Like a literal, pleasant, long walk kinda like a journey like Shrek?
- Minecraft
- Skyrim
- Zelda (botw totk)
- Kingdom Come Deliverance 1,2
- Cyberpunk2077
- Red Dead Redemption
- Pokemon Sword/Shield/Scarlet/Arceus
EDIT: DayDreamGaming on Youtube seems to have a gold mine of these type videos
A Short Hike
It’s a cute indy game about reaching the top of a mountain (no, not a Celeste clone i swear)
A Short Hike is the best answer to this question. I’m sad that we haven’t had a release of “Another Short Hike” yet.
Guild wars 2, large world, lots of variety in scenery.
Also can try stuff where that’s the point like Wildmender is about healing the land and chill, or eastshade. Which is just about enjoying the scenery.
I have high hopes for Light No Fire.
Right now I find Cyberpunk 2077 surprisingly pleasant to wander around in. Sure it’s dangerous, but when you’re so chromed to the gills you can shake off a high speed collision there isn’t much threat.
World of Warcraft
- A Highland Song. I can confirm that this one is nice to take a walk through because it is a game about running through a fictionalised version of a place I frequently enjoy walking through in real life. Possibly stretching the definition of open world a little, but the gameplay is about navigation
- Shadow of the Colossus. Which is good because you do spend a lot of time walking across it.
Also, not an open world game at all, but the environments in Pacer are amazing. You barely get a chance to look at them because you’re zooming along a racetrack at 400 mph, but they’re still there. Sonashahar is a futuristic neoclassical Indian city, and I want to explore that
Rain World
Two Worlds (if you can emulate 360)
If you have Minecraft try Sildur’s Shaders with a texture pack of your choice
Caves of Qud
Metroid Prime Series (I dont think that counts as open world but damn it felt like exploration)
Star Fox Adventure (GameCube emulation)
Elder Scrolls Oblivion
Draken and the Ancient Gates is also a ps2 game thats like half open world but it was so cool.
The original Earth Defense Force felt open world to my child mind.
Voxel Libre is like Minecraft
Theres a ton I’m not pulling off the top of my head but check itch.io for the voxel games as there are a ton of interesting Minecraft clones.
Sky cotl
Red Dead 2. Law killed my horse in Valentine, so I decided to walk and hitchhike back to Clemens Point. I wrestled a bear, found the plague village, blew up a KKK gathering… just regular old west things.
The early STALKER games are also nice, if you’re into that sort of atmosphere. Nothing beats the feeling of sitting in the rookie village next to the world’s most mediocre guitarist.
Skyrim
If you’ve played and enjoyed skyrim and want more of it, do check out Enderal!! Trailer 1, Trailer 2
The version you install will depend on the version of skyrim you own:
Tons of new scenery, and fast travel is way limited so if you want a game to just slow down in and soak in the sights, look no further.
Easily one of the best stories I’ve ever experienced.
Enderal is so friggen good. Just, uh, remember that it’s not Skyrim. The levelling is different, enemies are scaled to their location not to the PC’s level, your dialogue choices actually matter, exploration is rewarded both mechanically and narratively.
And don’t start the game with kids around.
not really as big as other suggestions here but walking through kamurocho has its charms.
another one i haven’t seen suggested yet is the walking simulator called death stranding. but this one needs to be a pleasant but mindful walk.
walking through kamurocho has its charms
Might want to point out that’s the city in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon games, not everyone may know that.
thanks! yup, it’s that place.
There’s a short and sweet Zeldalike called Night Stones.
Morrowind.
Miasmata.
Gothic 3.
Shadow of the Colossus. Just gorgeous scenery, even on PS2 emulation.
Red Dead Redemption 2.
LA Noire, if you like 1940s cities.
Whenever the mood hits me to play Red Dead 2, I always jump on my horse and just pick a direction and go for a ride.
It’s inevitable that some shit will be stirred up, but for a good while it’s just nice to hear nature and the steady trot of Ace.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 1/2. I just picked up 2 a few weeks ago and imo it is one of the best games ever made
Subnautica, but only in Creative Mode.
I’ve seen someone do that in Skyrim, but haven’t done it myself.
