Open world games with dynamic worlds

Most open world games are set up once the players start the game. Cities can change depending on how the story unfolds, but mostly the changes happen because of the player. There aren't many games with evolving worlds that take place without player input, but the following are some good examples.

Some changes are more obvious than others and there is a way to keep track of how these evolutions work. Either way, these open world games should be celebrated for how unique their internal mechanics are, making them some of the most inspiring games of all time. Perhaps more open world games will be released that embody this idea more.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Asynchronous multiplayer at its best

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is perhaps the best example of this idea since it uses asynchronous multiplayer. Once they start playing, players will be connected to others and there is no rhyme or reason to when things appear or change.

Players cannot directly communicate with others. For example, highways may be completed as a group effort, or players may come across a lost package and decide to deliver it to someone else. Players can even entrust one of their packages to foreign couriers, which can be delivered randomly.

Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor

Your Orc Nemesis

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor it has a copyrighted mechanic that can only be used by Monolith Productions, although it now belongs to Warner Bros. since Monolith Productions shut down in 2025. It's called the Nemesis System, and basically every enemy that players attack in the game has a chance to come back from the “dead” unless the players finish them off. Scars will return, stronger than before and often in a higher position with many followers. Players never know when they will see an old enemy again as they quietly rebuild in the background.

Elden Ring

Beware of attackers

Elden Ring it doesn't have the biggest open world, but it's densely packed with content, and it's the first Soulslike open world. The biggest change that can occur, aside from players opening up new paths after bosses are permanently defeated, is whenever an attacker enters. If players are paying attention, they may pick up on the signal, but more often than not, they'll just see another player that looks similar start attacking. Aliens can also appear during co-op sessions, so players need to be careful.

Donkey Kong Banana

Repairs to Mother Earth

Donkey Kong Banana is one of the funnest open-world games of 2025. It's not the first to do it, but the destructible environments are really something to admire as Donkey Kong never holds back with his rock-hard punches.

However, the players cannot permanently destroy the world, as the Earth will repair itself when the players least expect it. This could happen while reloading or warping back and forth between zones, but either way, players can destroy to their heart's content without having to worry about permanent consequences.

Spirit of Yotei

Your reputation is rising

Ghost of Yotei's the world changes based on reputation, and the further players get, the more difficult it becomes to navigate. By accepting rewards and completing side quests, the protagonist Atsu makes a name for herself. This is bad because more and more thugs and fellow hunters start coming after her instead. The world will be more populated with enemies, and players can often find themselves ambushed, whether it's chasing enemies on horseback or tripping over a well-placed trap.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Get a lot of this reward

Red Dead Redemption 2 has a similar system as Ghost of Yotei when it comes to rewards. Since it takes place in the Old West, the more dirty deeds players commit, the higher their Wanted level. It may be more difficult to come into town and buy supplies, as NPCs may recognize the player and start alerting the authorities. Players have the option to not be such a vicious criminal in the game as they can make the main character Arthur Morgan change his evil ways even if the gang follows.

Diablo 4

Check out world events

Diablo 4 is the first game in the series to feature an open world to explore, and for a top-down game, it's vast. In addition to fighting random waves of monsters or exploring interesting locations, random world events can also appear in the world. There will usually be hard-to-defeat mini-bosses at these gathering points, and online players can start gathering in an attempt to fight together. The further players are in the game, the more frequent and widespread these world events will become.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Watch out for the Blood Moon

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is full of features, NPCs, and events that will surprise players when they first encounter them. For example, there is a phenomenon in the game called Blood Moon, which can appear randomly because it is not easy to track.

The sky will darken with a blood red moon that will strengthen all the monsters in the game to impossible levels. In these desperate times, players may have to drop whatever they are doing and wait out the storm as it were, especially if players need to go through an area full of enemies.

Minecraft

Property Bros.

what does he do Minecraft What's unique is that when players generate a world, it's fully theirs, like no one else in the world can have. Players can start mining resources to build equipment, houses, monuments, full villages and more. If players stick to one area to build on, it will be easier to keep an eye on things. However, if they branch out and build all over the island, then it will be harder to defend everything. At night, various enemies can come and try to destroy what the players have built. So, unbeknownst to the players, the monument can be blown up when night falls, changing the landscape.

Palworld

Relying on friends

Palworld is a bit like Minecraft except it's not as boxy and has Pokémon-like creatures called Pals. Instead of existing only as tools for battle, players can use buddies as literal weapons, mounts, and even assign them tasks in the home base. For example, players can assign a group of friends to build something while they go out and explore. While they're gone, the compound may change thanks to their building skills, or they may have had to defend it against a group of attackers trying to break in.