Best Open-World Games With No Crafting Mechanics

Crafting is a mechanic that has slowly taken over mainstream gaming, giving developers an easy excuse to compel players into searching for resources and using them to craft new equipment and upgrade existing gear. While there’s nothing wrong with this system per se, some fans have become tired of almost every mainstream game featuring a crafting mechanic of some sort.

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Modern open-world games are often vast, with expansive, diverse maps, and packed with activities to engage players. Beyond exploration, combat, and qu

This is true for open-world games as well, which usually offer quick crafting options that reward diligent players who loot everything in sight. Meanwhile, gamers who don’t want to spend an inordinately long time scouting the environment to find rare materials will find these open-world games to be right up their alley.

8

L.A. Noire

The Open World Is Immersive And The Straightforward For True Detectives

L.A. Noire‘s great visuals and fun stories are still engaging to this day. Players love assuming the role of Cole Phelps and exploring Los Angeles in the late 1940s, even if the world may lack meaningful content aside from some side cases.

However, this simplicity is what makes L.A. Noire so much fun to play in a day and age where modern open-world games are loaded with superfluous systems, and crafting is no exception here. There’s nothing wrong with blazing through the story and solving cases as long as players are having a great time uncovering this title’s plot.

7

Mafia 2

The Immersive World, Captivating Story, and Drive For Crime Are The Only Things This Game Needs

Systems

Released

August 24, 2010

Developer(s)

2K Czech

Mafia 2 is one of the best open-world games that boasts an incredible story. This narrative is full of twists and turns, making it so that players won’t want to tear themselves away from the action.

The game is structured in such a manner, with the open world being set-dressing for the most part and the game choosing to keep things simple instead of adding too many gameplay systems into the mix. This focused approach ensures that Mafia 2‘s narrative will keep players engaged from start to end without any distractions getting in the way.

6

Forza Horizon 5

An Excellent Open-World Racing Game Where A Crafting System Would Be Completely Out Of Place

Systems

Released

November 9, 2021

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

It would be weird for any open-world racing game to boast a crafting system, and Forza Horizon 5 is no exception here. Instead of crafting parts for their car, players can either acquire them via Wheelspins or buy them from the store.

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The focus is on the racing alone, and Forza Horizon 5 excels in this department. The progression system is already all over the place, and a needless crafting system wouldn’t be a huge help in this department.

5

Bully

The Setting Of Bullworth Academy Is A Blast To Explore, With Jimmy Not Being Compelled To Craft Anything

The fact that Rockstar’s open-world games are a blast to play through despite the vast majority of them lacking any sort of crafting mechanic is a testament to their brilliance. Out of all their celebrated titles, most people consider Bully to be the most unique game of the lot where players could simulate the life of a high school student if they wished.

Completing classes and making progress in the main story were two of the best ways to enhance Jimmy’s options both in and out of combat. This completely negated the need for a tiresome crafting mechanic while still letting players enjoy a satisfying sense of growth as the protagonist became more competent than ever before.

4

Outer Wilds

This Game Focuses On Organic Exploration And Acquiring Information

Systems

Released

May 28, 2019

Developer(s)

Mobius Digital

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The beauty of Outer Wilds stems from its brilliant design that breathes life into the simplest actions. This adventure game uses information to guide the player, letting them travel a small universe and figure out a way to prevent its destruction as the main character is stuck in a time loop.

As such, it’s easy to see why a hamfisted crafting system would stand in the way of what Outer Wilds aims to achieve. Players will love piecing together bits and pieces of information to figure out what to do in certain situations, helping the plot progress further as they go through multiple loops to save the world.

3

Red Dead Redemption

Unlike The Sequel, John Marston’s Hunt For His Former Gang Members Doesn’t Boast A Crafting System

Red Dead Redemption is an excellent open-world game where Rockstar tackled a brand-new IP and impressed everyone. John Marston’s hunt for his former gang members is as compelling as can be, with players doing everything in their power to help him save his family.

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The sequel added crafting to the mix along with a wealth of gameplay systems to give players numerous distractions, but that should take nothing away from the allure of the first game. Red Dead Redemption is a must-play for fans of Rockstar’s works who don’t want to be bombarded with a ton of superfluous content.

2

Batman: Arkham City

A Game With Excellent Exploration, Fun Combat, And A Great Story Where A Crafting System Would Add Nothing

After Batman: Arkham Asylum impressed fans and critics alike, everyone wondered how the sequel would up the ante. Rocksteady answered everyone’s queries with a game that features a compelling open world, improved combat, and a story for the ages.

There was no crafting system required to make Batman: Arkham City great. The Caped Crusader’s adventures were in a class of their own and ensured that players would see through this action-packed without feeling the need to hunt down resources to craft better gear for Batman.

1

Grand Theft Auto 5

All Players Need Is A Boatload Of Cash To Get Whatever They Want

Systems

Released

September 17, 2013

Developer(s)

Rockstar North

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Grand Theft Auto 5 is a technical marvel that is still relevant to this day courtesy of how much GTA Online has blown up since its rollout. Controlling three different protagonists in the city of Los Santos and its surroundings as players check out numerous action-packed missions and enthralling heists never gets old.

All players need is a wad of cash to load themselves up on all the equipment they need in Ammu-Nation. While they’re never loaded until the very end of the game, the inflow of gear is measured enough for players to be satisfied with the progression without wondering how different things could be with a crafting system — something that wouldn’t fit in the modern setting of Grand Theft Auto 5.

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