Summary
While many open-world games have plenty of replay value, many can get stale after hours of play. Some open-world titles, however, have immense staying power. These titles remain fun for hours on end, despite length or repetition.
Above all else, these games feature satisfying and diverse gameplay loops that frequently reward and respect the player’s time. Some may be more repetitive than others, but they remain fun for an extended period thanks to their finely-tuned gameplay and/or immersive worlds.
Borderlands 2is an action-packed first-person shooter that excels with its stylish visuals, procedural loot, and free-form exploration. In the game, players travel across harsh and hostile landscapes, battling unhinged bandits and vicious creatures with a variety of weapons.
ThoughBorderlands 2does feature a narrative and a variety of quests to complete, the core motivation is the loot; new weapons provide frequent moments of excitement that keep things from becoming stale even after several hours of play. Furthermore, the game features an extensive amount of content to complete, bolstered by the addition of co-operative play and DLC content.
Battle Brothersis a sandbox RPG that stands out with its brutal and unforgiving turn-based combat. Featuring an open overworld to explore,Battle Brothersalso allows players to carve their own path as they manage a ragtag company of mercenaries.
This open-world exploration only works to serve the combat, adding an economy and elements of resource management that deepen the overall gameplay. Along with the game’s variety of starting scenarios and end-game crises,Battle Brothersis able to sustain its fun for many hours.
AlthoughThe Long Dark’s gameplay loop is relatively straightforward, its combination of tranquility and high-stakes survival keeps it fun for many hours. Determination and grit are needed to succeed inThe Long Dark, at least at first, as its environments and wildlife can be brutally unforgiving threats. However, the atmosphere and immersive mechanics give it staying power.
The quiet and almost tranquil ambiance provided byThe Long Dark’s subtle sound design and isolated environments helps a great deal, steeping players inan all-encompassing atmosphere. From the howl of wind to the crackling of a life-giving fire, the sheer mood ofThe Long Darkrarely gets old.
Kenshimay be aharsh and unforgiving game, but although it doesn’t seem like it wants players to succeed, its refusal to hold the player’s hand makes it a unique experience. Furthermore, while it can bea tremendously difficult titleand fatigue with its systems will be inevitable for some,Kenshioffers staying power with its championing of player agency.
Since players are givensuch immense freedomto explore and make their own way in its open world, the overwhelming threats ofKenshiare an easier pill to swallow. Furthermore, as players gain a deeper understanding of its systems and world, the game becomes easier to navigate.
Terrariais an open-world survival-craft game that offers a diverse gameplay loop, blending both creative base-building mechanics with cave exploration, horde survival, and - perhaps best of all - some truly memorable boss battles. The game even features some light town management systems, allowing players to build homes for NPCs and get access to new amenities in the process.
This diversity of gameplay givesTerrariatremendous staying power, even with its escalating difficulty and occasionally frustrating boss fights. The sheer abundance of loot also allows players to deeply customize their experience, and a healthy mod community gives the game even more longevity.
Despite its somewhat repetitive combat system,The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimremains a highly replayable experience that stays fun from beginning to end. This is thanks in large part to its tremendously expansive open world, dense with points of interest, unique NPCs, and awe-inspiring locations that remain fun to explore to this day.
The deep RPG systems also allow players todevelop a variety of builds, adding a great deal of expression that helps to keep the game engaging. However, it’s the variety of hidden locations, quests, and memorable NPCs that giveSkyrim’s dynamic world true life, offering an experience that’s always hiding something new around each corner.
With its quirky wasteland setting and abundance of distinctive NPCs, the open-world environments ofFallout: New Vegasare consistently engaging to explore even after hours of play. There’s almost always something new to discover or a new way to interact with the world, and the game’s deep RPG systems help to sustain this for many hours.
With the abundance of unique perks and skills, players can complete many ofNew Vegas' quests in an expressive manner. Furthermore, the game’s world is dynamic, allowing fora great deal of emergent gameplaythat keeps the moment-to-moment unpredictable. As a result,New Vegasis able to offer tremendous staying power.
Caves Of Qudis a traditional roguelike that excels immediately with its granular character creator, instantly allowing players to express themselves by developing a character that’s truly their own. But this is only the tip ofQud’siceberg, and soon players are thrown into a truly exotic science-fantasy world that’s packed with content to explore.
The combination of hand-crafted and procedural content keepsQudengaging and unpredictable even after hours of play, and this easily counteractsthe unforgiving natureof its gameplay. Players will first need to stick out a steep learning curve, but the dynamic and imaginative world, combined with frequent opportunities for expression, givesCaves Of Qudgreat staying power.
