Open-world RPG best played without fast travel

Fast travel is one of the best mechanics implemented in games in the last few decades. Thanks to the feature, players can save time by not having to backtrack all the time. For some players who don't have a lot of time to spend on games, fast travel is a great feature.

However, there are some open world games where it's better not to use fast travel, because it can help with discovery or because it's just fun to play with the game's traversal mechanics. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a great open world RPG, but fast travel is a must, and some other omissions include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Red Dead Redemption 2which are not RPGs but still important. That said, let's get to the games that made the cut.

Fire Ring

Face your fears head on

There isn't much when it comes to picking up quests Fire Ringso the idea of ​​having to fast travel back and forth between locations is almost funny. There are NPCs that can point players in the right direction for interesting exchanges or encounters, but it's not the same as regular RPG quests.

The world is large but also dense, meaning there's practically something to find around every corner, and fast travel would prevent players from exploring every nook and cranny. Plus, if players plan to play with two others online, fast travel is even more pointless. Overall, what makes it fun to explore Fire Ring is the horse, Torrent, who can double jump, and that makes traversing a bouncy good time.

Final Fantasy 15

Driving With The Boys

Final Fantasy 15 did a rare thing that most RPGs tend not to do: it gave players a car. Sure, it breaks right away, but players can repair it after a quick introductory mission. This nice looking car can't go off-road too much, but there are Chocobos to ride that will make it through tougher terrain.

Between rare encounters, magical deposits, and looking for quest items, players will find it easier to jump off Chocobos rather than fast travel around. Fast loads can also be tough, meaning it's almost better to go anywhere, even on foot.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

A denser fantasy

Although it might be strange to nominate one more Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has another open world structure worth discussing. Instead of giving players a giant seamless open world to explore like in Final Fantasy 15, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth have dense biomes that are packed with content. In each biome, players can get a Chocobo that will act a little differently than others in the game.

For example, there are Chocobos that can fly, climb walls, surf, and more. This makes it special to get them in each new zone, as they can help access remote areas to get the best loot or complete quests. Using fast travel to get between biomes is good enough, but fast traveling within them would detract from exploring every bit, and leveling up is also an important factor to consider.

Horizon Forbidden West

Looking for parts

Horizon Forbidden West has a much larger world than the original game, and there is also more to do. Aloy gains her hacking ability to quickly manipulate the various robotic dinosaurs and animals, which can then either become allies for battle or displays to get around. Players also get a grappling hook and a glider, which helps with traversal as well.

When it comes to the enemies, it's always good to be constantly on the lookout for parts as a way to upgrade Aloy's gear, and it's easier to find rare hunts when you're not jumping around. Overall, it feels more immersive to live and breathe in this post-apocalyptic world and to always be on the hunt for loot or looking for lost pieces of civilization, because there is beauty in the destruction.

Palworld

A friend's work is never done

Palworld is still in Early Access, but the developer, Pocketpair, already has an impressive world for players to explore. Because the game is essentially Pokémon mixed with Minecraftit seems like an obvious note to mention that it's much easier to find rare Pals, the monsters, if the players aren't fast traveling.

More than the other games mentioned, Palworld has a plethora of mounts to get around, from land runners to swimmers to flyers. With the right Pal team, it can be easy to get around in search of rare and interesting creatures to add to the collection from land, sea or sky.

Xenoblade Chronicles X

Works against my skin

Xenoblade Chronicles X has one of the most terrifying worlds to explore, next door Fire Ring. That's because every area of ​​the game is populated by monsters easily twenty levels above what players can usually handle. As all levels of creatures are mixed, this can help immerse players in the dangers of trying to colonize a new planet for Earth.

For a good twenty hours of gameplay, players will have to run around on foot and are encouraged to use fast travel because the world is so large. But once players get their Skell license, fast travel should be put aside. A Skell is this game's version of a mech, which can fly or transform into a car-like vehicle, making it much easier and safer to explore as they have a better chance of taking down these high-level creatures.

Sand Land

A sandy trot

Sand Land Set in a post-apocalyptic world where water is scarce, a demon and a human alliance are trying to find a legendary source of water to end the conflict. As Beelzebub, the prince of demons, players can attack enemies in action combat, which is good enough. The biggest gimmick the game has is the vehicles, which are meant for traversal and combat purposes.

For example, players can find tanks or mechs, and there are different cars and creatures to mount to get around as well. True to the name, Sand Land is filled with many large areas of seemingly nothing but the warm yellow powder, but every now and then textures will appear. Thanks to the wide range of transportation options, players shouldn't feel taxed by manual driving or running around.

Immortal Fenyx Rising

From Up High

Immortal Fenyx Rising was Ubisoft's attempt to make a combined spiritual successor to Kid Icarus and The Legend of Zelda. As a created hero, players will be dropped into a Greek mythological world, which is large but also a bit denser. Players will rarely be able to go more than ten seconds before discovering something new from challenges like races to puzzles that may involve moving boxes.

It's a plethora of activities, true to Ubisoft's traditional open-world formula, which is a big reason why it's useful not to use fast travel if players want to become completists. In addition to activities, players can get the same feeling of inertia that they got from playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildbecause players can climb on most surfaces and slide around, which looks cool and is fun to play.