Highlights
- Open-world exploration games like Fallout: New Vegas and The Witcher 3 offer vast, immersive environments to roam and discover.
- Minecraft allows for almost unlimited exploration and customization, with the ability to visit other players' worlds and gather resources.
- The freedom to explore without being constrained to a linear storyline is a key feature of games like Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Elden Ring.
Ever navigate to an in-game area for a main story quest and get sidetracked by the collectibles and side quests you find along the way? There is a time and place for linear progression, but sometimes, wandering around the world with no particular objective in mind can be both satisfying and time-consuming. Thankfully, there is more freedom than ever to traverse open worlds and plunder dungeons in games from Starfield to Baldur’s Gate 3.
Most exploration games are available on console, but the PC has higher frame rates for a sharper image and more immersive gaming experience. On a high-performance PC, you can easily and happily get lost in the games with the greatest opportunities to roam and make new discoveries.
Updated on January 14, 2024, by Mohamed El Ouardighi: Exploration games are among many people's favorites because they typically provide a unique world and settings for you to explore, whether it's for side quests, collectibles, or just to admire the beautiful environment. As it's a new year, we've refreshed this list for you to enjoy some of the best exploration games on your PC!
12 Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
- Released
- October 15, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Quebec
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has one of the most extensive map in the series to date. The map is based on ancient Greece and features depictions of Greek architecture, such as the Parthenon and Acropolis in Athens. It is worth pausing to take in the sea views and statues of Greek gods.
On the other hand, some areas seem empty with few quests and monotonous imagery. The game makes up for its dull moments with the freedom to explore without being totally constrained to a linear storyline, as well as dialogue choices that shape your gameplay.
11 Assassin's Creed Valhalla
- Released
- November 10, 2020
We could easily include all Assassin's Creed games on this list, as each of them features unique settings, but Valhalla has earned its spot here. Transporting players to 9th century England, Valhalla immerses them in the Viking Age as Eivor, a fierce Norse warrior.
As an exploration-focused title, Valhalla unfolds in a vast open-world environment, allowing you to traverse lush landscapes with rich attention to detail. Capturing the essence of Viking culture, Valhalla offers a captivating adventure through history with abundant exploration opportunities, including secret quests, NPCs, and more.
10 Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
With almost unlimited ways to play, Minecraft has the potential for exploring, building, crafting, and fighting. Minecraft is a unique title because, in multiplayer mode, you can visit other players’ worlds and see what they have created. Then, in your own world, you can either roam a pre-made template or customize a map from scratch. It is also possible to travel to the Nether, where you can gather items and resources.
The Best Sandbox Games
The sandbox genre covers dozens of different games. Here's our list of the best titles you can enjoy on console and PC.Regardless of your playstyle, exploring the terrain is essential to getting the most out of Minecraft, and the sheer size of the world makes this a never-ending task.
9 Hollow Knight
- Released
- February 24, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
- Team Cherry
Hollow Knight is an action-adventure, indie game. It is rightfully regarded as one of the best 2D games on Steam. The 2D art style brings the surroundings to life, and each area has varying details and different color palettes to set it apart from previous locations.
In the game, you play as the Knight, who searches the depths of Hallownest. There are creatures to battle, but much of the emphasis is on traversing the caverns. Hollow Knight is a difficult game to beat, but running around and uncovering secrets are massively entertaining.
8 Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
Fallout: New Vegas is set in the greater area of the ruins of Las Vegas, encompassing much of Nevada, California, and Arizona. Gameplay is flexible, so you can explore the wasteland at your leisure. Doing so will reward you with weapons and ammunition to prepare yourself for combat. The items you find can go toward crafting and cooking, too.
10 PC Games That Deserve A Remake
Here are the old-school PC games that deserve to be remade.New Vegas is one of the better games on PC that combines first-person shooter elements with RPG-style exploration. Much of the world is deserted, but the casinos and NPC dialogue liven up the land.
