Realism is and should not be the focus of every game. Ultimately, the goal of 99% of titles is to present a welcome escape from reality, so we can explore magical worlds, perform unimaginable feats, and kill Ganon. However, some projects go in the exact opposite direction and emphasize realism above all else. Open world game are better equipped than most to go in this direction, and almost all of the best entries in the genre are immersive.
Now, realism can take many different forms, and many sandbox releases pair great visuals with superior gameplay that makes sense in their world context. These games are not the focus of this article, which we will look at open world game that emphasizes realism in almost every aspect. In the name of diversity, we will try to highlight different subgenres.
Honorable mentions
The following games are either set in fantasy worlds or have elements that are a little too fantastical. But they are internally consistent and immersive.
- The Elder Scrolls series (esp Morrowind and Oblivion)
- Gothic
- Yakuza series
- The Witcher 3
- Death Stranding
- Kenshi
- Assassin's Creed series
- Ghost of Tsushima & Yotei
- STALKER series
- No Man's Sky
- Forza Horizon series
6
Shenmue 1 & 2
The Dreamcast games are known for their realism
Shenmue
- Released
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December 29, 1999
- ESRB
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t
You can't talk about realistic open world games without mentioning Shenmue and its sequels, which were arguably the first projects to really strive to create this kind of journey. The game moves at a glacial pace, especially compared to other releases from its era. You are encouraged and encouraged to fully immerse yourself in Yokosuka and Hong Kong, to embrace the culture and get a job.
By modern standards, Shenmues world is small and rather unspectacular; by historical standards, Shenmues world was a groundbreaking achievement that showed a level of detail that was very impressive for the late 90s. If you never grew up with these games, they may struggle to hold your attention, but I'd still recommend checking them out. The first two releases have a timeless charm, and they are available as HD remasters.
5
Microsoft Flight Simulator (and other sims like Euro Truck Simulator 2)
Plan a flight around the world
Honestly, these simulator games are arguably the most realistic open world games on the market, but they focus on actualizing a specific type of life rather than a diverse range. Although not a conventional feature of the genre, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020With Free Flight mode, you can travel around the world, plan your own trips and go to places you might never be able to visit in real life. Of course, you can't walk around and explore any of these areas, but you still have the world at your fingertips.
Although you can adjust their depth, the controls are designed to be as realistic as possible, and beginners will likely struggle in the early hours. But once you get familiar with MFSs mechanics and grow comfortably, you will experience a sense of freedom that undoubtedly no other open world game provides.
Games like Euro Truck Simulator 2, American Truck Simulatorand Snowrunner are also cut from the same cloth, albeit with a focus on land-based driving.
4
Mafia series
These games hardly count as open world, but they are historical crime epics
The mafia is a strange case. The numbered entries have wonderful and authentic open worlds that offer very little interactivity. Each game drops you into a city that flawlessly brings to life a different era and area of American history:
- The mafia: Lost Heaven, inspired by 1930s Chicago
- Mafia 2: Empire Bay, inspired by 1940s New York
- Mafia 3: New Bordeaux, inspired by 1960s New Orleans
With stunning visuals paired with immersive sound design and grounded characterization, The mafia does an admirable job of telling stories that complement and emphasize each game's respective time period, while touching on modern themes that still resonate. But you can't really do anything in any of these worlds except run from one story to the next; Consequently, they sometimes come across as set dressing, despite being incredibly realistic.
3
Cyberpunk 2077
An open world depicting a potentially realistic future
For the most part, we avoided fantasy and sci-fi games, just because “realistic” isn't usually the best way to describe them. As said, Cyberpunk 2077 presents arguably one of the most believable depictions of a future society entirely owned by corporations, with greed, technology and depression running rampant. It's not a world we want to live in, but it's one our successors may have to come to terms with.
Even if we were to ignore the story's themes and focus solely on the world itself, Cyberpunk 2077's Night City is not far from some real-life cities. Although unnamed NPCs are only there, it matches the feeling of being surrounded by millions of faceless strangers in a metropolis. You can just ignore the story and drive around the streets, immersing yourself in the oppressive sounds of a society crumbling under its vices and ambitions.
2
Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar's Open-World Masterpiece
Aside from the occasional outlandish moment, Rockstar's games are consistently realistic, especially open-world projects. Bully, GTA 4and LA Noire are all grounded, and the developer's crowning glory is Red Dead Redemption 2. The American West tends to be romanticized by modern media, but RDR2 does not go this route, but presents an exhaustive account of a brutal time period when hopelessness replaced freedom for most.
Yes, the story has plenty of “Hollywood” shootouts, but the vast majority of the campaign emphasizes the small moments that make up everyday survival. You don't just cycle through Arthur Morgan's highlights and greatest hits, you embody him in his entirety. The game is particularly obsessed with simulating minor details that most games ignore for fear of boring players.
1
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (both games)
The most realistic Open-World games
After the success of the second contribution, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is probably the first name most people think of when they hear “immersive medieval games”, and Warhorse Studios fully deserved that reputation. While the sequel is superior in almost every way, its predecessor is just as realistic, with players enjoying a harsh existence as a peasant whose life means less than nothing.
As Henry, you embark on a quest to avenge your massacred family and village, and your journey is challenging, painful and unforgiving. You have to actively practice and improve your skills, and nothing comes easily. You will travel to cities slowly and meet NPCs trying to survive their own bitter lives. You'll struggle to survive fights in the early hours, as Henry is simply a blacksmith trying to play soldier at first. Eventually you will get better, just put in the hours.
