Summary
- Open-world games require engaging gameplay loops to keep players interested without being too complex.
- Starfield allows players to design spacecraft and explore handcrafted planets for an enhanced experience.
- Mad Max offers creative elements in vehicular combat and upgrading the Magnum Opus, making the game’s loop enjoyable.
Open-world games come packaged with all kinds of gameplay loops to keep players engrossed. After all, most players won’t be satisfied with the mere integration of a sandbox, which should ideally serve as a backdrop for the rest of the game’s mechanics.
Some titles let players get creative and do some amazing things. The best part is when players don’t have to get over a steep learning curve while trying to figure out how to be as creative as possible, which does a great job of rewarding players for making the most of these systems.
Starfield
Designing A Spaceship Feels Great
Starfield may have its issues, but some parts of the game can be pretty engaging. Exploring handcrafted planets instead of boring procedurally generated ones is one way to enhance the player’s enjoyment.
Another way is to interact with the game’s surprisingly intricate ship creation tool. Players will love spending hours acquiring the materials they need to turn their ship into something special, letting them roam space in style.
Mad Max
Kitting Out The Magnum Opus Is A Blast
Mad Max
7/10
- Released
-
September 1, 2015
Mad Max is one of the most underrated video games players can check out. The game’s take on Arkham combat features a violent edge that leaves fans wanting more.
Meanwhile, the game’s vehicular combat means that players can harbor a creative offense as long as they keep on upgrading the Magnum Opus. Flattening opportune raiders is a blast every time and proves why the gameplay loop of Mad Max needs more eyes on it.
Fallout 4
The Settlement-Building Mechanic Is Surprisingly Engaging
While Fallout 4 has its issues, fans still love the effort Bethesda put into the many content-rich aspects of this game. This includes settlement building, which is completely optional and can easily occupy a ton of hours once players are invested.
Acquiring the resources they need to kit out a settlement, ensure a steady supply of electricity, and set up defenses will become a captivating activity that lets players flex their creativity. The best part is that getting into settlement building is far from complicated, and players can download mods if they want to expand on this experience.
Death Stranding
Figuring Out Solutions To Minimize Time Between Deliveries Is A Lot Of Fun
One of the weirdest open-world games of all time, Death Stranding alienated many players who expected a gameplay loop akin to Metal Gear Solid, only to be treated to an elaborate walking simulator. Once players got accustomed to the quirks of this game, optimizing their routes to complete deliveries on time made for a surprisingly creative experience.
Players must be smart about using vehicles without being too reliant on them, setting up ziplines from time to time to make traversal easier. This will ensure that players who were struggling to carry heavy loads can do so without falling on their faces over and over again.
Terraria
The Game Rewards Creative Planning Without Making It The Game’s Central Focus
There was a time when Terraria was unfairly labeled as a 2D Minecraft, only for the developers to pour so much love into this title over time that the fanbase couldn’t get enough of it. Terraria encompasses numerous gameplay loops, with the base-building side of things allowing players to get creative.
Once players become more comfortable with combat and can delve further into biomes to find resources, they can turn their base into something special. It will go a long way in helping them beat the biome’s boss and make meaningful progress.
Minecraft
With Minimal Effort, Players Can Form Some Creative Structures
Minecraft is the poster child of creative open-world games. There’s a reason why kids love this game so much, since the barrier to entry is negligible and lets players create halfway-decent structures in no time.
A player’s creative juices will flow without too much effort, and they can spend hours on end trying to create something impressive, if they wish. The many servers in Minecraft make it clear how a group of dedicated and creative players can craft incredible worlds, which is doubly impressive given how simple this game seems at first glance.
Players Can Be Very Creative While Figuring Out Fun Ways To Clear Outposts
One of the many reasons why players loved The Phantom Pain was its insistence on embracing the chaos of a video game instead of trying to be too realistic. Players will see just how inherently silly this game can be once they start sneaking around in cardboard boxes and using inflatable decoys of Snake.
With enough expertise, players can be very creative when deciding how to take out hostiles. Dropping crates on their head, using wild distractions to get a drop on enemies, and using some of the game’s most eccentric gadgets are all great ways to embrace the creative chaos of Metal Gear Solid‘s stealth.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Ultrahand Single-Handedly Enhances The Creativity Of This Game To New Heights
From the moment Ultrahand was shown for Tears of the Kingdom, it was clear that players could go ballistic and flex their creative juices in this amazing open-world game. The best part is that this tool is very easy to use without being glitchy, proving why Nintendo delayed this game so much to ensure that it was as polished as can be.
From creating simple creative structures to elaborate death-dealing robots, there’s no shortage of ways Ultrahand can be molded to aid players. This makes Tears of the Kingdom perfect for players who want to enjoy creative systems in their open-world games.
