10 Small Open World Games With DEEP MECHANICS
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Date: 2024-04-04
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Comments and reviews: 20
leegaul2161
Open world layouts that aren't massive also help with scope. Skyrim is supposed to be a decently sized province on a large continent, yet it's barely 6km across the longest side. Mountains seem large in the distance until you walk right next to them. However, using the exact same sized map as Skyrim to represent - let's say - a valley within a region, then all of a sudden the size feels more realistic. Of course, you'd have to tailor a smaller story around that. For example. Shadow of the Colossus is just that. A singular valley within a region. It doesn't represent a province, a continent, or a world. The story revolves around Wander's specific mission to release a deity to resurrect Mono. I'm personally working on a a terrain model for such a smaller open environment for a storybook styled plot. The world will be 1-1 to a real world measurement.
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Open world layouts that aren't massive also help with scope. Skyrim is supposed to be a decently sized province on a large continent, yet it's barely 6km across the longest side. Mountains seem large in the distance until you walk right next to them. However, using the exact same sized map as Skyrim to represent - let's say - a valley within a region, then all of a sudden the size feels more realistic. Of course, you'd have to tailor a smaller story around that. For example. Shadow of the Colossus is just that. A singular valley within a region. It doesn't represent a province, a continent, or a world. The story revolves around Wander's specific mission to release a deity to resurrect Mono. I'm personally working on a a terrain model for such a smaller open environment for a storybook styled plot. The world will be 1-1 to a real world measurement.
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lukebrown3658
Dead rising 4 is one of those games people hated for no reason. That happens all the time now, people being so critical it literally kills a franchise. If people had just accepted more dead rising we’d still be getting those games but nooooo everyone whined and complained so bad that it killed the franchise thanks critics. Gamers are worse than food critics by hundreds of miles if it’s not unbelievably perfect it’s trash. Sad thing dead rising 4 was fun and actually introduced some cool mechanics that made combat really easy and fun. It’s a double edged sword constructive criticism is fine and developers listen but also gamers are so critical and can’t be please to the point to where I think developers don’t try anymore.
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Dead rising 4 is one of those games people hated for no reason. That happens all the time now, people being so critical it literally kills a franchise. If people had just accepted more dead rising we’d still be getting those games but nooooo everyone whined and complained so bad that it killed the franchise thanks critics. Gamers are worse than food critics by hundreds of miles if it’s not unbelievably perfect it’s trash. Sad thing dead rising 4 was fun and actually introduced some cool mechanics that made combat really easy and fun. It’s a double edged sword constructive criticism is fine and developers listen but also gamers are so critical and can’t be please to the point to where I think developers don’t try anymore.
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kikiphallin
Immersive sims are the reason why I love (what is now commonly called) save-scumming, I love being given so many different tools to use on a world that is so meticulously crafted and programmed to respond in such different ways that I just can't stop reloading a save to try different things on the spot. Also yes of course, if I fail, I'll reload I don't care I'm trying to have fun not prove something.
That's why I don't get the hate towards reloading saves, I mean, games like Prey or dishonored even make it easier to reload a save because they know it's part of the core experience.
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Immersive sims are the reason why I love (what is now commonly called) save-scumming, I love being given so many different tools to use on a world that is so meticulously crafted and programmed to respond in such different ways that I just can't stop reloading a save to try different things on the spot. Also yes of course, if I fail, I'll reload I don't care I'm trying to have fun not prove something.
That's why I don't get the hate towards reloading saves, I mean, games like Prey or dishonored even make it easier to reload a save because they know it's part of the core experience.
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gameranx
Yeah, my biggest problem with Dead Rising were the time limits.
The whole time I was playing it, it felt like I was presented with this entire mall full of zombies to explore at will under a false pretense; I was given that expansive environment, but never given the chance to fully enjoy it because I was constantly being hurried along and forced to do things I didn't want to do.
So the entire environment and its latent potential felt wasted, and it drained a lot of the fun out of the game for me.
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Yeah, my biggest problem with Dead Rising were the time limits.
The whole time I was playing it, it felt like I was presented with this entire mall full of zombies to explore at will under a false pretense; I was given that expansive environment, but never given the chance to fully enjoy it because I was constantly being hurried along and forced to do things I didn't want to do.
So the entire environment and its latent potential felt wasted, and it drained a lot of the fun out of the game for me.
