Open-world games are all the rage right now. In fact, they have been incredibly popular for the vast majority of the last decade. This has rendered many gamers tired of the over-exploited open-world formula we all know so well from games like Grand Theft Auto or Ubisoft franchises such as Assassin's Creed or Far Cry.Â
Every now and then, there are games that break the vicious cycle of repeating tried and true formulas for the sake of something new. One of such games was Horizon: Zero Dawn, with its unique opponents and a combat system that made players think about each and every hit. With Horizon: Forbidden West just around the corner, it might be worth it to explore some other open-world titles that helped refresh the formula with the introduction of enemies that require players to put a little more thought into approaching them.
10 ARK: Survival Evolved
A lot of players drew comparisons between ARK: Survival Evolved and Horizon: Zero Dawn back in 2017. After all, they were both released in the same year, both of them have dinosaurs (or dinosaur-like creatures) as enemies, and they're both set in magnificent, sprawling open worlds that are just begging to get lost in.
However, this is where the similarities end. While Horizon is a single-player experience with a plot and NPCs to talk to, ARK is a survival game that is best enjoyed with friends in the multiplayer mode. Rather than having a run at the dinosaurs straight away, this game will have players scrambling for resources for weapons and running away from the creatures at the start, just like a proper survival title would.
9 Genshin Impact
This game needs no introduction. Genshin Impact is one of the most popular titles right now, both on mobile devices and PC. This popularity is partly due to the game's free-to-play nature, but most importantly, it has an intricate element-based combat system, that allows players to develop endless combinations of elements to truly create their own, unique playstyle.
Aside from the varied combat mechanics, there are also plenty of strong and unique bosses and smaller opponents that require a lot of practice and expertise to be able to dealt with swiftly and efficiently. From giant burning flowers to murderous, shapeshifting cubes, Genshin Impact has it all.
8 Death Stranding
Hideo Kojima is a household name in the video game industry. Most of the games he created were either incredibly weird, scary, or a mix of both. Nearly all of them also introduced innovative gameplay mechanics, whether it be in combat, exploration, or the narrative. Such is the case with Death Stranding, Kojima's latest brainchild.
Aside from a beautiful (albeit dangerous) open world, and a confusing, but a captivating story, the game has introduced a unique type of enemies, known as "BTs". They come out when it starts raining (the rain in the game is much more dangerous than you may think), and fighting them should be a last-resort option, as it's resource-draining and might result in damaging Sam's cargo. Learning how to deal with BTs takes a lot of time and effort, but that's what makes these enemies so interesting.
7 Monster Hunter World
The Monster Hunter franchise was always more popular in Japan than anywhere else, but its latest entry seems to have broken that rule. With over 16 million copies sold worldwide, a Witcher III event, and masterfully realized open-world, Monster Huner World became a worldwide hit.
The game revolves around hunting monsters, so players are sure to find some beautifully crafted creatures they will need to find and kill. The combat system is very fluid, intuitive, and challenging, making every second spent on trying to slay giant monsters in the game memorable.
6 Immortals Fenyx Rising
Immortals Fenyx Rising took gamers by surprise. Yet another Ubisoft open-world game, it is a brand new IP developed by the creators of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and it plays great. Some people even go as far as to claim that it takes a lot of what made Odyssey great and makes it even better.
With an extremely polished combat system, fighting off hordes of mythical enemies in Immortals is a true pleasure. As opposed to Assassin's Creed, the foes in this game are very diverse and colorful. With bosses such as the Medus or Polyphemos the Cyclops taken right out of Greek mythology, not only does the game build on the title that inspired it, but it also implements new, ingenious systems and mechanics that make it truly stand out on its own.
5 The Mass Effect Series
No modern RPG comes quite close to Mass Effect when it comes to creating a grandiose, overarching plot that would evoke similar emotions in the players that are a part of it. While it's not technically an open-world game, it still deserves a spot on this list because due to the large number of open-ended areas that give the game a sandbox feel. The story of Commander Shepard trying to stop the Reapers from extinguishing all sentient life in the galaxy is better than many sci-fi books and TV shows that have come out in recent years.
Given that Mass Effect is a space opera with a wide variety of planets to visit, players are bound to encounter various forms of interesting enemies, ranging from alien lifeforms to gigantic mechs. And while the cover-shooter-type combat is not that innovative, it's still a blast to play.
4 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls series was known for interesting settings and role-playing elements ever since its creation in 1994, but it was 2006's Oblivion that truly brought it to the next level by implementing new combat mechanics and adding quite the variety of enemies to its roster of creatures.
With the main plot of the game revolving around the Gates of Oblivion and the impending doom that threatens to overtake Cyrodiil if nothing is done about it, the player is tasked with crossing these gates and closing them down from within. This does not only present the players with hte opportunity to slay unique, Daedric creatures, but also to explore some pretty fascinating environments while they're at it.
3 Fallout 4
Another Bethesda title, Fallout 4 takes place in a drastically different world than The Elder Scrolls franchise. In a radioactive wasteland, the monsters that players are tasked with killing are mostly former humans that have changed beyond recognition into ghouls and super mutants.
Some of the most formidable foes that players can face in Fallout 4 are behemoths, which are basically super mutants so devoured by radiation to the point of turning into tank-like creatures that will require a lot of ammo to bring down (or a very creative melee approach).
2 God Of War
The revamping that the God Of War franchise went through is incomparable to any other game series in recent memory. From a great slasher title with a somewhat decent story, it was turned into an emotional journey of Kratos and his son, Atreus. Although the game isn't an "open-world" title in the conventional sense, there are plenty of open areas to explore, even after finishing the main storyline.
When it comes to combat, a lot of the good old God of War fighting style remained untouched, with certain elements being revamped to make it fit the new game design. Players will encounter a wide plethora of enemies, ranging from trolls to dragons and other mythical creatures.
1 Shadow Of The Colossus
This PS2 classic squeezed out all that it could from the console that was already quite old at the time of its release in 2005. With beautiful graphics that still hold up to this day, Shadow Of The Colossus awed players with its atmosphere and vast world that was open to explore (although few would actually define the game as an "open-world" title).
Shadow Of The Colossus actually inspired some of the enemies in Horizon, primarily the Tallnecks. In Colossus, all of the giant creatures that players have to kill throughout the game actually have to be claimed on and killed by striking a weak point somewhere on the monster's huge body.