Be Explored

Systems

Released

May 28, 2019

Developer(s)

Mobius Digital

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The freewheeling nature of Outer Wilds is facilitated by a total lack of overcompensation; it’s a first-person exploration game that excels with its minimalist gameplay, focusing on meaningful journeys across a lovingly-crafted solar system.

The underlying mystery of the game is tremendously open, left ajar for the player to lean in and explore. Outside of the game’s opening segment, there’s a severe lack of hand-holding, but this only helps to create a sense of discovery, greatly encouraging curiosity in players who are eager to uncover its vast network of secrets.

2

Elden Ring

A Vaguely Woven Narrative Supported By Enigmatic Characters

Systems

Released

February 25, 2022

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Similarly to FromSoftware’s previous efforts with the Dark Souls series, Elden Ring tells a vaguely-woven story set in a strange and enigmatic world. The quirky, mysterious characters and their often mystifying but wholly poetic dialogue does help to fill in the gaps. However, the world and the stories within are told with a subtle hand.

It often feels intentionally obtuse, but the game’s recurring characters and rich environments help to provide a sense of familiarity over time. Elden Ring is more generous with its context and world-building than, for example, the original Dark Souls. However, players who begin the game without prior knowledge will find a dark fantasy world that takes time and effort to unravel. Perceptive players will find great joy in piecing together the environmental storytelling through every location within the game.

1

Death Stranding

A Truly Imaginative & Utterly Strange Narrative

Death Stranding might feel tedious for some, trudging across vast expanses of wilderness, lugging a leaning tower of cargo. It’s equal parts breathtaking and confounding, offering up surreal sci-fi imagery and a dark, mysterious atmosphere. However, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience that’s sure to please certain players.

Players shouldn’t expect variety in Death Stranding’s gameplay loop; there are many, many difficult journeys to trudge along. However, the mysterious world and its enigmatic characters, fed to the player piecemeal, make for a surprisingly engaging experience, with mysteries and connections being made and discovered throughout its 40+ hour runtime.

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