Semi Open Worlds
A list of open worlds being used as an actual game design decision as opposed to being an empty sandbox that you fast travel around. My definition of open world is very weird, but Im just counting any non linear game that gives the player the option to freely explore its environment. Whether it's open zone, open-ended levels, or just large explorable hub areas, i dont care its going on the list.
This isn't to say that large open worlds can't be good. Cyberpunk has perfected the balance between making a large open world, while also being full of detail. Grand Theft Auto shows that sometimes, all you need is a good story or good feeling gameplay. While I still love large open worlds, it's always nice to be able to explore in a much smaller area or in some cases, a collection of smaller areas.
List is sorted by release date just to avoid certain franchises to be grouped up together. Not counting JRPG overworlds (ie older final fantasy games). If a game isn't on here then I haven't played it or i just dont know anything about it. notes have explanations for entries that i feel like might not make sense. not including 2d metroidvanias.
This isn't to say that large open worlds can't be good. Cyberpunk has perfected the balance between making a large open world, while also being full of detail. Grand Theft Auto shows that sometimes, all you need is a good story or good feeling gameplay. While I still love large open worlds, it's always nice to be able to explore in a much smaller area or in some cases, a collection of smaller areas.
List is sorted by release date just to avoid certain franchises to be grouped up together. Not counting JRPG overworlds (ie older final fantasy games). If a game isn't on here then I haven't played it or i just dont know anything about it. notes have explanations for entries that i feel like might not make sense. not including 2d metroidvanias.
124 Games
Not out yet, but described as "semi open field" in a tweet
https://x.com/ManaGame/status/1734604314830946316?s=20
https://x.com/ManaGame/status/1734604314830946316?s=20
Open World is split into smaller areas referred to as "open zones". A bit different compared to some of the RPGs on this list, but more in line with something like Mario Odyssey.
I always recognized this game as a reinvention of semi linear game design. While the genre was still around, it wasn't as common as it once was. Tomb Raider incorporates more elements from traditional open world games to attract both fans of more linear and focused games and more open checklist type games. This style would then be seen in many other semi linear games such as God of War and even a little bit in the modern RE games.
Originally designed as an open world, but developers made the game level based which resulted in the game having a fully connected open world within. Kind of cheating since there's not way of exploring the game, but I felt like it deserved a shout out.
One of the best examples on this list. Takes elements of freedom from open sandbox games and places them inside a smaller big detailed shopping mall. Huge shame that a desire for bigger and emptier worlds was one of the things to put this franchise in the grave.
