10 Best Open World Games Where You Start With Nothing

These open world games ask players to relearn everything!

​These open world games ask players to relearn everything!  Read More Gaming

Open-world games are the bread and butter of AAA studios in the modern gaming landscape, partially because players want to be immersed in a rich and detailed world that is as vibrant as it is narratively varied. One particularly interesting beat that plenty of open-world games have landed on is the theme of starting from scratch. Whether it’s the character or the player, or a combination of the two, there are open-world games out there that set limitations based on the skill level and experience of the protagonist and their relationship with that landscape.

In these following titles, players are really starting from the beginning, for very specific reasons. In some cases, the characters are at the start of their own journey and are learning more about the surrounding realm. In other instances, these heroes have been stripped of their abilities or powers and must relearn what they once knew. Regardless of the reason, there is a narrative thought process behind each of these open-world titles and why the player characters have to struggle to elevate their capabilities.

10

Minecraft Welcomes Players Into Their Own World

Players Build Everything From Scratch

Minecraft’s concept is all about having an open slate to build on. There are numerous ways to play the game, with survival aspects and free-building tools available for players to go in any direction. But fundamentally, Minecraft is all about having an open world that is entirely limited by the player’s own imagination. Over the years, the community has shared its wonderous creations, and the game has enjoyed such longevity because of the creativity it equips players with.

There will be some who argue that Minecraft isn’t a true open-world game because the sandbox title sits within so many other genres; it truly is a unique experience that captures lightning in a bottle for fans. There are some narrative goals to aim for, with survival elements and the desire to defeat the Ender Dragon, but open-world gaming is all about having vast maps to roam through and Minecraft delivers that in spades irrespective of the lack of storytelling. Whenever a player starts afresh, they are met with so many possibilities.

9

Batman: Arkham City Opens Up Gotham

Gadgets Reset From Arkham Asylum

The Batman: Arkham series is the pinnacle of superhero gaming for many fans. The franchise redefined what combat could look like within the genre, and delivered on some of the greatest twists in all of narrative design. However, while Batman: Arkham Asylum was somewhat on rails, with a limited map, Batman: Arkham City expands that world by unleashing a new area of Gotham. It’s not as wide-reaching as its sequel and even arguably its prequel in terms of the open world it offers, but it is a breakthrough for the franchise.

Perhaps most frustratingly of all, despite being a sequel, Batman: Arkham City essentially forces players to start all over again. This is a follow-up, but Batman’s gadgets must be regained anew, and there’s a totally different map to learn. This is more about Batman rebuilding his relationship with Gotham and earning a reputation within the status quo that has prevailed. With few allies, the city in lockdown, and Bruce Wayne even beginning his long night without his costume to hand, players really have to get Batman out of a tight spot.

8

Star Wars Outlaws Is the Franchise’s First Open-World Title

Players Are Learning How To Navigate the Criminal Underworld

Players are certainly familiar with exploring the galaxy far, far away, with titles like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga incorporating open-world elements alongside its traditional level-based play. However, Star Wars Outlaws was always pitched as the first truly open-world Star Wars game, and fans had to get used to what that really meant. Because it’s quite daunting to be faced with a universe of possibilities, with danger lurking around every turn.

Players are in control of scoundrel Kay Vess, who is still very much finding her feet in the criminal underworld. The game is all about playing the different factions off against one another and building a firm reputation for the first time. While the weapons must be upgraded and key relationships in Kay’s life must be secured, the true meaning of starting from scratch is about finding an identity in this uneasy sector of the galaxy. Players will ultimately choose exactly who Kay eventually allies with and who may turn against her. Crafting that character’s role is a real thrill.

7

Hogwarts Legacy Explores the Titular School

New Students Are Thrown In the Deep End

Fans have always wanted to explore Hogwarts and the surrounding regions, but never got a chance to until now. Hogwarts Legacy is everything that players had hoped for, with the castle’s impressive architecture free to roam through, and the Scottish Highlands hiding secrets of its own. Who wouldn’t want to fly their broomstick through Hogsmeade and beyond, identifying the magical flora, fauna and villages that define this region of the wizarding map?

However, while Hogwarts students might traditionally start their journey as First Years, the player character of Hogwarts Legacy is instead introduced later into their schooling life. This means that not only do pupils start from scratch, trying to build their magical knowledge quickly, but they are also absent of those vital friendships that make a school term enjoyable. There’s a lot to learn in Hogwarts Legacy, and with a trusty field guide to fill, this period of exploration is a satisfying one.

The Franchise Forces Players Into Survival Mode

Red Dead Redemption 2 is technically the third title in the franchise, and yet, it’s the first gaming experience for many of its players within that world. Head and shoulders above its predecessors, Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the finest examples of open-world gaming that the industry has ever seen. It is also grounded in gritty realism, so irrespective of the journey players might have previously encountered, they are met with a lead character who starts with nothing again.

