Best Open-World Games For Cultural Exploration

Open-World Games are the perfect escapades for the explorer players who enjoy visiting new places and discovering different cultures. And in some cases, uncovering mysteries of the past, and living thousands of adventures. For those players who like to roam for hours, several titles offer that and much more.

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Here’s a list of the best open-world games that allow players to experience different cultures, ranked according to their level of immersion, historical and cultural accuracy, design, and world-building.

8

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

A Good Recreation Of The Greek/Spartan Culture

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey was the beginning of a new era for Ubisoft’s flagship franchise, and some fans say that it was one of the best AC games of all time. With beautifully designed landscapes and a good level of historical accuracy (though not perfect), it transported players to the Peloponnesian War period.

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Surprisingly, the brutality of the conflict between Athens and Sparta doesn’t cloud the beauty of the Greek coasts or the incredible views from its mountain ranges. And, of course, another of the features of the game allowed the players to visit lots of historical places like the Parthenon and other key landmarks.

7

Medieval Dynasty

One Of The Best Medieval Simulators, With A Huge Open World To Explore

Though more on the side of a survival open-world game, Medieval Dynasty does fit the standard of a game which is highly focused on cultural exploration. In this medieval life simulator, players incarnate a peasant that returns to his homeland after a long period of absence, and needs to start to re-build their life.

Armed with primitive tools and the basic knowledge of survival, players need to procure their sustenance while roaming across Medieval Europe, facing wolves, bandits, and the dangerous and unforgiving winter. A great game.

6

Shadow Of The Tomb Raider

Few Other Tomb Raider Games Have This Level Of Quality

Shadow Of The Tomb Raider transports players into the depths of the Mexican / Peruvian jungles to explore long-lost traces of the Inca, Mayan, and Mexica cultures. Though it’s not perfectly accurate, its deep level of realism and immersive gameplay are its best features.

Players can become one with the jungle as they guide Lara through her most dangerous adventure while trying to stop a madman from taking over the world using an ancient artifact that can bring about the apocalypse. Its well-designed scenarios and architectural accuracy granted this game the respect of fans and critics.

5

Far Cry 4

Dare to Explore One Of The Most Underrepresented Cultures

Far Cry 4 transports players into the Tibetan-inspired territories of Kiyat to face its tyrannical ruler in a full-blown guerilla war. The incredible mountain landscapes and powerful cultural references cannot be missed by players who like to enjoy open-world games with high-stakes stories.

To date, Far Cry 4 remains one of the best games of the Franchise, though its technical difficulties might not escape the eyes of the most exigent players. Still, it is a great game for cultural exploration.

4

Red Dead Redemption 2

The Best Western Game Ever

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game that has everything a good Western needs: A thrilling story of revenge, forgiveness, and camaraderie, an incredible well-designed world, and tons of cultural references that transport the players to the Far West to live their wildest cowboy dreams.

Trough its beautiful landscapes, players can encounter countless dangers like wild animals, outlaws, and the officers of the law that will be constantly aware of their misdoings. It is the perfect game for players who like to lose themselves in open-world cultural exploration.

3

Senua’s Saga

No Sugarcoated Mythology Here, Only Raw Nordic Culture

Senua’s Saga I & II are prime examples of how good a game can be if they respect the historical accuracy of a culture. Without embellished myths, and following a battle-scarred warrioress of the Nordic Tribe, the games set players to explore the collision between the Celtic and Nordic cultures.

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Best Open-World Games With A Focus On Combat

Story and exploration take somewhat of a backseat in these open-world games where combat and its mechanics get the spotlight.

The game’s high cinematic content and unique approach to environmental storytelling and combat have earned it countless accolades. If players dare to dive into this gruesome, dark universe, they are guaranteed to enjoy an unforgettable experience.

2

Ghost Of Tsushima

One Of The Most Immersive And Historically Accurate Samurai Games

Ghost of Tsushima will transport players to the Kamakura era of the Japanese culture, an iconic time period that is characterized by the Mongolian invasion of the Japanese islands, starting precisely in Tsushima, where the action of the game unfolds.

No other game to date has put so much effort into the cultural representation of a certain period in Japanese history like Ghost of Tsushima. It’s a game that not only has in-depth combat mechanics but high-quality scenario design and beautiful worldbuilding. It is an unforgettable experience.

1

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Medieval Bohemia At Its Finest

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is one of the best first-person open-world games that players will find nowadays. Its unparalleled approach to first-person melee combat with a deep focus on realism (and quite a decent level of difficulty) is marvelous. To make things even more interesting, it explores one of the most underrepresented cultures in medieval fiction: Ancient Bohemia (Czech Republic).

It has tons of interesting cultural references to explore and two huge open-world maps that encompass the Trosky and Kuttenberg regions, each with their own particular characteristics and dangerous foes to beat. The lush forests, beautiful fields, and incredibly well-designed medieval urban centers are filled to the brim with interesting characters to meet and adventures to live.

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