8 Best Open-World Games With Very Little Exploration

Open-world games are synonymous with exploration, as otherwise, what is the point of having an expansive map? Titles like Breath of the Wild, Subnautica, Outer Wilds, Ghost of Yotei, The Witcher 3, Elden Ring, Nioh 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA 5, and many more encourage players to step away from the beaten path, rewarding them with side quests, new loot, or even an optional boss fight. These games represent open-world design at its best... but there are exceptions.

For one reason or another, a few open-world games buck this trend and either deprioritize exploration or remove it outright. Crucially, this decision pays off in most of these cases, as the campaign's linearity allows for arguably stronger and more consistent storytelling. Let's highlight the best open-world games that don't want you to explore.

8 The Getaway

One Of The Most Realistic Games On The PS2

The Getaway feels like Guy Ritchie: The Video Game. The fast-talking characters and even faster plot feel right at home among Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels or Snatch. The game's 24 missions take place in a fully-realized open-world London, and quite a few of them require players to travel through the open-world. The Getaway went out of its way to create as immersive an experience as possible, including eliminating UI and utilizing realistic cues for directions.

The game does not allow players to freely roam through its streets until they have beaten the story, and it is pretty linear up to that point. There are free moments during the campaign where players can drive around freely if they wish before going to the next objective, but there is nothing of interest to do or see.

7 Assassin's Creed

Before The Series Indulged In The Open-World Format

The more modern Assassin's Creed games expand the open-world concept with so much content that the playtime can often take longer than 50 hours, at least if somebody aims to do nearly everything. However, that wasn't always the case. The debut entry is purely about tracking down a target, eliminating them, and moving on to the next one. With each assassination, more of the story is revealed until the game ends.

There is one type of collectible to look for, but it does nothing except give Xbox players an achievement, as Assassin's Creed was released before trophies were introduced on PS3. Nowadays, the original game can be a bit difficult to revisit, and most people suggest starting with Assassin's Creed 2 instead. Still, the campaign has an almost refreshing simplicity.

6 Red Faction: Guerrilla

A Playground Of Destruction

The third Red Faction game did away with the linear first-person shooter structure of the first two titles, instead opting to take place in an open-world Mars environment. While this was a big and potentially divisive change, Guerrilla managed to connect to its origins through the story and the dedication to destructible environments.

There are objectives and side quests off the beaten path, but it is all laid out for players in menus. There is nothing to be gained from running around the environment looking for secrets; that said, the side missions are still a lot of fun since they involve creatively destroying buildings.

5 Far Cry 2

The Precursor To The Ubisoft Open-World Formula

The first Far Cry is a predecessor to Crysis with open combat arenas, whereas Far Cry 2 was the series's first step into true open-world territory. It is not the Ubisoft formula players got with Far Cry 3, though; instead, Far Cry 2's world is still limited and best enjoyed by going from mission to mission without dilly-dallying in between.

There are safe houses to conquer, but the process is not as engaging as later Far Cry games, nor does it feel particularly worthwhile. While not the most beloved entry in the series, Far Cry 2 introduced a lot of elements and systems that would go on to influence its sequels.

4 The Godfather

Relive The Classic Movie In An Open-World Game

Coming out all the way back in 2006, this adaptation of the legendary 1972 film is one of those games that sounds like it shouldn't be real, but it is a surprisingly solid alternative to the source material. Although nothing too special by current standards, The Godfather was a respectable attempt at a mid-2000s open-world, and it manages to find a unique identity rather than just be GTA with a licensed skin.

The map is not complex enough to encourage freely exploring its hidden parts, and the world is not reactive enough to make going on a rampage like Grand Theft Auto entertaining. The bonus content consists of simple side quests related to organized crime, like extortion and taking over rackets controlled by other families, and makes sense within the context of the overall story.

3 Mafia

The Antithesis of Grand Theft Auto's Liberty City

The first Mafia game feels like the anti-Grand Theft Auto. It creates a grounded 1930s setting for its serious tale about organized crime, and even minor traffic offenses draw police attention, unlike the reckless speeding that's allowed in the Rockstar series. This is what Mafia is all about versus the spectacle of other open-world titles — the world aims to feel real and lived in. A free-roam mode is available with some diversions, but it is a bonus and not a main feature of the experience.

While Mafia 3 would implement a full-blown open-world, the first two games (and their remakes, which are quite different) mostly use their cities as set dressing that adds atmosphere and immersion. Players are still going through a specific story rather than creating their own chaos within a sandbox.

2 Shadow Of The Colossus

An Artful Open-World Experience

The spiritual successor to Ico is built around a simple gameplay loop; follow the waypoint given by the protagonist's sword and slay the beast at the destination. The gameplay is set in a barren open-world landscape, but it is not meant to be explored freely like, say, Breath of the Wild. No, players are expected to move toward the next colossus without deviation.

Other than the main objective, there are lizards players can hunt to extend their grip gauge and health, and one easter egg at the top of a high spot on the map. Filling the map with little secrets and hints of life would go against everything Shadow of the Colossus's design aims for. There is a certain sadness behind the idea of players killing potentially the last living beings in the land.

1 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

The Most Flexible Gameplay In The Series

The fifth numbered entry in this legendary stealth-action series went open-world, but it wouldn't be Metal Gear if it just stuck to the formula used by other franchises. Rather than exploring a map, players still return to a hub after every mission and jump back into the world by selecting a new operation. They are usually dropped a few minutes away from the next base, so they must travel across the barren wasteland until they reach that point. Players can enter the open-world maps, Afghanistan and Africa, without a mission, but there is not a lot to do except collect troops and supplies.

The open-world structure is more about giving players the freedom to approach missions any way they see fit instead of hiding secrets and Easter eggs in the environment. At times, Metal Gear Solid 5's massive map can feel kind of pointless, but it also makes complete sense that Venom Snake would not waste time on exploration when he has a job to complete.