Open world games that let you build your life

Most RPGs and games in general often have saving-the-world or at least saving-the-kingdom plots. It's a common trope, but if the story is filled with engaging characters and quests, the end result doesn't matter as much. In open world games, even though they may be guided to an end goal, players may find that they are not interested in following the critical path.

They may even feel tired of combat and normal gameplay loops, which is where these games come in. If gamers want to build a life and have a little distraction, then these games are the best way to experience a digital paradise.

Minecraft

Just have fun

Minecraft it doesn't force players to worry about some epic quest because it's just a sandbox where they can do whatever. If they want to arm themselves with the best gear to fight monsters at night or underground, they can.

However, the game is more about building a life wherever they want, whether in a normal house with a small garden or a full-fledged village where players play the role of mayor. The mechanics are simple to pick up, new or experienced, for anyone who wants to check Minecraft out.

Dragon Quest Builders 2

Friends Island

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is set in a blocky world with similar gameplay mechanics to Minecraftbut in reality there is an ever-looming darkness that wants to destroy the world. Chapter by chapter, players can do the bare minimum to restore villages back to prominence after being destroyed by monsters, or build them up really nicely.

If players really want to take a break from the action, they can head to an island separate from the story, where they can build and run a village with three other online friends.

My time at Sandrock

Sandy's marriage

My time at Sandrock is located in a dusty area where seemingly no one wants to live. This is where players come in as a new adventurer determined to remake the land to build a life for themselves and help their city grow.

It has decent action gameplay and story, but the scope is minimal. Through and through, this is a life-sim where players can decorate their house, grow crops and even choose a partner to marry.

Palworld

Live free with your monsters

Palworld can basically be compared Pokemon missing Minecraft without a square world. Players can create their character, enter the world, and then choose where they want to set up camp. Here players can build a home, plant crops, build fences, workshops and so on.

What makes this game unique is the monster catching mechanic, as players can use them as battle partners, mount, and even be tasked at the base. There is an underlying story, but it's not important to the game.

Grounded 2

Shrinky Dinks

Grounded 2 it's still in Early Access, but it's already a bigger game than its predecessor, which shows that Obsidian Entertainment has come a long way. As one of the chosen children, players will continue their existence as a shrunken hero, this time in a new backyard.

The main goal is not to save the world, but to become normal again, which is important. However, players can also choose to make the best of a bad situation by collecting materials in the world or fighting bugs. Houses, furniture, weapons, armor and more can be forged.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Nuts And Bolts

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is three times bigger than the previous game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildthanks to the underground and sky islands. Ganon threatens to return again, so a world-ending event is always in play.

However, unlike the last game, players won't just get lost in exploration as they delay the inevitable. They can now build things like houses and makeshift vehicles, leading to endless creativity in this massive version of Hyrule.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Welcome to Dondoko Island

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth it has a big plot involving a cult and an ex-Yakuza running around in Hawaii, but it's nowhere near an end-of-the-world scenario. It's as riveting as the latest major series Yakuza game, though players go through Honolulu one turn-based battle after another.

There are also plenty of mini-games to pass the time, such as taking pictures of strange men, playing arcade games, and delivering food. The most liberating side quest is on Dondoko Island, where players can customize their home and create an island to their liking.

Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time

A life for every player

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a class-based action RPG in which players can go through epic quests to help the people of the world, or they can go through them slowly. These classes, known as Lives, have plenty of crafting and gathering options, such as a cook or a woodcutter.

Even menial things like gathering wood can advance the story and level players up, all leading to a home they can call their own. It's a truly fantastical life with more options for players to progress than perhaps any modern RPG.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

The world is your property

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach it has a plot too big to digest quickly, but basically players try to reconnect one bunker at a time in Mexico and Australia. They can fast-forward through this goal to get through the bizarre story, or they can fully commit to making the hero Sam the best courier he can be.

Players can build relationships between bunkers and get new blueprints to build equipment or other things like homes. The world is essentially owned by the player as they can build anything anywhere, which will appear in other players' worlds through the asynchronous online mode, which is a great feature.

Keep playing

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim it has a few options for a life-sim, such as being able to buy a house or create equipment through blacksmithing, but crafting is not the game's strong point. Instead, Skyrim is a world that's easy to metaphorically get lost in, as there are so many dungeons to explore and quests to pick up outside of the main one.

Even though the game has been around since 2011, despite the various iterations, it's safe to say that a lot of fans have never really finished the game, and that's okay. It's a game that encourages players to experience it their way.