Video games feature massive worlds that are a joy to explore, with players getting lost in these titles as they discover secrets, complete side quests, and interact with a variety of unique and engaging NPCs. The sheer amount of love and detail that is put into these worlds is truly impressive and shows just how much gaming has advanced since the early days.
Constructing a beautiful video game world from the ground up is easier said than done, and it's easy to see why so many sandboxes don't really change all that much since developers want players to appreciate this work. However, some video games decide to take a risk and change their worlds in notable and meaningful ways, with the best examples of this being mentioned below.
1 Final Fantasy 6
Final Fantasy 6 is one of the greatest JRPGs of all time, and one of the very few titles where the heroes actually lose and face serious world-ending consequences. After messing around with the Warring Triad, Kefka destroys the entire planet and throws it into a state of ruin.
Stepping out into the World of Ruin and seeing just how badly the world has been destroyed is pretty sobering. Players may be tempted to head to Kefka's Tower from the get-go and defeat this monster. However, it's better to wait, regain all of the missing party members, and level up before attempting this challenge.
2 Not For Broadcast
Not for Broadcast is easily one of the most unique FMV games out there. Players sit in a broadcasting room and choose everything from the perception of certain celebrities to the state of the world itself.
Alex can essentially choose whether to let Disrupt take over, allow Advance to continue their authoritarian approach, or throw both of them to the wolves. The sheer number of player choices in the game is surprisingly intense and changes the world in meaningful ways.
3 Crusader Kings 3
Crusader Kings 3 allows players to change the world in a very impactful way, ranging from the rulers that ascend to the throne to the creation and destruction of massive empires. Suffice it to say, players will obviously need to rule from a high position to ensure this happens in the first place.
The game can be quite complex to get into, but its tutorial and helpful tooltips do a great job of showing new players the ropes without overwhelming them with information. Fans of grand strategy games with an emphasis on historical realism will enjoy everything Crusader Kings 3 brings to the table.
4 Undertale
Undertale is an indie darling that continues to be talked about positively to this day. The title's infectious charm coupled with its deconstruction of established RPG tropes makes for a unique and engaging experience.
If players pursue the Genocide Route, then the entire world can be erased by Chara. Even after bringing things back to normal, the ramifications are still quite apparent, with the normal and Pacifist endings being permanently ruined by Chara's interference.
5 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past
The Legend of Zelda is one of the greatest adventure game series of all time. The franchise became massively popular after the release of A Link to the Past, which is considered by many to be one of the most innovative and important titles in gaming history.
This title featured both the Light World and Dark World, with the latter being more challenging and a fresh change of pace from the cheery nature of the Light World. It's one of the first examples of the overworld changing entirely and is one of the many reasons why this title is touted as a masterpiece.
6 Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger's time-traveling adventures are still amazing to experience even now. The title certainly deserves its moniker of being the greatest JRPG ever made, with players exploring the world of Chrono Trigger across several different time zones.
Suffice it to say, the world changes in notable and impactful ways whenever players travel through time. Each period has its own unique dungeons, side quests, and everything else along the same lines, making Chrono Trigger an absolute blast to play through.
7 Final Fantasy 15
Final Fantasy 15 clearly tried to channel the sixth mainline entry with its own take on the World of Ruin. After Noctis is encased in the Crystal for the longest time, he comes out to a world that is absolutely ravaged following Ardyn's ascent to the throne.
He has to round up his favorite gang of friends once again and go back to where everything started: Insomnia. Not only can players explore a darker and more dangerous open world, but the Royal and Windows Edition expanded on the endgame by letting players roam around this once-beautiful capital city as well.
8 Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows
Web of Shadows is easily one of the most underrated Spider-Man games by a country mile. The game may have its issues, but the focus on an aggressive Symbiote infection coupled with Spider-Man switching suits at will can make for a really great time.
The city of New York constantly changes as the infection progresses. The hustle and bustle of the Big Apple dies after a quarantine is put into effect, and Spider-Man's morality also affects the final fate of the city and whether the Symbiote infection ends or not.