Games with the greatest freedom and possibilities

Most games offer at least a loose direction for players to go in. Some are more linear and strict in how they tell their story, while others are full-on sandbox games where the sky's the limit. Still others are immersive sims that strike a balance somewhere in between, encouraging players to come up with creative ways to overcome their challenges.

Players who crave just as much freedom and prefer to set their own goals, rather than being told they're the Dragonborn who must save the world, have several great games to explore. Whether you like sci-fi universes with galaxies and automation games, or prefer a medieval fantasy world with bosses and dangerous enemies, there is something here for everyone.

Factory

The factory must grow and you choose how

Although the launch of a rocket can be considered a limiting goal i Factoryin the end, this game is about freedom in a sandbox. Players can play forever, without a clear goal, or even set their own goals, and achieve them however they see fit. Escape the planet, or not, basically.

It's the ultimate engineering and automation game for builders out there who love to tinker and get creative with no end in sight, all in a sci-fi setting. There are some incredible machines and factories that players can come up with and easily sink hundreds of hours into the game. Min-max everything, unlock all research or be as inefficient as possible with your builds; the choice is yours.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Los Santos is the player's ultimate playground for freedom

GTA 5 may have a story to follow, but ultimately players can do whatever they want in Los Santos. Forget the main quests or even the side quests; you can become a real threat in the eyes of the local police force, explore the sights, buy homes and/or cars and more. Make money, spend it all and make it all back again, basically.

If all this is still not enough for you, there are plenty of side activities you can occupy yourself with, from golf to movies, to tennis and visiting some very nice ladies at a very nice club. Spend some time at a bar, get a tattoo or a new haircut—GTA 5 borders on being the ultimate open world simulation, and that's all without discussing mods.

Minecraft

Mojang's sandbox is without parallel in freedom

Few games out there come with the same freedom as Minecraft. This is the King of sandbox games, an endless world of endless possibilities where nothing is mandatory. Players choose how they want to play, what they want to do, and with all the different difficulty options and settings for worlds, it's also possible to decide the rules for the environment itself.

Are you a builder who just wants to decorate? You can do that with a dedicated creative mode that allows you to access all the items and blocks in the game. Are you an adventurer who loves to conquer and explore? You can do this by taming a horse, riding a Ghast, or finally finding an elytra to fly around. Or maybe you prefer complex factory games or RPG elements? Redstone is the place to start, and for RPGs there's a whole achievement tree and enchantments and dungeons to smash through.

Valheim

Be the kind of Viking you want to be

A viking sandbox survival game, Valheim puts players into a world where the only goal is to survive and move from one biome to the next as the challenges grow and you conquer one boss after another. Beyond that, however, you can play this game any way you want and as efficiently as you want.

There is something for everyone here. Builders have a fairly robust system for creating rustic bases and grand viking halls. You can create your own farms, collect resources to create more, or just go on adventures and explore what the world has to offer if that's more your cup of tea.

No Man's Sky

A limitless galaxy where you can be whoever you want

Despite a rocky postponement, No Man's Sky has arguably become the gold standard for space exploration and survival games. With an entire open-world galaxy on your doorstep, it's going to take a while for anyone to get bored. It is an infinite world, with infinite possibilities.

And while there's survival gameplay, base building and ship upgrading, there's also a bit of a story to explore, pirates to fight (or become a pirate yourself) and money to earn. You decide which route you take and how long it takes you to get to your desired destination.

Outwards

An unforgiving survival RPG where you choose your path

If medieval RPG settings are more your jam, then Outwards is the place to start. But wait, this isn't just your typical open-world RPG. It's more like someone hit extreme survival mode on Skyrim, with features like sleep and hydration. This is a tough, dark, medieval-style world Kenshiwhich will require gravel for players to get through.

There is absolutely no hand holding or direction involved. Although there is no base building, there is quite deep RPG gameplay, and players are free to explore and make their way through the dangerous world at their own pace. Just make sure you're well prepared before diving into a dungeon or challenging tough enemies in the wild.

Rimworld

A cozy colony swim or a cruel survival strategy, you decide

Strategy game lovers will find the most freedom in a game that Rimworldwhich mixes simulation games with base building in a sandbox environment. It's really interesting, because depending on the player, the tone of the game can be quite different. There are pets to tame, but there are also diseases to deal with. You can expand the base, or you can focus on taking care of the colonists, or a little bit of everything.

That's where freedom comes in: no one tells you how to handle your little colonists. It appeals to both The Sims players with needs management, but also to grand strategy or colony simulators, as the colonists must be protected from outside threats and their home grows. Each game and world is unique, so replayability is off the charts.

Project Zomboid

Survive the zombie apocalypse as you see fit

Back to something a little more boring and challenging, there is Project Zomboid. Don't let the isometric perspective fool you, because this zombie survival game takes no hostages. It's tough, it's immersive, and the game feels incredibly realistic as you manage your survivor's needs and find a place to build your base. And yes, that includes dealing with things like boredom and even depression, all real mental dangers in a post-apocalyptic world.

Although the game forces you to survive, you decide how to do this. There are some seriously solid customizations in the game, and a bunch of side activities to keep you occupied that can help you get through another night and another season. The tasks you complete will instantly level them up, reflecting your playstyle. From an extraordinary chef to a fishing expert, you choose how to survive.

The Sims 4

Life simulation freedom at its best

In terms of creative freedom, The Sims 4 and the entire franchise, for that matter, is definitely up there. Create any type of household you want by customizing their appearance and characteristics, and move them out into the world, into a house you can build from the ground up. Everything goes from there.

Does the family want to become filthy rich or terrorize their neighborhood by being mean and malicious? Do they live in a big mansion with a butler, or do you choose a rags to riches story? It's entirely up to the player, and with each expansion the possibilities grow as new game features from magic to stardom are unlocked.

Kenshi

Freedom at the cost of suffering

Kenshi is not for the faint of heart; let's make it perfectly clear. Kenshi is for those who are not afraid of challenges, to figure things out on their own and even then face failure. It's an unforgiving RPG that has limitless possibilities and incredible depth wrapped in a massive world where you create your character from scratch, but it's unforgiving in how it gives players the freedom to buckle down before jumping in.

Yes, there is freedom, but the world will always hit you with consequences, adding to the chaos. You might be enslaved, or you might settle down to become a farmer. Maybe you want to hit the road as a trader to sneak around like a thief. Whatever you choose, choose carefully, because you could end up eaten alive by cannibals or imprisoned for life.