RELATED: The Biggest Open World Games Based On The Size Of Their Maps
Along with fetch quests, NPC interactions, and looting, one common theme of the open-world genre is combat, as most games task players with overcoming some type of enemy force. Though conquering evil is all well and good, it can get tiresome. Sometimes gamers just want to play at their own pace, without the threat of raiders, zombies, aliens, or whatever else popping up looking for a fight. Thankfully, there are a handful of open-world games that solely offer puzzle-solving, social interaction, or simple exploration.
Updated on September 11th, 2022, Jack Pursey: Thanks to the surge in popularity of open-world gaming, there is now an open-world game to suit almost anyone’s needs and tastes. Although combat is a fundamental part of so many games both new and old, there are a selection of thoroughly enjoyable games that have no combat in them whatsoever. To shine a light on some more of these peaceful open-world games, we’ve updated this list to include a few more entries.
13 Assassin’s Creed Origins (Discovery Tour Mode)
Available Platforms - Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia Initial Release Date - October 27, 2017 Main Story Completion Time - 30 Hours Best Feature - Discovery Tour mode offers an enjoyable way to learn about Egyptian history with an impressive level of historical accuracy.
The Assassin’s Creed franchise originated in 2008 and has gone on to become a cornerstone of open-world gaming. The series began under the banner of stealth and action adventure, but since the release of Assassin’s Creed Origins, the franchise has started to transition into the action-RPG genre.
The influx of RPG elements weren’t the only interesting new feature in Origins, as the game also offered a Discovery Tour mode. The Discovery Tour mode removes combat, quests, and enemies from the game. Instead, it lets players explore Ancient Egypt from an educational standpoint, with an audio tour guide offering detailed information.
12 Minecraft (Creative Mode)
Available Platforms - Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Xbox 360, Raspberry Pi, Windows Phone, PlayStation 3, Fire OS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita, Universal Windows Platform, Wii U, tvOS, Nintendo Switch, New Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date - November 18, 2011 Main Story Completion Time - N/A Best Feature - Creative mode lets players flex their creative muscles and make almost anything that they can think of.
It’s been nearly 10 years since Minecraft first hit stores. The game is still going strong today, thanks to continuous improvement and updates that make the game almost unrecognizable from its original state. The open-world game is filled with enemies to kill in Survival mode, but the popular Creative mode removes such hazards.
Along with the absence of enemies, Creative mode also gives players every item and piece of equipment in the game. This allows them to make some incredible creations — the only limitation is their own imagination.
11 Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
Available Platforms - PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One Initial Release Date - July 18, 2017 Main Story Completion Time - 10 Hours Best Feature - The beautiful open-world is a joy to explore.
Prideful Sloth’s open-world adventure Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles initially released on PlayStation 4 and PC in 2017 before coming to Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in the years that followed.
RELATED: Biggest Open World MMORPGs (From Smallest To Largest)
After the player’s ship crashes onto an island, Yonder tasks players with helping the inhabitants by clearing a substance called Murk. The gameplay predominantly centers around fetch quests. Though this may sound tedious, exploring the Breath of the Wild-like game world can provide hours of simplistic enjoyment.
10 Shape of the World
Available Platforms - Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems, Xbox One Initial Release Date - June 5, 2018 Main Story Completion Time - 1 Hour Best Feature - Offers a great way to wind down with some wonderful art designs.
Shape of the World was released in 2018 by the team of Hollow Tree Games and Plug In Digital. This first-person game puts players in a beautiful, artistic forest and simply lets them explore the surrounding environments.
The game’s world is procedurally generated, ensuring that players will always have a fresh experience each time they boot it up. Shape of the World simply wants its players to find peace and relaxation. The game’s Steam page exemplifies this philosophy, stating: “This is a place to get lost in, a relaxing world for you to spend 1 to 3 hours meandering at your own pace, observing and unwinding.”
9 Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)
Available Platforms - PC, Xbox Series X/S Initial Release Date - August 18, 2020 Main Story Completion Time - N/A Best Feature - Being able to fly around the world’s most iconic locations and landmarks
Microsoft Flight Simulator is, in some ways, the ultimate open-world game, as it lets players travel around the entire earth. Players can soar past Big Ben, ascend Mount Everest, and explore the seven wonders of the world.
Being able to fly around an in-game recreation of the earth is, of course, the game’s biggest selling point; however, the game is also a great educational tool for those interested in piloting a plane. The gameplay is so realistic, in fact, that pilots used it to ensure they didn’t get too rusty during COVID lockdowns.
8 Forza Horizon 5
Available Platforms - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Initial Release Date - November 9, 2021 Main Story Completion Time - 20 Hours Best Feature - The beautifully designed open world that is a joy to simply drive around and explore
Forza Horizon 5 continued the Forza Horizon series’ excellent track record of providing players with incredibly well-designed open worlds to explore that are varied, meticulously detailed, and simply stunning to look at.
