Best Open World game set in abandoned cities

There are many open world games available to players who are entirely in the vast open wilderness, with no NPCs nearby for miles. There's also a lot that takes place in busy cities or worlds where characters can barely move without being offered a mission. But a select few decide to combine the two, dropping you into abandoned cities once defined by life, laughter and humanity.

The concept is great and should be explored more. After all, plenty of linear games will take players through run-down towns and cities without much fanfare. However, getting this right in an open world game can be difficult. So, what are the best games to play, at least partially, in abandoned cities?

10

Ghostwire: Tokyo

A beautiful shrine to Tokyo

Ghostwire: Tokyo may not be synonymous with the open world genre, but it has arguably one of the most impressive abandoned cities in history. Now, “abandoned” might not be the right word to describe the game's setting, as Tokyo has only recently been robbed of its mortal inhabitants.

Consequently, the city is still very recognizable and full of life, despite being completely empty of anything. Impressively redesigned and incredibly detailed, Tokyo looks amazing and is a joy to explore, even if it feels like a museum because you can't go into buildings.

9

Dying Light 2

Parkour your way through Villedor

Dying Light 2 takes place 22 years after the original game and features a new protagonist for players to get used to. Set entirely in the fictional and abandoned city of Villedor, players must craft and scavenge while exploring and parking through the gigantic open world offered here.

The zombies are terrifying, especially at night when they become more hostile, so surviving can be a challenge. Dying Light 2 is a sequel to the much-loved original game, albeit with a heavier focus on action over horror. Still, the sequel offers an even bigger world and an even more run-down city for players to explore.

8

The evil within 2

An abandoned simulated city

The evil within 2 is only semi-open world, but it's a game that uses these sections much better than some other fully open world games. The setting here is a dreamworld city called Union, and players control a detective searching for his daughter. In the open sections, there are multiple paths to descend into the nightmarish city, making for a thrilling experience. Pair this horror with limited resources, and it does just that The evil within 2 a brilliant experience.

The open world here isn't as expansive as in other games, but the city's players are truly abandoned. There is nothing around except monsters that are actively trying to kill the player and won't stop until they do.

7

The sinking city

A haunted city that is slowly being consumed

The sinking city is a game inspired by HP Lovecraft's horror works, and it's an awesome experience. The setting is the fictional and flooded town of Oakmont, Massachusetts, and players control private investigator Charles W. Reed. The goal is to find out why the city is rapidly sinking.

The open world has seven districts to explore, all flooded to varying degrees, and players must be observant to succeed in their missions. Even the water is infected and can destroy Charles' health and sanity if a boat is not used. The sinking city is an amazing and darkly quirky detective game for players to try.

6

7 days to die

A large zombie hellscape

7 days to die is a game where players must survive as long as possible. The open world includes an entirely fictional country in Arizona called Navezgane, but several towns populate the map and are ripe with supplies for players to loot. The only downside to the cities are the hundreds of zombies that roam the streets.

7 days to die is a wide open world where players must make difficult choices in order to survive another day. Going to the cities is essential to survival, but can also often be the cause of death for inadequately prepared survivors.

5

Nier: Automata

Explore an Earth that has long left humanity behind

Although not as large and visually impressive as some other abandoned places, Nier: Automatas hub is near a city that has been almost consumed by nature. While located on Earth, the area is difficult to connect to any real locations; instead, the ruins serve as an echo of humanity as a whole. Despite all the desperate action and splashes of absurdity, Nier: Automata exudes a sense of sadness throughout the campaign, and it goes beyond just 2B and 9S's story.

In many ways, the city ruins reflect the twists and turns of history. Just as the androids are a shadow of humanity's technological triumphs, the decaying building and ghostly streets serve as a reminder of what came before and what the main characters ostensibly strive to protect.

4

Fallout 4

The remains of humanity building life on the corpse of society

The Fall-out the series is well known for producing brilliant RPGs with enough Bethesda weirdness to keep players hooked. Located in the greater Boston area, Fallout 4 is massive and impressive. Although the area is filled with life, the area around the city, and the city itself, are ruined. The area is almost unrecognizable, except for a few landmarks.

The capital city is inside a baseball stadium, and the residents don't even have an understanding of what baseball is. Fallout 4 is a fantastic open world RPG with lots to explore and companions to meet along the way in this desolate metropolitan area.

3

Tom Clancy's The Division

New York has never looked so disturbing

Tom Clancypp The division set in New York City after a viral pandemic has devastated the city. Players must investigate the cause of the crisis and can carry a limited supply of weapons to aid in their search as they travel through the city. The world feels real because of the day/night cycle, which changes the behavior of some of the enemies and the sheer vastness on display.

There are weather features that actually affect gameplay, as storms can hinder a player's vision and aiming ability. Tom Clancy's The Division is an excellent game that takes advantage of the open world it's set in and offers a lot of realism for players looking for something less horror-focused.

2

Metro Exodus

A real post-apocalyptic climate

Metro Exodus takes place in a couple of different locations over the course of an in-game year. However, the most important locations are the cities that the players travel to. The game begins in Moscow in the middle of nuclear winter and players will explore much of the Russian wasteland where the story takes place. The largest city is Novosibirsk, a large and heavily irradiated city that is almost completely uninhabited. The atmosphere is perfect, and that's what makes it the best open world game set in abandoned cities.

Metro Exodus isn't as traditionally open-ended as some other games, but the way it uses the open-ended parts of the game is truly brilliant. Players will feel immersed in the world from the start and will love this epic adventure across a continent.

1

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl

A huge zone of abandoned towns and cities

Set in a post-nuclear meltdown, STALKER is one of the creepiest universes in gaming. All titles feature abandoned cities and hubs to some extent, but STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is by far the largest entry in the franchise, and it has the most traditional open-world structure. While set in the zone, the campaign takes you to multiple territories, including abandoned cities like Pripyat and Rostok that are large, atmospheric, and densely populated with content.

STALKER 2 shines brightly when it lets players simply enjoy the frozen nature of its world as you wander desolate streets filled with crumbling buildings that must once have been teeming with life. This setting exudes a sense of tragedy more than almost any other open-world game, and you can get lost in it.