Summary
Accessibility is a huge priority in most open-world games. Given how popular this genre is, most AAA developers want to wow fans by encouraging them to check out relatively easy and relaxing open-world games without being daunted by the difficulty.
However, this approach has become tiresome for many players who want to be challenged in the video games they play. This is whysome of the best sandbox games aroundbecome even more popular when fans experience difficult gameplay scenarios and manage to circumvent them somehow. Overcoming that kind of challenge is part of what makes a game rewarding to play.
Breath of the Wildis quite difficult early on, before players acquire powerful equipment to help them survive the toughest encounters. This reached a point where some people found the base game to be a bit too easy. Nintendo decided to address these complaints by adding Master Mode inThe Master TrialsDLC.
From the very moment playerssee a fearsome Lynelroaming around casually in the Great Plateau, they know they’re in for a rough time. Golden enemies, higher-tier combat encounters, and enemy health regeneration enhance the base game’s difficulty in meaningful ways, ensuring that players must be on their A-game to deal with the many challenges that come their way in this title.
Valheimis one of the most impressive survival games around today, and is bound to reach new heights of popularity once the full game releases. The current level of content available in the game is already so impressive that fans can’t wait to see what else they can enjoy in this title.
The beauty ofValheimstems from its unique survival mechanics, making thesimple act of eating foodone that players have to put some thought into. Hardcore mode is the best way to enjoyValheim’s difficulty, since it’s tailor-made for experts of and makes every enemy a nightmare to deal with.
One of the most immersive open-world games fans can get their hands on,Gothicis a unique titlethat fans of classic sandbox games can enjoy. The game is brutal for beginners and punishes them for becoming a bit too overzealous in combat.
The weakest foes can mob and kill players who aren’t careful, which is why booking it to a settlement is a must for players who want to survive. It’s here that they can invest their hard-earned experience into honing their combat skills, allowing players to deal with enemies other than lowly scavengers.
The first game in theS.T.A.L.K.E.R.series opened the floodgates for fans to enjoy one of the most hardcore survival horror FPS games they can get their hands on. Later games can be more challenging, but a player’s first experience withS.T.A.L.K.E.R.will always be the hardest one.
Players must be patient if they want to brave the dangers of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Taking care of the player’s hunger levels, managing radiation, and staunching wounds are just as important as dealing with anomalies and fighting off the many mutants in the game.
Monster Hunter Wildsis one of the best games in the series, adopting a full open-world approach for the first time in this celebrated franchise. It also boasts a narrative that gives players an emotional reason to hunt down the many monsters plaguing this world.
What makesWildssuch a captivating experience is its tried-and-tested combat system, which slowly but surely ramps up the challenge. Some of the toughest hunts in the game are no joke, and require players to cooperate if they don’t want to be obliterated by their foes.
When the topic of difficult open-world games comes up, it’s only a matter of time beforeElden Ringenters the conversation. Long-time FromSoftware fans find this ironic, since many people considerElden Ringto be the easiest game that uses the company’s action RPG template.
However, to say thatElden Ringis a cakewalk would also be an erroneous statement. Sure, players can explore the world, get overleveled, and ruin any challenge in the game, but not everyone approachesElden Ringthe same way. Some players prefer to stay at a certain level, losing their Runes over and over again to a challenging boss before they finally enjoy a satisfying victory against foeslike Melania, Radahn, and Margit, to name a few.
Pathologic 2is a weird sequel to a weird video game that does justice to an underrated classic. While the jank of the first game could be exploited to make things easier for players, the same doesn’t apply to the second title.
The lack of save-scumming, permanent debuffs upon death, and the hardcore survival mechanics make this game a nightmare to go through at times. Thankfully, the surreal world and encapsulating atmosphere give players the will to learn from their mistakes and soldier onward in a game that treats them like dirt yet doesn’t feel too unfair.
A huge part ofKenshi’s difficulty stems from the fact that the game gives players no guidance whatsoever. It’s up to them to explore the world and figure out how the game works, which usually leads to multiple humiliating deaths.
It’s only after these failures that players will understand the importance of improving combat skills and acquiring a squad of characters instead of travelling all by their lonesome. Once players get over the initial difficulty hurdle, the satisfaction of creating a base of their own and unlocking a new pillar of gameplayhelpsKenshistand out as a hard yet rewarding open-world experience.