The game takes place in a fictional version of Mexico, and boasts a wide range of biomes that give the gameplay superb variety and gives players a good reason to try out the plethora of different vehicle types on offer. Unsurprisingly, Forza Horizon 5 was a huge hit with critics, exemplified by its 92 Metascore on Xbox Series X.
7 Need For Speed: Underground 2
Available Platforms - PC, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS Initial Release Date - November 9, 2004 Main Story Completion Time - 20 Hours Best Feature - The huge array of customization options
From one racing game to another, Need For Speed: Underground 2 differentiates itself on this list by being released, believe it or not, nearly 20 years ago now. The game was developed by Electronic Art’s former subsidiary EA Black Box and is credited today for its influence on open-world gaming. Underground 2’s open world was far from its only selling point, however, as the game also features a fantastic range of customization options and a great range of game modes.
Truth be told, this list could be filled with open-world racing games, so, for the sake of variety, we’ll stick to just two.
6 Rime
Available Platforms - PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One Initial Release Date - May 26, 2017 Main Story Completion Time - 5. 5 Hours Best Feature - The game’s well-designed island begs to be explored.
Tequila Works’ puzzle game Rime was released on all major systems in 2017. The third-person adventure is the second but certainly not the last game on this list to strand players on a mysterious island.
Rime tasks players with solving environmental puzzles by moving objects, shouting, or signing. The game received a mixed reception from critics, exemplified by the juxtaposing Metascores of 64 on Nintendo Switch and 82 on Xbox One. Praise from critics revolved around the art style and visuals, though the lackluster puzzles received criticism.
5 A Short Hike
• Available Platforms - Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Macintosh operating systems
• InitialRelease Date - April 5, 2019
• Main Story Completion Time - 1.5 Hours
• Best Feature - The sense of relaxation that the game provides
With an impressive Nintendo Switch Metascore of 88 and an All Reviews score of Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam, Adam Robinson-Yu’s A Short Hike was one of the most pleasant surprises of 2019.
The game’s main quest requires the player to jump, swim and glide through the open world to find a collection of Golden Feathers. The main quest isn’t all that’s available to players, however, as they can also partake in numerous side activities such as fishing, finding treasure with the help of maps, and competing in the unique Beachstickball.
4 The Sims 3
Available Platforms - Microsoft Windows, OS X, Android, BlackBerry OS, Windows Phone, iOS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, N-Gage 2. 0, Wii, Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date - June 2, 2009 Main Story Completion Time - 15. 5 Hours Best Feature - Exploring the game’s town and interacting with the locals
The first entry into The Sims franchise was released in 2000 and played a fundamental part in the rise of casual games. Electronic Arts’ series has since become one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, likely due to how it appeals to such a wide audience.
2009’s The Sims 3 saw a significant shift in playstyle for the series. The game broke down its predecessor’s linear walls in favor of an open world to explore. Exploring the game’s town is a joy and is the main reason why The Sims 3 is the most beloved entry in the franchise.
3 Obduction
Available Platforms - Microsoft Windows, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, macOS, PlayStation 4, PSVR, Xbox One Initial Release Date - August 24, 2016 Main Story Completion Time - 12 Hours Best Feature - Classic Myst gameplay in a modern setting
Obduction was released in 2016 by Cyan Worlds, the same team behind the aforementioned Myst. The game begins with the playable character being abducted by aliens and putting them on a Myst-like game-world where they must solve puzzles to find their way home.
RELATED: Best Combat Systems In Open World RPGs, Ranked
Obduction was well-received by critics. It received praise for the game’s atmosphere, its constant unsettling sense of not-belonging, and well-designed collection of puzzles.
2 Eastshade
Available Platforms - PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Macintosh operating systems, Xbox One Initial Release Date - February 13, 2019 Main Story Completion Time - 9. 5 Hours Best Feature - Medatitive gameplay on a beautiful island
Eastshade is a relaxing, visually impressive open-world game developed by the suitably named Eastshade Studios. The game starts with a bit of a bang. Once again, the player is on the wrong end of a boat crash, but the game soon finds a far more meditative pace.
With an easel and canvas by their side, players travel the world of Eastshade and paint the scenery and environments around them. The game isn’t just a painting simulator, however. Players can also receive quests from NPCs and brew a multitude of tea flavors.
1 The Witness
Available Platforms - PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nvidia Shield TV, Classic Mac OS, Xbox One Initial Release Date - January 26, 2016 Main Story Completion Time - 17. 5 Hours Best Feature - Of all the many beautiful island settings on this list, The Witness has the best
2016’s The Witness faced high expectations when the puzzle game was first announced, predominantly due to it being designed by Braid’s Jonathan Blow. The game also turned heads when the first details started to release. It was clear that players were going to find themselves on a Myst-like island with beautiful modern visuals.
The Witness differentiates itself from Myst with its puzzle variety, as the game solely features line puzzles. Sticking to one style of puzzle may make the game sound one-dimensional, but there’s an excellent range of themes and solutions to the puzzles that ensure the game remains engrossing.
MORE: Open World RPGs That Take The Longest To Complete
