Bringing the best strengths of linear games and games with semi-open worlds full of events and interactions in one game is not an easy task at all, as maintaining the perfect balance between what each offers and succeeding at it greatly is not a task that anyone can do.
For this reason, semi-open world games are appreciated for what they combine and offer to players in an ideal, exciting form that provides an experience that appeals to many players of all tastes. In our article, we will highlight ten games from this category that combine the best of what you can get in both worlds, as It combines carefully crafted linear gameplay with the fun of exploring many expansive areas freely at will.
1- God of War Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarok offers a linear gameplay within a world with diverse environments that differs slightly from the previous part released in 2018, as the game takes us on a tour through the series’ fantasy world that offers a set of larger maps throughout the new journey of Kratos and his son.
It is an exciting new change in the direction of the series, as in addition to the excellent design of these different and contrasting worlds that encourage exploration with all pleasure, these relatively large maps display an amazing amount of visual and artistic diversity as well, which was created by the studio Santa Monica It transcends the known limits of imagination.
2- Resident Evil Village
The Resident Evil series has always had exploration as one of its core pillars (with some notable exceptions), so expanding that into a relatively large setting that emphasizes this aspect seems like a natural move that Capcom should have made long ago, and it finally did with Resident Evil. Village.
As the main village and its surroundings provide a different qualitative environment in terrain and landmarks that players will enjoy as they move through it throughout the experience, especially with the opening of more doors, passages, and secret underground areas over time, as there are four main areas connected to the village. Players will have great fun while trying to find Its keys, not to mention the main evil characters that will lurk in each new area and offer a new gameplay style through many new opponents and different traps and tricks specific to each area, which players will have to get rid of to complete their path.
3- Alan Wake 2
The first part of the Alan Wake series was a completely linear game but its sequel went in the exact opposite direction, with Alan Wake 2 featuring a slower pace of play and allowing players to immerse themselves deeply into its main areas, with a great deal of freedom to explore at a pace that suits players’ tastes on the Reverse the previous part.
Exploration also offers many benefits and rewards that are worth the effort, not to mention the possibility of finding new ways to return to some previous areas to reach sections that were previously inaccessible when you were in the same area. The game also has, of course, many meticulously designed linear sections. To enjoy an amazing narrative style of a different kind.
4- Like A Dragon: They were
Like a Dragon: Ishin focuses on depth and detail within an acceptable playing space, as the bulk of the game takes place on a single “not very large” map in the city of Kyoto in the Edo era, which focuses on the content and what it provides players with an ideal atmosphere for their favorite series. Such is the incredible sense of place and atmosphere that drips with it, that so rightly embodies the creation of the aesthetic architecture of Japan at the dawn of its modern era, that RGG Studio has masterfully crafted and presented it together.
5- Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Uncharted 4 brought the best of both linear and semi-open world elements to Naughty Dog’s popular, previously largely linear series, and its standalone sequel The Lost Legacy took that to even greater levels.
In the first part of the aforementioned sequel, you will be able to explore the Western Ghats region in India, which offers an amazingly wide playing area and leaves an impressive impression on many fans of the series when exploring it, as you will go on an exploratory journey through its diverse terrain, part of which will be on foot. The feet and its other part using a four-wheel drive vehicle, so that you can reveal its secrets and side contents, which represent one of the strongest sections of the game.
6- Lies of P
Soulslike games have become one of the dominant and successful genres in the last decade, but few development companies have succeeded in providing successful experiences like Lies of P.
Which created the huge, winding city of Krat, full of all kinds of threats and dangers. You will make your way through its interwoven areas that wrap around itself without making you feel bored or repetitive, because in almost every corner there is something new and exciting that you can explore.
7- Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds offers the perfect blend of exciting, fresh gameplay and engaging story, thanks to how closely these two elements are tied together throughout the experience, as the more you explore in each time loop, the more you learn about the Nomai, and the solar system they spread across.
The idea of the time loop depicted in the game is almost perfect, as your entire experience in Outer Wilds will differ greatly from anything else you have played before, and you will enjoy a rich experience in story details and fun gameplay at the same time.
8- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The previous part, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, was the first strong experience in designing the Metroidvania style for Respawn Entertainment, but with the sequel, Jedi: Survivor, the developer expanded its ideas into much larger playing areas than before, giving it its own character.
There are, of course, plenty of Metroidvania locations scattered throughout the game, but the Koboh map in particular is where Jedi: Survivor takes advantage of a more expansive and open design style than its predecessor, somehow managing to distribute Metroidvania design elements across the large, semi-open world map. Very elaborately.
9- Prey
Perhaps we can consider “Prey’s Talos I” the best environment we have ever seen in Arkane Studio’s successful games, which deserve the highest levels of praise and appreciation, as the space station is distinguished by its atmosphere that really makes you feel like you are in space, not to mention the accuracy of its design and its familiarity with very fine details.
Navigating its environments and being able to gradually unlock more and more of them as your strength and abilities increase is incredibly satisfying for players, and takes us to a truly addictive character progression curve that you can’t get enough of.
10- Deathloop
Deathloop is definitely more linear than most other Arkane titles (particularly Prey), but despite its main focus on action and combat, it still retains a good, fair share of the open-ended design you’d expect to see in the studio’s games.
There are many maps that you can explore, hidden tools, weapons, safes, and other things that you can access exclusively through exploration, and it is always recommended to go out of your main path to find them and not waste anything on yourself, as exploration will not make you learn more about its world and the people in it. Not only aimed at them, but you will also enjoy the amazing art design of its fantasy world, its unique concept, and the very interesting time loop.
in conclusionIn today’s article, we talked about the top 10 games with semi-open worlds that you should not waste on yourself, including God of War Ragnarok and its additional expansion that was released a short time ago, and Resident Evil Village and its unique, mysterious world that is very exciting to explore and open new connected roads. In the village, confront bosses that have unique abilities and offer a diverse gameplay style, new ways to get rid of them, and more.
Share with us your opinions and comments. What is the most balanced semi-open world game between narrative and exploration that you have played and enjoyed to the fullest extent?
