Realism it is not and should not be the focus of every game. Ultimately, 99% of titles aim to be a welcome escape from reality, allowing us to explore magical realms, achieve unimaginable feats, and slay Ganon. However, some projects go in the exact opposite direction, emphasizing realism above all else. Open world games they're better equipped than most to go in that direction, and almost all of the best entries in the genre are immersive.
Now, realism can take many forms, and numerous sandbox releases combine gorgeous visuals with over-the-top gameplay that makes sense in the context of their world. These games are not the subject of this article, as we will look at open world games that emphasize realism in almost every respect. In the name of variety, we'll try to highlight different subgenres.
Honorable Mentions
The following games are either set in fantasy worlds or have elements that are just too fantastical. However, 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 and 2
Dreamcast games 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 mention Shenmue and its sequels, which were probably the first projects to really try to create this kind of path. The game moves at a glacial pace, especially compared to other releases from its era. You are motivated and encouraged to fully immerse yourself in Yokosuka and Hong Kong, embrace the culture and get a job.
By modern standards, Shenmue's world is small and rather unspectacular; by historical standards, Shenmue's world was a groundbreaking effort, demonstrating a level of detail that was very impressive in the late 1990s. If you never grew up with these games, they may struggle to hold your attention, but I would still recommend giving them a try. The first two versions have a timeless charm and are available as HD remasters.
5
Microsoft Flight Simulator (and other Sims like Euro Truck Simulator 2)
Plan a round-the-world flight
Honestly, these simulator games are probably the most realistic open world games on the market, but they focus on updating a specific type of life rather than a diverse range. Although not a conventional entry in the genre, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020Free Flight mode allows you to travel the Earth, plan your own trips and travel to places you might never be able to visit in real life. Naturally, you can't walk and explore any of these areas, but the world is still at your fingertips.
While you can adjust their depth, the controls are designed to be as realistic as possible, and beginners will likely struggle in the early hours. However, once you become familiar with MFS's mechanics and grow comfortably, you will experience a sense of freedom that probably no other open world game provides.
Games like Euro Truck Simulator 2, American truck simulatorand Snowrunner they are also cut from the same cloth, albeit with a focus on ground riding.
4
Mafia series
These games hardly count as open world, but they are historical crime epics
Mafia is a special case. Numbered items have beautiful and authentic open worlds that offer very little interactivity. Each game takes you to a city that perfectly brings to life a different era and area of American history:
- 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 great visuals coupled with an immersive sound design and grounded character, Mafia does an admirable job of telling stories that complement and highlight each game's respective time period, while touching on modern themes that still resonate. However, you can't actually do anything in any of these worlds except drive from one story to the next; as a result, they feel like dress-up at times, despite being incredibly realistic.
3
Cyberpunk 2077
An open world that depicts a potentially realistic future
We've largely avoided fantasy and sci-fi games, if only because “realistic” isn't usually the best way to describe them. he said that Cyberpunk 2077 it probably represents one of the most plausible depictions of a future society completely owned by corporations, with greed, technology and depression. It's not a world we want to live in, but it's a world our successors may have to put up with.
Even if we were to ignore the themes of the story and focus only on the world itself, Cyberpunk 2077's Night City is not far from some cities that exist in real life. Even though the unnamed NPCs are a bit plain, it matches the feeling of being surrounded by millions of unknown, faceless people in a metropolis. You can just ignore the story and ride the streets and immerse yourself in the oppressive sounds of a society collapsing under its vices and ambitions.
2
Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar's open world masterpiece
Occasional eccentric moments aside, Rockstar's games are consistently realistic, especially open-world projects. Tyrant, GTA 4and LA Noire they are all grounded and the developer's crowning achievement is Red Dead Redemption 2. The American West tends to be romanticized by modern media, but RDR2 it doesn't go that route, but presents an exhaustive depiction of a brutal time when freedom was replaced by hopelessness for most people.
Yes, the story has a lot of “Hollywood” shootouts, but the vast majority of the campaign emphasizes the small moments that make up day-to-day survival. You're not just riding the highs and greatest hits of Arthur Morgan, you're embodying him in his entirety. The game is particularly obsessed with simulating small 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 write Kingdom Come: Deliverance is probably the first name most people think of when they hear “immersive medieval games”, and Warhorse Studios has fully earned that reputation. While the sequel is better in almost every way, its predecessor is just as realistic and players can enjoy the harsh existence of a peasant whose life means nothing but nothing.
As Henry, you embark on a quest to avenge your massacred family and village, and your journey is challenging, painful and merciless. You have to actively train and improve your skills and nothing comes easy. You will travel slowly to towns and meet NPCs trying to survive their own bitter lives. In the morning hours, you will fight for survival in battles, because Henry is just a blacksmith who tries to play soldier at first. You will eventually get better if you put in the hours.
