Summary
Open-world games have been rising in popularity over the years, offering diverse worlds to explore, survive, and make a home in. Part of what makes them appealing is their non-linearity, often giving players the freedom to follow the plot (if there is any at all) at their own pace, with plenty to do and discover in between.
While a lot of open-world games offer leisurely experiences, some worlds are not so fun to navigate. With harsh environments, formidable wildlife, and hostile inhabitants, these aregames with the most dangerous open-worldsthat constantly put players in the path of peril.
The open-worlds listed are considered dangerous in terms of active threats rather than lack of resources and the need to manage stats; the games aren’t necessarily the hardest or most complex.
There is no shortage ofopen-world survival games, but one that stands out for having particularly brutal environments isThe Long Dark. Caught in the freezing Canadian wilderness after a geomagnetic storm cut out power, players must survive for as long as possible.
The Long Darkplaces emphasis on weather and natural threats. Blizzards and fog, as well as being cold, can make navigating and spotting other hazards much harder. Likewise, the likes of electrified water and weak ice can be fatal. These dangers, alongside wolves and bears, make staying alive no mean feat.
A pirate’s life; the call of the sea, the camaraderie, the promise of treasure, adventure, and heroic fights.Sea of Thievesis an online multiplayer game that offers all of this. Players cansail an open-world, completing missions for trading companies in return for gold and reputation.
It’s not all plain sailing, though. On their voyages, players may encounter all manner of dangers, from lightning to on-board explosions to sea monsters, not to mention the skeleton armies and ruthless rival players. It’s best to get a whole crew together to stand a chance against the nautical dangers.
8Dying Light
Even Humans Aren’t Players' Friends
Survival and horror games are, at this point, saturated with zombie narratives. However, while many follow the same craft and kill formula,Dying Lightstands out as a much more terrifying experience with its fast-paced parkour and melee-focused gameplay.
Most notorious are the “Volatiles”, nocturnal infected able to chase players across rooftops with their superhuman strength and speed. But zombies aren’t the only threat; humans and bandits from rivaling factions aren’t too friendly either. Feeling safe in Harran is a rare luxury.
The Witcher 3is one of the most iconicopen-world monster-fighting RPGs, letting players step into the shoes of the gruff Geralt as he fights against evil to save Ciri and The Continent. It’s almost impossible to traverse anywhere in the game without encountering bandits or creatures.
It’s not only monsters that make the world dangerous; wielders of magic and non-humans face persecution just for existing. While it’s relatively safe in towns and cities, drawing the attention of unsavory characters can have dire consequences, making The Continent an all-around treacherous place.
The fear of deep, vast water is not uncommon, and for good reason. As land mammals, the idea ofliving underwater is both unnatural and terrifying.Subnautica, while not exclusively a horror game, plays on these fears very well.
The player, after crash-landing on an alien planet, must scavenge resources to survive and uncover the mysteries of the planet. Infected sea life, hostile aliens, and giant monsters are all part of the ocean package, but perhaps more worrying is the chance of getting lost underwater and not being able to reach the surface in time.
TheS.T.A.L.K.E.R.franchise reached somewhat of a standstill afterCall of Pripyatwas released in 2009. However, the 2024 release ofS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobylsparked new interest in the series, further building on the foundations that the previous games had laid down.
While the Exclusion Zones in all the games are unsafe in their own right, the world inHeart of Chornobylfeels significantly more dangerous. With larger, more deadly arch anomalies, powerful mutants, hostile factions, radiation, and emission storms, every traversal is a risk.
Metro: Exodushas a similar premise with nuclear fallout and mutants but hasn’t been included on this list for the sake of variety.
When it comes to post-apocalyptic games, the nameFalloutis, more often than not, at the forefront of discussion. Taking place post-nuclear war, it’s no surprise that the world is unfriendly, butFallout 3is particularly dire. While there is a vague sense of society rebuilding, the landscape (and its inhabitants) are unforgiving.
The Capital Wasteland is home to aggressive super mutants, riddled with Deathclaws, and patrolled by the self-righteous Enclave, but the most prevalent and consistent obstacle is radiation.Fallout 3’s open-world is certainly dangerous, with the land itself being fatal enough on its own.
Anyone familiar with Tolkien’s works will know the dark lore - the evil and corruption that riddles the land, particularly in Mordor. Tolkien’s world (and Peter Jackson’s interpretation), being so in-depth, has reached legendary status on paper and screen, and translates incredibly well into game format.
Continuing on fromMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordor,Shadow of Waronce againhas the players attempting to defeat Sauron and end his rule over Middle-earth. Naturally, this involves facing off with Orcs, Wargs, and Graugs alike; treachery that only a hero can overcome.
When it comes to dangerous locations,hell simply has to make the shortlist.Diablo 4marked the franchise’s shift to a fully open-world game and, while this makes the multiplayer elements feel sparse, there’s no shortage of demon hordes to fight.
Combat might be relatively straightforward, but players face constant threats. Caught in a battle between Heaven and Hell, and living among opposing groups within the Sanctuary, butting heads with bandits, cannibals, and vampires is just as inevitable as encountering demonic forces.
Elden Ringmade a huge splash in the gaming world when it was released in 2022. Despite being years old, it remains one of the most epic RPGs of all time - not surprising consideringGame of Thrones’s George R. R. Martin andDark Souls’s Miyazaki collaborated on the project.
Althoughthe world is undeniably beautiful, it is full of peril. Demigods and twisted wildlife stand in the player’s way. In true FromSoftware fashion, the boss fights are notoriously hard, but the cinematic experience makes the challenge easy to forgive. While many games have some semblance of safety in settlements or civilizations, the devastation inElden Ringhas laid so much waste that the average person’s chance of survival is slim at best. The Lands Between is no place for the weak.
