Games that let you play the way you want

Freedom in gaming is a concept that has expanded tremendously in recent years, with linear games no longer the norm, but instead considered a specific style of play that won't appeal to everyone.

Many players now want to throw themselves into a world where they decide where to go and what to do, as opposed to having a set path to follow. For gamers who want the freedom to play how they want, the games on this list are a great option.

Minecraft

The Ultimate Sandbox

Minecraft is the best sandbox game in many ways. Mojang Studios' 2011 masterpiece throws players into a randomly generated world and gives them all the tools to ensure that the only limitation is imagination, especially with the amount of content that has been added over the years.

Whether players want to build a house, craft the best equipment, raise animals, fight enemies or jump with friends for imaginative fun, it's all possible in Minecraft.

RimWorld

Science fiction story generator

RimWorld is a colony simulator that differentiates itself from the crowded genre by calling itself a “story generator”. Ludeon Studios' game achieves this ambitious mark by giving players all the tools to create their own stories, such as Minecraftbut also with an AI storyteller that analyzes what the player is doing and throws events at him that he thinks will be the most interesting for the situation and the characters.

With many terrains, survivalist needs, enemies to fight, ships to trade with, structures to craft and much more. RimWorld is a game that can drag players into hundreds or even thousands of hours.

Kenshi

A post-apocalyptic world where you can find your place

Lo-Fi games Kenshi is a team-based RPG that stands out for how little possession and leadership it offers players – something fans of open-world sandbox games often adore.

Kenshi it throws players into a post-apocalyptic world where the challenge is simply to survive, giving the game a constant layer of thought-provoking challenges. Players start out with no skills to speak of, but if they're not careful, they can evolve into a farmer, fighter, merchant, thief, or even a slave.

Bethesda's masterpiece still deserves a new game

“Hey, you. You're finally awake.” At this point, this has to be one of the most listened to opening lines of dialogue in gaming history, as countless players hear it for the second, third, fourth, tenth time as they boot up the game for the next playthrough. While Skyrim has set quests and story arcs, players are under no obligation to solve them, and even if they are, the way they complete them can vary greatly depending on their character.

For many players, however, the joy of Skyrim is not found in quests at all, but in a peaceful life in a medieval fantasy world – building a house, buying and selling goods, honest crafting or many other options in the legendary Bethesda RPG.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Use your imagination to solve puzzles and defeat enemies

Tears of the Kingdompredecessor, Breath of the Wildit was considered one of the greatest games of all time just weeks after its release. The complete freedom to go in any direction and accept quests in any order was inspired by the first game in the series and managed to distinguish itself from other games with a similar design thanks to its ingeniously designed world, which is one of the best in gaming history.

However, the problem with the game's success was that it spawned a sequel, Tears of the Kingdoma difficult task when it had to follow. Luckily, Nintendo didn't disappoint, as along with the caves massively expanding the scope of the world, the game also leaned much more into the sandbox elements by giving players a plethora of tools and abilities to craft weapons, machines, vehicles and more. These add-ons give players an almost unlimited number of ways to complete tasks, which can be even more satisfying than searching for the developer's intended solution.

Hitman World of Assassination

Explosive rubber ducks, homing briefcases, cannonballs and more

One would expect a game about a clone designed as a ruthless killer to be as serious as can be, but instead Hitman the series has often veered into the absurd, making the missions over the years so fun to play and endlessly replayable.

Hitman World of Assassinationcost-effective package containing content from Hitman (2016), Hitman 2and Hitman 3is the franchise at its best, with brilliantly designed missions that offer numerous ways to complete, many with dedicated dialogue and even cutscenes. Dress up as a VIP, use bizarre weapons like the homing briefcase, or try any of the countless other game mechanics to find the most creative or ridiculous way to complete the missions in each level.

The Sims 4

The iconic virtual life simulator is still the best in its class

The Sims the series has long been known as a franchise for people who want to live a virtual life… or maybe cause chaos for the characters inside.

The series started in 2000 The Simswhich at one point was the best-selling PC game of all time, surpassed Myst just over two years after its release. The Sims 4 is the latest entry in the series despite being released in 2014. However, the game is constantly changing with a stream of expansions and updates that have ensured that the game maintains its crown in the life simulation genre.

Crusader Kings 3

Whatever rule you choose

Crusader Kings 3 it has a key selling point that makes it stand out from almost all other grand strategy games, or even strategy games in general: it's still fun when you're “losing”. Losing territory, being dethroned as king or queen, betraying family members, getting heavily in debt, and even your character dying only make the game more interesting as players see the consequences of their actions play out with changing dynamics, interesting events, and playing as a different character if the one they're playing as dies.

While most other strategy games put players in control of a faction or country, Crusader Kings 3 it puts the player directly in the shoes of the characters and their heirs when they die, offering an intimate, personal feel to the game that is hard to find elsewhere and can create unforgettable stories.