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Da_Shrooms
Outer Wilds is another one. It's not really an RPG, it's closer to the witness with environmental puzzle solving. You have access to a handful of micro planets, small moons really, each with special physics and gravity. The goal of the game is to stop the sun from exploding and destroying the solar system. There is no handholding, no guides or quest markers, it's a simple, rich puzzle across a small solar system in which you are able to fly around and learn at your leisure.
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Outer Wilds is another one. It's not really an RPG, it's closer to the witness with environmental puzzle solving. You have access to a handful of micro planets, small moons really, each with special physics and gravity. The goal of the game is to stop the sun from exploding and destroying the solar system. There is no handholding, no guides or quest markers, it's a simple, rich puzzle across a small solar system in which you are able to fly around and learn at your leisure.
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JoosySmooyay
Disco Elysium is one of the most engaging and enjoyable gaming experiences I've ever had and the fact that it's on the PS plus gamepass thing makes it even better. It leaves so much to the imagination whilst also having some of the most insanely detailed and contextually rich lore of anything I've played. It's a shame there's nothing else quite like it on the market, hopefully the devs come up with something similar but new.
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Disco Elysium is one of the most engaging and enjoyable gaming experiences I've ever had and the fact that it's on the PS plus gamepass thing makes it even better. It leaves so much to the imagination whilst also having some of the most insanely detailed and contextually rich lore of anything I've played. It's a shame there's nothing else quite like it on the market, hopefully the devs come up with something similar but new.
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tankian4545
If the rumors about Resident Evil 9 being open world will come true, I hope Capcom goes with something like this. Couple of streets, couple of explorable buildings, maybe some park/forest area that could connect to old mine/quarry where the labs are hidden. But the main thing Keep it small. Something like Alan Wake 2. Maybe smaller outdoors area. It could get tiring when you had to return to the area for collectibles.
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If the rumors about Resident Evil 9 being open world will come true, I hope Capcom goes with something like this. Couple of streets, couple of explorable buildings, maybe some park/forest area that could connect to old mine/quarry where the labs are hidden. But the main thing Keep it small. Something like Alan Wake 2. Maybe smaller outdoors area. It could get tiring when you had to return to the area for collectibles.
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ivenstorm
Hot take: Ground Zeroes is better than MGS5. While 5 perfected the core of Ground Zeroes, Ground Zeroes felt more full, more full of life. Another game I'd like to toss in there is Far Cry 1. Despite it just being on an island it really showcased what modern technology was capable of. My only hope is that some day it gets remastered with modern controls.
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Hot take: Ground Zeroes is better than MGS5. While 5 perfected the core of Ground Zeroes, Ground Zeroes felt more full, more full of life. Another game I'd like to toss in there is Far Cry 1. Despite it just being on an island it really showcased what modern technology was capable of. My only hope is that some day it gets remastered with modern controls.
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LiLbUg99
The original Outcast (1999 or something) really needs a mention somewhere; i feel like it was one of the first truly open world games, certainly in the 3d space.
As for small open worlds, i guess it depends if small is just a scale thing or a development size thing, but Project Zomboid comes to mind. Very deep mechanics.
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The original Outcast (1999 or something) really needs a mention somewhere; i feel like it was one of the first truly open world games, certainly in the 3d space.
As for small open worlds, i guess it depends if small is just a scale thing or a development size thing, but Project Zomboid comes to mind. Very deep mechanics.
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Marcusml333
Excellent list! I'm playing through System Shock 2 right now and thought of it as a competitor for this list as well. I need to replay Prey as sometime, too. And Dead Rising 1 and 2 are so good! I love them but they're challenging to play - you really have to focus to get through them, and you'll feel stressed doing so.
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Excellent list! I'm playing through System Shock 2 right now and thought of it as a competitor for this list as well. I need to replay Prey as sometime, too. And Dead Rising 1 and 2 are so good! I love them but they're challenging to play - you really have to focus to get through them, and you'll feel stressed doing so.
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stevenhinkle6957
Just clicking because I had to know more about the combination of words Deep Mechanics associated with the game Dead Rising. will update after watching the vid.
Update: I could build a game with a time limit using Unreal Engine 4. That doesn't make it Deep Mechanics. Still love you anyway Gameranx!
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Just clicking because I had to know more about the combination of words Deep Mechanics associated with the game Dead Rising. will update after watching the vid.
Update: I could build a game with a time limit using Unreal Engine 4. That doesn't make it Deep Mechanics. Still love you anyway Gameranx!
