Summary
While there’s nothing wrong with pushing for realism in video games, this can come at the cost of a player’s fun. Adhering to the rules governing real life can go against the escapism players crave when they boot up a game that interests them.
This is why some of the best video games are ones that are as unrealistic as they come. This is especially true in the context of open-world games that let players go on a warpath and cause unlimited chaos and destruction, breaking numerous laws of physics in the process.
Just Causeis a series known for letting players engage in gleeful chaos throughout its open world, and no game does this better thanJust Cause 3. The fan-made mods for the previous game compelled Avalanche Studios to make their grappling hook more versatile than ever, throwing any sense of realism out the window.
The core gameplay loop consists of players exploding everything in sight and throwing a wrench in a tyrannical dictator’s plans. The story isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s the rampant, unrealistic destruction that keeps fans coming back for more.
Arkham Knightis a great conclusion to Rocksteady’s beloved series that fans love despite its flaws. In a bid to makethe combat better than ever, Batman can pull off some of the most over-the-top moves against his opponents that end up looking downright deadly.
That’s to say nothing of the Batmobile, which essentially operates as a tank but still takes out goons without killing them, somehow. Batman’s aversion to killing is pushed to its very limits here, but fans don’t mind since the end result is so fun that they won’t think twice about the game’s unrealistic mechanics.
Burnout Paradiseis one of the best open-world games ever made, allowing players to enjoy arcade racing at a level that other titles can only dream about. The main draw of this game is smashing into cars and turning them into flaming wrecks in a flash.
These takedowns are so entertaining that fans will never question why these cars have little to no durability to speak of. Of course, if unrealistic mechanics are to be highlighted here, then seeing wrecked cars come back like everything’s normal is even more puzzling.
Minecrafttransformed into one of the most popular indie sandbox games that promoted creativity to a ridiculous extent. The amazing creations inMinecraftmake it clear that fans will stop at nothing to bring their vision to life, no matter how gargantuan the scale may be.
The crafting side of things is about as unrealistic as players would expect, with players combining materials to form useful items in the blink of an eye that can help them deal with the terrors of the world. It may be unrealistic, but this simple gameplay is a huge part of what turnedMinecraftinto a global phenomenon.
Sleeping Dogsis an amazing open-world title that more people need to get their hands on. Wei Shen’s adventures are more riveting than they have any right to be, and this is mainly because ofthe game’s ridiculous action sequences.
Leaping from one car to another to hijack it, slowing down time while using a firearm as they leap out of cover and using melee combat & grabs to wallop enemies to smithereens never gets old. It may be unrealistic, but who cares about mowing down civilians as an undercover cop when the package is so irresistible that fans can’t help but want more of what this game has to offer?
What made theMetal Gear Solidgames so iconic is their tendency to be a bit silly from time to time, even if the story took itself very seriously. Such is the case inThe Phantom Pain, an open-world title that is a celebration of everything this series achieved.
As Venom Snake, players can participate in some truly death-defying espionage missions where they must use everything from stupid cardboard boxes to inflatable dolls of Venom Snake to sneak past opponents. If players want to make the most of this game’s fun yet unrealistic mechanics, then they can alwaysdrop a package on an enemy’s headto knock them out, too.
Grand Theft Auto 5is one of the best video games ever made, and a huge reason why this is the case is this title’s focus on unhinged chaos. As Franklin, Michael, or Trevor, players can wreak havoc in the world of Los Santos and its surroundings without any long-term repercussions.
It helps that the game gives every protagonist a unique power, just to hammer in the point that realism is not the focus here. Ifthe missions inGrand Theft Auto 6embrace the chaos of the sandbox, then it’ll be the recipe for a near-perfect game.
It’s amazing howthe newLegend of Zeldagamesboasted unrealistic takes on realistic mechanics. Yes, heat can be debilitating for players, although most people won’t spontaneously burst into flames the very moment they enter a hot area.
The new powers inTears of the Kingdomcan also break the game if players use them in innovative ways, although these abilities were meant to be unrealistic from the get-go. Nintendo has always prioritized fun mechanics over realistic ones in their games, andTears of the Kingdomis no exception.
