Highlights
- Open-world games like Skyrim and Horizon: Zero Dawn offer immersive experiences by showcasing the rich cultures and traditions of their fictional worlds.
- Games like Far Cry 4 and Ghost of Tsushima take care to represent real-world cultures with historical accuracy and respect, enhancing the gameplay experience.
Many open-world games don’t take the time to allow people to immerse themselves in the cultures and traditions within. Perhaps said cultures and traditions are entirely fictional and created for the open-world game they exist in, but some other games place real cultures inside, and both deserve the credit of attention and respect to help immerse players into their worlds.
Whether it’s the fictional lands of Tamriel, or that of the fictional Himalayan country of Kyrat, countless open-world games showcase something different from just an average American city and seek to provide a new layer of immersion and entertainment within those that are willing to explore.
7 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
When players reach the lands in Skyrim, it’s difficult to leave. Players may start their journey as a prisoner, but soon they will find themselves as the Last Dragonborn, on a conquest to stop Alduin the World Eater from devouring all of Tamriel. However, ignoring the importance of the main quest in Skyrim has its bonuses, as players will be able to see the traditions and cultures of the many different races in Skyrim.
Players can watch and learn from the Orcs that live secluded in their strongholds or see the somewhat bigoted attitudes of both the Nords and the oppressive Thalmor at work. Even still, the ancient cultures of the Dwemer lie in ruin for players to explore. Every race in Skyrim seems to have its traditions, stories, and purposes worth exploring.
6 Cyberpunk 2077
The cultures and traditions in Cyberpunk 2077 aren’t exactly positive. Most involve a heavy bout of crime and mutilation. Every gang seems to have its own set of traditions that players can watch from a safe distance. Whether it’s Maelstrom and their abhorrent perversion of the body with chrome replacements, or the digital cultists of the Voodoo Boys, Night City has many cultures to investigate.
There are still some real-world cultures in Cyberpunk 2077, such as the religious aspects of characters like Mama Welles and Joshua Stephenson. Perhaps the most interesting are the meditating and chrome-forbidding monks.
5 Horizon: Zero Dawn
In a post-apocalyptic world, humanity rebuilds as best it can when faced with the perils of mechanical beasts. However, the lack of communication through the humans has led to a rebirth of many different cultures and traditions, and players will get to learn some of them as they progress through Horizon: Zero Dawn.
Some of the tribes featured heavily in Horizon: Zero Dawn are Nora, Carja, and OSeram. Each tribe has its own set of rules, traditions, and roles to play. Whether they are warriors, hunter-gatherers, or otherwise, there is plenty to admire within the new cultures of Horizon: Zero Dawn.
4 Far Cry 4
Steering clear from an American tourist who goes on a murder spree on vacation was seen in Far Cry 3, players saw a different approach in Far Cry 4, one that seemed to be more well-researched into the cultural aspects of the game. The research team of Far Cry 4 made sure that the game felt realistic, and honored the traditions true to the geographical location, even if the country of Kyrat was completely fictional.
There are many historical accuracies and inspirations within Far Cry 4, whether it’s from the culture of the Golden Path or those that are just living their life in Kyrat. Players can find a diverse culture within the wildlife, the buildings, and those that inhabit the lands.
3 Ghost Of Tsushima
The Japanese culture of the 13th century was perfectly and respectfully represented in Ghost of Tsushima. The game follows Jin Sakai, a lone samurai who has lost family and fellow warriors against the unpredictable and dishonorable Mongol invaders that reached the island of Tsushima to get to mainland Japan.
The beauty of Ghost of Tsushima cannot be understated, and the location is riveting with real-world design and architecture that would be historically accurate for the time. The respect for Japanese culture is both an exhilarating and educational experience for those that pick up the sword of Jin Sakai. Whether it’s the combat or the peace and tranquility from within.
2 Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Whilst many games over the years have taken inspiration from Greek themes and settings, such as the murderous rampage of the fictional Kratos against the Greek gods in God of War, it wasn’t until Assassin’s Creed Odyssey that Greek culture was allowed to flourish. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey doesn’t indulge itself too far into fantasy, and it remains a somewhat believable and respectful approach to life in Ancient Greece.
Whilst the game may exhibit more fun and exhilaration than an educational experience, there is still a lot to learn from the culture and traditions of Ancient Greece that makes Assassin’s Creed Odyssey an interesting experience. The only downside is that the game is a classic case of Ubisoft’s bloated open-world design.
1 Kenshi
Many different factions inhabit the world of Kenshi, an open-world real-time strategy game in which the player tries to control their fate, and perhaps the fate of others. Within Kenshi, players will stumble across their fair share of AI characters that exhibit different personalities and traditions that are in line with their chosen culture and faction of choice.
However, not all of these cultures are peaceful ones, and some players might end up finding a culture of humanoid robots that enjoy stealing organic skin off of humans. The possibilities in Kenshi are seemingly endless and rather cruel, so players might want to avoid learning more about murderous robots or slavers.