Summary
Exploration is among the cornerstones of what makes theopen-worldgenre so popular today. When presented with an entirely new or alien world, there’s nothing quite like simply picking a direction and heading straight off to see what’s out there to find.
But in particular, especially amongopen-world games with large mapsor expansive stories, it’s often the case that unique environments will be the main draw to further exploration. There will always be an ineffable charm to exploring a medieval fantasy forest, but for players looking to broaden their horizons, here are someopen worlds with more distinct terrains.
Subnauticaoffers a deep,dangerous mixture of underwater terrains. Beneath the surface of a barren, frozen hellscape is a thriving ocean of biodiversity and sea creatures, both strange and wonderful. The sequel to the hitSubnauticatakes on a more amphibious approach to open world terrain, keeping the focus on underwater exploration but also allowing players to traverse a surreal, frozen surface above.
There’s an intriguing mystery unfolding as the central plot in this title, and exploring abandoned research bases below the surface of the planet only becomes more interesting as this quest for answers takes players through deep sea caverns and crystalline reefs. There will always be something new to discover inBelow Zero,especially as the time of day completely shifts the tone and atmosphere of the terrain.
There is something so wonderfully strange and warped about the languid, dangerous, mysterious terrain inKenshi, with names like the Burning Forest and Purple Sands giving the player an idea of what they’re getting into. The hostile setting ofKenshiis filled with blood-colored swamps, maze-like forests, dreamlike deserts, and insane cannibals. That last one might not seem like a terrain feature, but players need only wait until the Cannibal Plains comes into the picture.
Among the plethora ofpost-apocalyptic open world games,Kenshistands alone for the unreal, incredibly unique environments that it hosts. The unrecognizable terrain will keep players wanting to explore for hours, but then, after seeing some of the things waiting for them on the continent, gamers may be slightly less keen to travel any further.
GreedFallalready holds a unique place in the world of RPGs thanks to its unique aesthetic asan Industrial Revolution setting. Beyond this, the expansive, lush, and untamed jungles of Teer Fradee are not only among some of the most unique locations in open world titles, but they also manage to hold a great deal of variation within themselves. The sprawling and dense forests of one location will give way to lofty scrublands or idyllic waterfalls and streams, and it all truly feels like the player has stumbled upon some hidden paradise, especially after the introductory sections of the game do a good job of showing off the protagonist’s homeland as rife with sickness and corruption.
The world-building and lore ofGreedFalltake thesealready unique and stunning environmentsto new heights as players learn about the myriad of cultures that have lived on them for countless eons. It’s a troubling, ambiguous tale thatGreedFalltells, but the uniquely lush terrain will leave players spellbound for the entirety of the game’s duration.
To some,Morrowindmight seem nigh unplayable because of its odd combat mechanics and lack of polish by modern standards, but there’s an incredibly large chunk of theElder Scrollsfanbase that seesMorrowindas the pinnacle of a series that never reached a similar height again. Getting past any trepidation about the game’s age and handling, it’s easy to see why this is the case. There’s really no game likeMorrowind, and that uniqueness comes through its terrain as much as its lore and world-building.
The squat, sandstone cast villages, or colossal crab shell fortresses are all set upon sprawling ash deserts or frothing mangroves. The setting is so expertly integrated into the world’s theology and cosmology that it’s no surprise why many RPG players wantthe features inMorrowindto return.
The Outer Worldswas a tour de force inObsidian’s signature quest writing and world design. It felt like sinking into a warm and familiar place, taking on the branching, wonderfully written sections of this sci-fi epic, even as the story put players in more and more unfamiliar places.The Outer Worldsnails the almost-terrestrial-but-not-quite feel to its settings, with each world having vegetation, mountains, and all the things one would expect from earth (but utterly changed and unique).
The back-and-forth currently being had over the quantity of worlds in the nextOuter Worldstitle further showcases just how many people hope the next title continues to nail the terrain of the first game, keeping it distinct and vibrant.
