To the delight of some and disappointment of others, open-world video games are starting to dominate the gaming industry. Plenty of linear games are still releasing, but the majority of AAA publishers are choosing to sign-off on games with huge open-worlds.
Open-worlds were once predominantly restricted to RPG games like the Elder Scrolls series, though in the last decade it has begun to creep into unexpected places like the puzzle genre with The Witness and the racing genre with titles like Forza Horizon 4. Another genre that has begun utilizing open-world mechanics is horror; a genre that was once known for narrow corridors and periodic jump scares is opening its borders to offer huge, atmospheric maps that dare the player to explore them.
10 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (75)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is a fitting way to kick off this list, as the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series was a pioneer in open-world horror games back when it debuted in 2007.
Clear Sky is a prequel to the first game in the series, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. The game differentiates itself from its predecessor with the inclusion of faction wars, a mechanic that lets players join a faction’s constant battle against its competitors, and join in the share of rewards if they gain territory.
9 Dying Light (75)
Dying Light certainly didn’t turn too many heads with its lackluster Metacritic scores of 74 and 75, but it did draw attention with its numerous ambitious features.
The game had a smartly balanced day and night cycle, well-integrated free-running mechanics, and enjoyable co-op multiplayer that compensated for its weak and cliche story.
8 State of Decay (79)
State of Decay was a pioneer in the implementation of modern base building in survival horror video games. As well as building sturdy defenses, players will need to utilize the game’s many mechanics like stealth, third-person combat, and material scavenging to ensure their survival.
Critics praised State of Decay for its role-playing elements and immersive open world. The game received a disappointing sequel in 2018, but the series is far from dead as State of Decay 3 is currently in development.
7 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat (80)
The final game in the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. trilogy that spanned across just two years, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat is set after S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and takes players to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Exclusion Zone in Ukraine. Despite its huge open-world, Call of Pripyat was deservedly appreciated for how few bugs appeared in the game.
The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series is set to make a grand return in 2021, as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will be hitting stores over ten years since the release of Call of Pripyat.
6 Darkwood (80)
Darkwood differentiates itself from the other entries on this list with its top-down perspective. Despite the perspective, Darkwood‘s Polish forest is immersive, atmospheric, and horrifyingly unsettling.
The once early-access title was nominated for the Most Fulfilling Community-Funded Game award at the 2018 SXSW Gamer’s Voice Awards, but ultimately lost out to the similarly named Night in the Woods.
5 The Evil Within 2 (82)
Following the lackluster reception of The Evil Within, Tango Gameworks decided to switch up the gameplay for the sequel by implementing an open-world.
The change was a welcome one, and the game received nominations for Best Action Game and Best Action-Adventure Game at the PC Gamer and IGN awards respectively.
4 Metro Exodus (82)
The Metro franchise’s third entry mixed the intense, immersive linear stages that the series was known for with atmospheric sandbox environments set in a post-apocalyptic 2035.
The game’s story takes place over the course of one year, giving players a taste of all four seasons with day and night cycles, as they embark on their journey across Russia.
3 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (82)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl‘s placement on this list impressively secures spots for the entire S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise, exemplifying why the upcoming S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is so highly anticipated.
Released in 2007, Shadow of Chernobyl was the first entry in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, introducing players to an alternative reality where the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone had a second nuclear disaster.
2 The Forest (83)
Endnight Games’ The Forest begins much like the tv show Lost, as a plane crash leaves the player on a mysterious island (or peninsula in this case).
The game’s overarching objective is to find the protagonist’s kidnapped son, though the player isn’t forced to search for him, as they’re given complete freedom to explore The Forest in any way that they choose. Although the game is undoubtedly scary when playing alone, exploring the open-world with friends can, perhaps unintentionally, turn The Forest into the funniest game of 2018.
1 Subnautica (87)
If someone was browsing through the shelves of a video game store and came across Subnautica, they may look at the bright blue sea on the front cover and expect the game to be similar to Endless Ocean on the Nintendo Wii. Those people would be in for a nasty surprise though, as although Subnautica doesn’t officially class itself as a horror game, it would ironically be classed by some as the scariest game on this list.
Subnautica doesn’t rely on cheap jumpscares or grotesque zombies to terrify its players, it does so by simply offering a realistic venture into the unexplored depths of an alien planet’s ocean.
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