Players are taken on a long and arduous introduction before they are finally unleashed on an open world. Their ammunition and firearms are weak, their resources are limited, and they only have a horse and some uneasy allies for company. Faced with a harsh winter, there are a lot of survival elements at play here. But it’s once the map is really opened up that players can see how much they really know about the world around them. This title is all about discovering the small stories hidden in every corner, and finally equipping oneself to deal with them.

5

Horizon Zero Dawn Debuts a Universe

Aloy Finds Out About Her World Alongside the Players

The beginning of a franchise is always exciting for players because they get to experience something potentially groundbreaking for the first time. That was the overwhelming emotion when Horizon Zero Dawn arrived, with players knowing this would become a major IP for Sony; the sequel only confirmed that. In this universe, the lead character, Aloy, is starting off on a journey that not only reveals the world around her but allows her to combat the threats she never knew she could face by herself.

Players start from scratch in every sense, and there’s something beautiful about watching Aloy learn alongside the fans. Players don’t even quite understand the fate of this post-apocalyptic world, but Easter eggs throughout the title will slowly unveil what happened. Aloy is also hellbent on understanding herself and finally embracing her true worth, and players are a part of that development process as they watch Aloy make major breakthroughs. There is thus a wonderful symbiosis between the hands behind the controller and the player character herself.

4

Marvel’s Spider-Man Allows the Hero To Find His Footing

New York Is Seen From a Different Angle

When Marvel’s Spider-Man first opens, it’s evident that Peter Parker is not at the start of his adventure. This is not an origin story, but he isn’t the well-polished hero that fans might expect either. So there is a feeling of starting again with this franchise, and without the likes of Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, or Miles Morales’ Spider-Man in the mix in those opening stages, players know that there is so much more to come. What’s more, New York must be mapped out anew, allowing fans to embrace this scarily accurate map.

Along the way, Peter Parker will also learn new things about his powers, while also building his array of gadgets and gizmos. All players are equipped with to start are a couple of simple web shooters and a classic costume, but they will soon see all of Spidey’s more iconic elements come together. To really see how bare-bones Spider-Man’s opening gambit is, look to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to understand how a sequel can keep the status quo of the character and his mechanics, and build on them. There is no fresh start for that open-world title.

3

Ghost of Tsushima Rewrites Jin Sakai’s Fate

The Titular Island Presents New Threats

Ghost of Tsushima opens with a military conflict that seemingly takes everything from Jin Sakai. His world collapses around him, and he is forced to make choices that he never would have had to consider before. He is out on his own and begins to craft the persona of the titular Ghost while betraying everything he and his family believe in. This story is about placing the hero on a new, unexplored path, and with the natural aura of Tsushima expanding around him, Jin learns to find importance in his new identity.

Jin Sakai masters his bladework, learns more about the dark arts of non-traditional fighting, and slowly heads towards the demise of the invasion he seeks to thwart. Players are inducted into a crash course in survival and heritage and how those two elements may clash against one another, as Sakai invents a new way of doing things. They will also learn about the lore of this world, its mythology, and ideologies expanding as Jin makes a series of loyal alliances.

2

Assassin’s Creed Launched a Phenomenon

This Was The Start of a Long-Term Journey For Players

Again, the start of a franchise can lead to some incredible moments for players, who get to witness history in the making. Assassin’s Creed is no exception and everything that fans love about the IP was established in that first title. The release developed the lore of the Assassin’s Guild, created the magic of the Animus, and perfected a formula that combined free-running and stealth in a great display of how gameplay mechanics can enhance the character work.

Assassin’s Creed’s open world used real-world geography and a little fantastical reinvention to create a flawless map for its time period and one that players still enjoy exploring today. But most of all, fans were put in the shoes of Desmond Miles, who was learning so much about his ancestry and how to embrace the abilities and mythos of the Assassins themselves. Without starting from scratch in this way, and the impact that had on players, the Assassin’s Creed series might not have enjoyed the longevity it has earned.

1

Sea of Thieves Welcomes the Tides

It’s a Pirate Life For Players

Beginning a swashbuckling adventure as a pirate has been a dream of many players, and Sea of Thieves is perhaps the closest they’ve come to making this a reality. Whether they are taking advantage of the online opportunities and playing in a team, or setting sail solo, Sea of Thieves allows them to craft a new character and explore the open world, which just feels as if it is getting bigger all the time.

Sea of Thieves does not use a traditional narrative in any sense, and by dropping into this pre-established universe, players are always starting from scratch. But that’s an exciting concept and the freedom and variation that the game offers ensures that it is both replayable and addictive. The tutorial is a great helping hand and a way to induct players into an experience that they might not quite yet be ready for, as they hold on for dear life as the waves come crashing down around them.