Summary
Open-world games are a blast to play through, with players relishing the idea of exploring amazing sandboxes in the shoes of a lovable protagonist. Some games in this genre let players create their own protagonist, while others let players control a pre-made character.
These characters are often as human as the players themselves, butsometimes, open-world gamesget creative and let players control protagonists who are anything but human. These characters are varied and do a great job of letting players live out a fantasy where they aren’t constrained by the limits of their species. Here are some of the most interesting examples.
Geralt was a human child who was chosen to participate in the Trials of the Grasses. This mutated him to become a witcher, who had great compatibility with the potions that induced this transformation, allowing him to undergo more experimental procedures. He may be hated and derided by other humans, but that doesn’t stop Geralt fromaiding people in need and taking monster contractsto let villages enjoy an easier life. In many ways, he’s less of a monster than the horrible humans he meets during his travels.
Skyrimis one of the most beloved open-world RPGs of all time, and fans can’t get enough of it almost 15 years after its release. Controlling the Dragonborn in an epic quest to save the world from Alduin feels even more fantastical if players choose to create an exotic character from a non-human race.
TheElder Scrollsuniverse features classic fantasy elves, but it has unique creatures too. The Khajiit are humanoid felines who are iconic in their own right, while Argonians are reptilian beings who bring some unique strengths to the table. These races are far from human, and do a great job of makingSkyrim’s journey as interesting as possible for players.
Biomutanthad some nice ideas, even if poor execution bogged down the title somewhat. However, that should take nothing away from the charm of this title, along with the many risks it took.
Choosing to stick to a single narrator for the entire tale is a fun choice and helpsBiomutantfeel more exotic. As long as players are willing to deal with gameplay loops that aren’t too innovative, they’ll have a ton of fun controllingtheir custom anthropomorphic protagonist inBiomutant.
Sometimes, all open-world games need to do is provide players with a simple yet refreshing gameplay loop that they’ll gobble up in no time. This is precisely what makesManeatersuch a compelling title, even though the core gameplay loop is as simple as they come.
Players control a shark who must devour fish and other creatures to get stronger and deal with the many threats that come their way. The gameplay loop may get repetitive after a point, but the novelty of controlling a shark can easily carry players through this fun and refreshing video game.
Goat Simulatoris a great video game for players who just want to mess around andwreak havoc in an open world. Players control the goofiest goat to ever exist, who gallivants around without a care in the world and causes destruction on a ridiculous scale. They will find many secrets and fun activities to spend their time on in this hilarious sandbox game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If players want to relax after a hard day, then gallivanting around as this goat is a great way to spend their time.
Sonic Frontierswent fully open-world and convinced many people to finally give this blue hedgehog the time of day. Despite some issues stemming from its weird visual design and some on-the-rails gameplay, this is the most fun many people have had with aSonicgame in quite some time.
That itself is enough to convince most people to giveSonic Frontiersa shot. The lovable blue marsupial might have fallen behind in his rivalry with an iconic Italian plumber over the years, but games likeSonic Frontiersshow the potential of platforming games with a focus on swift movement.
Caves of Qudis one of the most complex open-world gamesfans can get their hands on, but it’s an experience that will stick with players after they manage to get over the game’s ultra-steep learning curve. There are two genotypes that players can select to start out as. Mutants are essentially humans with some anomalies, but most people prefer playing as the True Kin, descendants of the Eaters, who are notably easier for an early-game run. However, as players gain more levels and become more adept at playing this game, they’ll realize that Mutants are better for experienced players.
There was a time when playing an open-world game set in theAvataruniverse would have been tantalizing for players. However, this hype died down by the timeFrontiers of Pandorawas released, which is perhaps why this title didn’t sell all that much. It’s a shame, since under the cookie-cutter Ubisoft design is a gorgeous world that will leave players with their jaws on the floor. Players will feel a pressing need to save the Western Frontier from human influence, just to see the planet breathe again and treat them to beautiful visuals.
