Open-World Games With The Scariest Encounters

Open-world games do everything in their power to immerse players. The beautiful vistas, memorable characters, engrossing stories, and compelling gameplay work hand-in-hand to turn an open-world game into an experience that gamers will remember long after the credits have rolled.

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Some of the best open-world games that gamers can check out are full of scary encounters that will force them to do everything in their power to survive. These encounters are either scary because of the terror inspired by certain enemies or the impending sense of doom players will feel when they realize that death is mere moments away and that their progress is going to be wiped out considerably.

8

Sunless Skies

The Title’s Unnerving Atmosphere Leads To Some Harrowing Encounters

Systems

Released

January 31, 2019

Developer(s)

Failbetter Games

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Sunless Skies is an excellent sequel that improves on everything from its predecessor to make for a magical experience. Here, gamers will come to love exploring the wealth of unique locations and trying to make a name for themselves as a skyfaring captain.

As they explore tougher areas, the enemies one encounters will become tougher and more intimidating. Without proper upgrades, players will see their hull deplete in record time as these monsters destroy their ship and kill them off with ease.

7

Fallout: New Vegas

The Game Has Some Of The Scariest Enemies In The Series Packed In One Neat Bundle

Systems

Released

October 19, 2010

New Vegas is one of the best Fallout games ever made, employing a ton of role-playing options to make each playthrough feel even more rewarding. It’s also a game that features almost every terrifying enemy in the series, all of whom are very capable of sending shivers down a player’s spine.

The radscorpions and cazadors at the start of the game make it clear that players should travel in a different direction. To make matters worse, deathclaws and super mutants also run rampant, punishing players and scaring them out of their wits as they try to survive by any means necessary.

6

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Being Ambushed By Bandits When The Last Save Was Hours Ago Is Truly Horrifying

Kingdom Come: Deliverance isn’t a scary game per se, preferring to emphasize realism in every facet of its gameplay to make things as immersive as ever. However, what this game does is limit the number of times players can save, which can make for some tense moments when one fast-travels or explores the world at their own pace.

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This preys upon the fear that players experience when they’re about to lose progress, forcing them to play it safe for the most part. However, an ambush can arrive at any moment and kill Henry out of nowhere, resulting in no end of frustration and sometimes leaving players to make up for hours of lost progress.

5

Elden Ring

Nobody Wants To Lose Their Precious Runes When Facing A Terrifyingly Powerful Enemy

Systems

Released

February 25, 2022

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The Soulsborne formula was perfect for an open-world game, with Elden Ring quickly turning into the most successful FromSoftware game of all time. The game lets players explore the world at their own pace and get strong enough to take on bosses that may have given them a tough time a few hours prior.

As one would expect, an Elden Ring playthrough will feature moments where players will have a ton of Runes and will want to reach a Site of Grace quickly, mainly before an enemy gets the drop on them. Sometimes, the game places enemies in locations where they can surprise and kill players, making scenarios like this equal parts scary and infuriating.

4

Sons Of The Forest

Watching A Gang Of Cannibals Run At The Player Is Frightening Every Time

An open-world survival game that many gamers love, Sons of the Forest is perfect for those who want to slowly explore a hostile world that is fraught with dangers. Players need to build a base and acquire the means to survive, especially when they see what they’re up against.

Seeing a bunch of rabid cannibals running toward the player to tear them to shreds is an intimidating sight every single time. Even while being equipped to the nines, these cannibals have the uncanny ability to ambush players, shock them, and leave them desperately struggling to save themselves.

3

Days Gone

Encountering A Freaker Horde Is An Absolute Nightmare

Systems

Days Gone has its fair share of issues, but the game gets better after a few hours and introduces some compelling mechanics. The player’s first encounter with a Freaker Horde is one such moment that highlights the game’s strengths.

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Early on, these hordes are ridiculously hard to deal with and force players to circle them stealthily. Being spotted can be a heart-stopping moment, forcing players to make a beeline for their bike and escape if they don’t want to be overrun and torn apart by the undead.

2

Metro Exodus

Full Of Mutants And Hostiles That Are Ready To Tear Players Apart

Systems

Released

February 15, 2019

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Many people were skeptical about Metro Exodus‘ shift to a sandbox, but the game combined this open world with linear levels to let fans enjoy the best of both options. As one would expect, the intense combat and horrifying mutated enemies are ever-present in this title.

Metro Exodus is a blast to play through as long as players gear themselves to deal with the wealth of scary encounters they’ll eventually face. A single mistake can lead to Artyom’s death, compelling players to be prepared for every encounter instead of going in recklessly.

1

STALKER: Clear Sky

The Hardest Game In The STALKER Series With Numerous Intense Firefights

STALKER is one of the most popular open-world survival franchises around, featuring mutated enemies and anomalies galore. Fans tend to love the mysteries of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, with some of its titles being ridiculously hard to get through.

Such is the case with Clear Sky, a game with a ridiculously hard beginning and some challenging combat scenarios that can be a nightmare to deal with. Along with this, there’s the odd mutant encounter that will make players panic every time, regardless of how strong their gear is.

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