Gaming will never be better than when you were little. Well, it may not be true for every person, but the games played during one's formative years will remain in the memory seemingly forever. As the decades pass and new adventures become more difficult to discover, you may find yourself longing for that old sense of wonder and excitement that came so easily. At least I'm always looking for a game that can take me back to the PS1 era.
Open world games they are probably overexposed by this point, but the freedom and desire they provide can be intoxicating. When done right, they are completely immersive and encourage players to leave behind and become someone new in a new world. Let's go through some of the the best games that will make you feel like a kid again.
Modern games only. Let's say 2015 is a landmark year.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Start
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
8
Pokemon Pokopia
The best Pokemon game in years
Pokemon it doesn't belong to any one generation at this point, and the franchise will continue to figure in the lives of boys and girls for decades. I personally associate Pokemon Gold and Silver (and anime) strongly with my younger days, and newer entries tend to fill that void. There wasn't a single point during my playthrough Scarlet & Violet that I didn't feel my age and the same can be said for the (much better) Legends games. However, Popopia she was an exception and it happened for the first time in a long time Pokemon exceeded time (for me anyway).
How to get Pikachu in Pokopia (Pikachu location)
Learn how to get Pikachu in Pokemon Pokopia by building a picnic set station in Palette Town.
A wildly different game type compared to the main RPG series, Popopia is a post-apocalyptic life simulator that puts the player in the role of a morphing Ditto. You go from town to town, fulfilling requests, making friends with Pokémon, and helping society get back on its feet. Draw inspiration from Minecraft and Dragon Quest Builders, Popopia it's creative, adorable and just plain relaxing. It's the kind of game that steals time when you sit down to play and suddenly realize 4 hours have passed. More on that, Game Freak.
Popopia it is placed so low because it just came out. If it continues to be great, it may top this list.
7
Chia
A likable hero in a culturally rich world
A child hero isn't enough to qualify a game for this discussion, but Chia he does an admirable job of presenting his world from the perspective of his young lead. Although fictional, the project brings to life an archipelago based on New Caledonia, a setting that not only feels fresh, but is also simply gorgeous.
The world has a well-defined and fascinating culture, viewed through the lens of a capable girl who just wants to save her father. Tchia also gains the ability to take on the bodies of various animals and objects, a phenomenon that greatly opens up gameplay and encourages creativity and experimentation. Although not perfect, Chia unlike anything else out there.
6
No Man's Sky
Beyond A Kid's Wildest Imagination
In the mid-1990s, the idea of an open-world game spanning thousands of planets was considered little more than a pipe dream. in 2016 No Man's Sky he reached for the stars and admittedly fell short, prompting a very mixed response. Now, roughly a decade later, Hello Games' title is one of the best on the market, especially if you're after an open-world, first-person exploration with survival elements.
Although its minute gameplay may not inspire a child's respect, No Man's SkyThe scope and sense of infinity certainly does. Like Minecraft, No Man's Sky it takes advantage of this natural desire to create its own stories, without the boundaries of linear adventures. It's a game I like to feel lost in.
5
Cat Quest series
An open world fur game
Cat Quest it radiates magic. Seriously, it's relentless. All three games have simple but enjoyable real-time combat, simple but effective customization options, and simple but endearing stories. The sequel even has co-op, allowing two players to enjoy these silly adventures together. Set in pulsating worlds and dripping with whimsy, Cat Quest it has the same spirit as a picture book or a Saturday morning cartoon, albeit done in a way that doesn't sacrifice the RPG elements.
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To be clear, this series is not abbreviated and intended for children. Kids will probably play them (and laugh along with the cat puns), but Cat Quest is very much an all-ages trilogy. Some bosses are even quite difficult.
4
Sea of Thieves
Playing pirate with a few friends
Sometimes nothing hits the spot like when something goes wrong. Sea of Thieves it's like an entire game dedicated to just that. Form a crew, hop on a boat and head out into the open waters, singing songs, catching fish and fighting skeletons along the way. Maybe take on another pirate ship or take on a kraken! In the end, the goal is just to spend the afternoon with some friends and have fun. Playing can be simple.
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Combat in Sea of Thieves may seem simple, but it actually has many nuances, and each weapon has a learning curve.
That's not to say there's a complete lack of depth here, as the game has grown quite nicely over the past few years; however, Sea of Thieves he never lost sight of what he was trying to be. Rare has a long history of creating timeless romps, and this open-world game serves as the culmination of decades of triumph.
3
Donkey Kong Banana
Breaking through the cold, hard exterior of adulthood
If there's one company that seems to have perfected a knack for capturing childhood wonder, it would have to be Nintendo. Super Mario Odyssey it has fairly open areas by plumbing standards, but it wasn't fully open world; however, the same team worked on it Donkey Kong Banaza for Switch 2, creating a multi-layered game that is a large sandbox. Part platformer, part explorer, part blockbuster, DK BananaThe main mechanic is, well, punching. DK breaks through the ground and walls, eventually breaking through the surface and reaching the deeper layers. The story is crazy even by Nintendo standards, but it has a bit more nuance and depth than usual Donkey Kong or Mario game.
DK Banana it has a simple charm that can be hard to appreciate without direct experience. With the constant depletion of collectibles, every stone broken or hole dug leads to riches (or bananas), creating an addictive loop where every moment is a reward. The world is colourful, vibrant and varied, with each layer revealing a new theme that provides a welcome change of scenery. Pauline and DK's dynamic is adorable and cute, and their connection is enhanced by the music and gameplay. More than anything else, DK Banaz is just so much fun.
2
Marvel's Spider-Man series
Fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming Spider-Man
While it's not exactly the most consistent theme, superhero games are fairly easy these days, and most modern releases are fun enough. The Arham trilogy is the definitive “you are Batman” experience, but these games are very much designed for an older audience and can evoke a different feel rather than childlike excitement. On the contrary, Marvel's Spider-Man brings something similar, while being slightly more whimsical.
The mere act of swinging around New York City is electrifying and satisfying, especially for players who have longed for this type of evolution and freedom since the Spider-Man 2 or even The Ultimate Spider-Man. Insomniac's trilogy goes to some pretty real places in terms of story, but the gameplay is 100% based on the comic book extravaganza in the best possible way.
1
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The Ultimate Playground
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is probably the most recommended open world game of all time, to the point that I was almost tempted to leave it out of this discussion. However, Nintendo has created something special here, and they've done it by essentially stripping the sandbox concept down to its basics.
Once you've entered the vast and overwhelming version of Hyrule, players are pretty much left to their own devices. Want to fight the final boss? Sure, go ahead. Do you want to take on the four Divine Beasts in turn? This makes sense, but is not necessary. Want to walk around the map and climb that mountain in the distance that barely seems real? Do it.
At a time when some open world games started to feel like checklist simulators, BOTW it was addictively liberating. Although the genre is incredibly oversaturated these days, the 2017 game still feels fresh and rewards players who embrace their desire to explore the unknown.
