Games are considered to be an excellent way of escaping reality. The industry has brought to life spectacular cyberpunk metropolises, terrifying hellscapes, and alien worlds beyond your imagination. Whether set on Earth or somewhere far away, open-world games often incorporate nature, and it can be almost therapeutic to get lost within them.
6 Open-World Games With The Best Wildlife AI
Open-world games often include wildlife to spruce up their immersion, but when those animals have in-depth AI, the immersion rises to another level.
Whether it is exploring the deep forests or diving underwater to discover the flora and fauna, games are capable enough to make players experience nature in their own unique kind of way. If you are looking for a getaway from everyday life, you should check out the following open-world games that emphasize nature exploration.
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Red Dead Redemption 2
A Wild West Story
Rockstar has had a great reputation for making open-world games for a long time, and it is safe to say that Red Dead Redemption 2 is by far their best work. The world of RDR2 has so much to offer, with countless quests and activities to do, NPCs to meet, and places to explore.
The game takes the player to the countryside to uncover the beauty of the world of RDR2. From the green plantations to the sparkling grand lake and from the abandoned settlement of Colter to the busy city of Saint Denis, everything is crafted in great detail. With such exceptional world-building, players won’t easily find themselves bored.
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Genshin Impact
The Land Of Teyvat Is Magical
The world of Teyvat is magically beautiful, and the open world of Genshin Impact lets players get lost in the nature it offers. The game features 7 nations, and each has its unique ecosystem. From the beautiful windy city of Mondstadt to the tall Rocky Mountains of Liyue or from the icy region of Dragonspine to the islands of Inazuma where thunder strikes all the time, the game is full of interesting and scenic areas to explore.
The exploration in Genshin is more than just looking at the scenery, as there are hidden locations, mysterious landmarks, and complex puzzles that reward players when completed. With still a few nations left to come out in the game, the world of Genshin Impact keeps on expanding.
11
The Long Dark
Surviving The Canadian Wilderness At Its Coldest
Honestly, survival games are generally perfect for nature exploration. 7 Days to Die, Valheim, Conan Exiles, Enshrouded, The Forest, and Icarus are just a few titles that challenge you to brave nature, and they are all highly replayable and all-around fantastic. However, The Long Dark‘s ice-cold Canadian wilderness sets it apart from every other recommendation in this article, and its difficulty levels let you tailor a campaign to your preference. If you want to explore in relative peace, “Pilgrim” will give you just that; if you want to die, go with “Misery.”
Some fantastical elements aside, The Long Dark is generally grounded in reality, and that extends to both the survival mechanics and the world itself. Although not as expansive as a few of its contemporaries, the world is pretty darn massive, and it feels even bigger since exploration is meant to be slow and deliberate.
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The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
A Breathtaking Experience
Discussing natural exploration and not mentioning the Zelda franchise would be heresy. The vast world of Hyrule invites players for a grand adventure with plenty of things to do. Looting enemy camps for treasures is one aspect of the game, but the title also has its fair share of mysterious landmarks and complex hidden puzzles awaiting the players to solve them.
The world is not only huge, but it is also diverse, as players can walk through the lush and green open fields to the icy-cold mountains. Visiting places like the ruins of the Temple of Time, walking on the beaches of Necluda sea, or climbing Mount Lanaryu, Zelda: Breath of the Wild does a stellar job with its world-building, thanks to these iconic landmarks.
Everything feels alive in Hyrule as the world interacts realistically. Fruits can be plucked from trees, and grass can be set on fire. Even the cold affects the players, forcing them to wear warmer clothes to survive the lower temperatures. It’s a well-thought-out open world with everything working in harmony.
Tears of the Kingdom also qualifies.
9
Subnautica
A Vast Underwater Realm Teeming With Mysteries
The oceans are deep and an unknown territory for humankind, and Subnautica provides players an opportunity to explore an alien version of the mysterious oceans digitally. It’s a thrilling journey to explore the unknown and the frightening challenges that lie below the surface.