7 Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
- Released
- December 7, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
If you're a fan of the Far Cry series and the Avatar movies, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is the perfect exploration experience for you. Set in the beautiful world of Pandora, you play as a Na'vi on a mission to save the world and oppose the RDA, but that's just the main storyline. The game extends far beyond that, especially when it comes to exploration, which is essential for survival.
Apart from engaging in battles, you can hunt animals, gather resources, craft your gear, and even cook your own meals in the midst of a stunning forest setting. What's more, you can take a serene ride on your Ikran and bask in the beauty of the game.
6 Horizon Zero Dawn
- Released
- February 28, 2017
Available on Windows, Horizon Zero Dawn is another open-world game which takes place in a post-apocalyptic future overrun by robotic enemies. The map consists of various natural terrains, from jungles to snowy mountain ranges, and recreates real-world locations in Utah, Arizona, and Colorado.
You assume control of Aloy, who comes from the Nora tribe, a group of hunters and gatherers. By simply following the main story, you will journey across the western United States and see most of what the Horizon Zero Dawn map has to offer.
5 Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- Developer(s)
- From Software
Elden Ring is commonly known for its high level of difficulty and dark fantasy, but its expansive world deserves just as much recognition. There are dozens of locations in the Lands Between that you won’t want to miss. Some areas hold coveted chests, and others are made up of a series of underground tunnels.
But Elden Ring is not solely an exploration game: as you wander around, you will run into challenging bosses to tackle. When paired with combat, the landscape turns into a beautiful battlefield.
4 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
The acclaimed storytelling aside, the high fantasy world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is reason enough for this title to be on your radar. The design draws on Slavic folklore, resulting in a massive realm to investigate as you look for the protagonist Geralt of Rivia’s adopted daughter Ciri.
10 Best Wrong Ways To Play The Witcher 3
With so much freedom and exploration, there are a lot of great wrong ways to play The Witcher 3.Early in the game after Geralt wakes from his dream, you can freely roam the Continent. It is easy to get sidetracked by optional quests, Monster Hunts, hidden treasure, and discovering new locations. The main story only takes about 50 hours to beat, but completionists will spend an average of 179 hours on the Continent.
3 Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
If you’ve always wanted to tour the Wild West, then Red Dead Redemption 2 is the title for you. From Rockstar Games, the sequel to Red Dead Redemption is an open-world game like the action-adventure game Grand Theft Auto 5 by the same developers.
There are multiple ways to experience Red Dead’s idealized, late 19th-century United States: you can hunt, chat with NPCs at different settlements, and see the open world on horseback. The side missions and loot are not particularly revolutionary, but the dynamic environment is one of the best on PC.
2 Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
When Cyberpunk 2077 first launched in 2020, it was unplayable on console. Even when the game miraculously ran, players experienced serious crashes and glitches on console and PC. CD Projekt Red has since released a series of patches to successfully fix up the game. Nonetheless, a PC with a high-quality graphics card still provides the optimal, least buggy gaming experience.
Despite its rocky launch, Night City is incredible to explore. There are six main districts to visit by car, motorcycle, or foot. The futuristic, sci-fi world feels alive with NPCs walking the streets and realistic details, such as the character Jackie Welles eating Chinese noodles.
- Released
- November 11, 2011
Skyrim has virtually everything, including but not limited to dungeons, quests, villages, horse rides, and gorgeous scenery. The province of Skyrim is largely a snowy, mountainous region. Most locations are accessible from the outset of the game, and fast travel makes it easy to return to them.
The land is home to the protagonist Dragonborn, who seeks to vanquish the dragon that will bring about the end of the world according to prophecy. As Dragonborn, you will encounter hostile dragons in the wild and can battle them.
The sprawling open world can take hundreds of hours to fully explore. By the time you have reached 100 percent completion, you’ll likely have memorized the song of the dragonborn. Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin, naal ok zin los vahriin…
To Boldly Go: Best Space Exploration Games
For anyone who has ever wanted to explore the vast reaches of space, these games are absolutely essential!Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "The Best Exploration Games On PC - TheGamer"
Post a Comment