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timothyzentz1417
Hey Jake, I was just wondering if you guys were ever going to do another before you buy PlayStation plus premium as like an update video I’m a little skeptical still and would like to know some new pros and cons. Also I’m running on Starlink and wondering if that’s a good Internet for premium
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Hey Jake, I was just wondering if you guys were ever going to do another before you buy PlayStation plus premium as like an update video I’m a little skeptical still and would like to know some new pros and cons. Also I’m running on Starlink and wondering if that’s a good Internet for premium
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eazywolf5261
10. 0: 39 Prey
9. 2: 48 Bully
8. 4: 51 Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes
7. 6: 38 Dead Rising
6. 8: 38 The Witness
5. 10: 24 Pathologic 2
4. 11: 49 Chia
3. 13: 53 The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask
2. 16: 08 Disco Elysium
1. 17: 49 Way of the Samurai 4
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10. 0: 39 Prey
9. 2: 48 Bully
8. 4: 51 Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes
7. 6: 38 Dead Rising
6. 8: 38 The Witness
5. 10: 24 Pathologic 2
4. 11: 49 Chia
3. 13: 53 The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask
2. 16: 08 Disco Elysium
1. 17: 49 Way of the Samurai 4
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nahhson8234
the dead rising stuff has always been some of my best memories and i would say it turn me into the gamer i am. even though im one of those older mil simy type most the time now days. this video did inspire me to download dead rising and see what this 4080 can do, Wolfenstein blew me away
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the dead rising stuff has always been some of my best memories and i would say it turn me into the gamer i am. even though im one of those older mil simy type most the time now days. this video did inspire me to download dead rising and see what this 4080 can do, Wolfenstein blew me away
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VictoriaJams
I hate time limits, but what drew me to Dead Rising, is the fact that everything is a weapon. Also, slicing, bashing, grinding up, exploding and running over zombies is satisfying in all 4 games. Also. also, I love how 3 and 4 give you way more time or even all the time you need.
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I hate time limits, but what drew me to Dead Rising, is the fact that everything is a weapon. Also, slicing, bashing, grinding up, exploding and running over zombies is satisfying in all 4 games. Also. also, I love how 3 and 4 give you way more time or even all the time you need.
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daniellins4114
The Yakuza series really fit into this too! Modern ones have made it bigger, but most games in the series take place in a couple city blocks, most of your time in the series you spend in a couple neighborhoods and yet it is just so packed with content and life it’s amazing
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The Yakuza series really fit into this too! Modern ones have made it bigger, but most games in the series take place in a couple city blocks, most of your time in the series you spend in a couple neighborhoods and yet it is just so packed with content and life it’s amazing
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RedNinja115
Tbf, ground zeroes just feels like a modern hitman game and less than an open world, and an mgs game in that style could go pretty hard, like give us a bunch of dense, small but open maps like in ground zeroes with different objectives per map to help with replayability
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Tbf, ground zeroes just feels like a modern hitman game and less than an open world, and an mgs game in that style could go pretty hard, like give us a bunch of dense, small but open maps like in ground zeroes with different objectives per map to help with replayability
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tylergray9326
I know it's been brought up in tons of lists, but given the topic, I have to say Outer Wilds should be included. Between the time management and the physics of the game, the mechanics are shockingly well developed. The physics alone in that game are worthy of awards.
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I know it's been brought up in tons of lists, but given the topic, I have to say Outer Wilds should be included. Between the time management and the physics of the game, the mechanics are shockingly well developed. The physics alone in that game are worthy of awards.
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kipkay1958
I feel like it's a crime to make a list like this and not include tunic or outer wilds. Both are open almost entirely, with the only limit being knowledge.
Tunic especially has so many moments where you slap your head when you figure out even basic controls
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I feel like it's a crime to make a list like this and not include tunic or outer wilds. Both are open almost entirely, with the only limit being knowledge.
Tunic especially has so many moments where you slap your head when you figure out even basic controls
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gameranx
There are far better smaller open world games than both Tchia and Disco Elysium. Id personally replace both with any Yakuza game, Judgement, Fist of the North Star, Ghostwire Tokyo, Persona, SMT, Binary Domain, The Warriors, or Shenmue. Off the top of my head.
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There are far better smaller open world games than both Tchia and Disco Elysium. Id personally replace both with any Yakuza game, Judgement, Fist of the North Star, Ghostwire Tokyo, Persona, SMT, Binary Domain, The Warriors, or Shenmue. Off the top of my head.
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