One might think that resources will be scarce underwater. However, Subnautica does the contrary by showcasing some of the richest ecosystems. From the shallow kelp forests to deep underwater islands full of aquatic life ranging from passive creatures like the Cuddlefish to aggressive alien sharks that swim in the deep waters. Natural Exploration is Subnautica’s forte as players swim around, understanding the aquatic flora and fauna as they explore the depths of mysterious Crystal Caves, the blazing Lava Lakes, or the Grassy Plateaus that cover the vast seafloor.
The positional audio is another great thing about Subnautica, as it gives players a better understanding of their surroundings. The game looks stunning as it shows a different aspect of the aquatic ecosystem, featuring all sorts of alien bizarreness.
8
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Alive And Diverse Open World
The world of The Witcher 3 is huge, mesmerizing, yet deadly and brutal for the weak. From walking through the dense jungles around the northeastern parts of Ard Skelling and seeing the sacred Oak Tree Gedyneith, or passing through the Hanged Man Tree, which shows the brutality of war, the world of Witcher shows both sides of nature: brutality and beauty.
The ruins of Seidhe Llygad Amphitheater, the beautiful villages in Skellige, the busy city of Novigrad, and the Witcher’s home at Kaer Morhen are just a few highlight locations that are not only visually impressive but also packed with lore.
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Far Cry Primal
Experience The Stone Age
One can only imagine what it would feel like to live in the Stone Age. The Far Cry series takes a trip back in time in a game that sticks to its roots yet delivers a different experience.
8 Best Open-World Games To Just Explore, Ranked
Open-world games are known for their exploration, and these titles shine the brightest in this area.
Far Cry Primal follows a storyline as players take the role of a hunter called Takkar, whose role is to establish his tribe as the dominant one. The game’s main appeal is not its story but the beautiful character designs and the prehistoric world. Exploring the thick forests, taming wild animals like the sabertooth and the bear, and fighting enemies from various tribes form the core gameplay.
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A Short Hike
Relaxing Adventure In A Picturesque Park
Sometimes, taking a break from everything and enjoying simpler activities is the right call to make. A Short Hike is one such game that takes players on a peaceful adventure in the digital wilderness. It’s akin to an art form that gives people a different way to enjoy video games without having to worry about objectives, enemies, character abilities, and so on.
Every corner of Hawk Peak is gorgeous, from the windy cliffs north of Meteor Lake to the isolated Lighthouse, or to the dense forests of the provincial park. With exploration at the forefront of the charming, relaxing title, it’s full of those wonderful, mundane moments that will remind players of empty summer days from their childhood.
5
theHunter: Call of The Wild
Experience The Wilderness Realistically
Hunting is one way to explore nature, and theHunter: Call of the Wild is like a dream come true for people who want to have that outdoor experience while comfortably seated. Being a hunting simulator, it requires players to follow the same suit as a hunter to track down a wide variety of animals.
The game features some of the best digitally generated forests. Trekking across the snow-covered mountains or walking across a large lake or a dense forest, Call of the Wild has naturally beautiful locations as its backdrop to its core gameplay loop. The Lakeside area of Layton Lake District and the open fields of Hirschfelden Hunting Reserve are truly majestic and abundant with natural resources and life.
The world feels lively as players actually find themselves in a forest, as they can experience nature digitally. The sound of dry leaves, the faint howling of animals, or the wind rustling all make for a highly immersive plunge into nature.
4
Ghost of Tsushima
A Visually Stunning Masterpiece
Ghost of Tsushima has some of the best blade-to-blade combat players can experience in any video game; it’s not the only thing it excels at. With its stunning open world that takes the players into feudal Japan, the open world is a sight to behold. AAA games are known for their graphics, and Ghost of Tsushima doesn’t miss the mark. Being an open-world game, it’s packed with dense grass, trees, and stunning landscapes that will leave the player awestruck.
Best Open-World Games More Beautiful Than Real Life
With this selection of open-world games, players are going to be immersed in worlds that are far more beautiful than real life.
The icy cold mountains of Mount Jaaku might be tough to traverse, but the frozen views are absolutely worth the trek. The Golden Temple, where the elegant towers look equally stunning in daytime or at night, is a perfect spot to stop at for some in-game photos. Similarly, the field of Equinox Flowers is easily one of the most poetically beautiful sceneries.
Ghost of Yotei also qualifies.
