One of the primary functions of video games is to offer players an escape from their daily lives. They provide the opportunity to go on grand adventures and take on epic quests. Once the game is completed, it can be turned off and put on the shelf with a sense of accomplishment.
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While some games show everything to be seen on their first playthrough, other titles still hold plenty of secrets. The size and complexity of their worlds contain dozens upon dozens of hidden treats, glitches, and exploits that gamers are still discovering years, even decades, after release.
6The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
The world ofSkyrimhas become not just a great game in the long-runningElder Scrollsseries, but it has also forged its own dedicated fan community. In this adventure, the Last Dragonborntravels the land, slaying Dragons and absorbing their souls.
Skyrimis still actively played today, and even now still has mysteries to explore and surprises to discover. New bugs, which were part of the game’s original charm, keep getting discovered by players. The game map is immense enough that it is possible to sink hours and hours into wandering the land and taking on side quests whileignoring the main quest.
5The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The Legend of Zelda:Breath of the Wildis Nintendo’s first new home console entry inThe Legend of Zeldafranchise sinceSkyward Swordon the Wii. With some of the criticisms leveled against that entry, Nintendo decided it was time to give the franchise a soft reboot that brought it back to itsmore open world roots.
Nintendo excelled at this task, providing a colorful expanse for players to explore. The landscape is filled with hidden shrine puzzles to solve and koroks to find. Even after the main quest is beaten, there are still dozens of side quests, villagers to help, and the Champions’ Ballad DLC, which provides more insight into the pilots of the Divine Beasts.
4Stardew Valley
Probably the most impressive thing aboutStardew Valleyis that it was not developed by a major studio but rather by a single person: Eric Barone, A.K.A. Concerned Ape.Taking inspiration fromtheHarvest Moonfranchise, the game is an opportunity to live a fantasy life as the owner of a farm in a small but loving town, as well as forage, fish, and fight monsters in dungeons.
Just when it looks like everything to see has been seen, a new surprise shows up. A new encounter happens with one of the characters, a fairy might enchant the farm’s crops, or a cackling witch may show up one night and leave behind a void egg.
3Lego City: Undercover
Yes, aLEGOgame is on this list. Not just anyLEGOgame, though.Lego City: Undercoverwas created througha collaboration between Traveller’s Tales and Nintendofor the Wii U and went multiplatform years later. Instead of being a linear adventure like Traveller’s Tales’ previous outings, the game created by their handheld division, TT Fusion, takes place in aGrand Theft Auto-type open city.
This game has a lot to explore as well. Golden bricks are scattered throughout the world to find. Structures can be built in the world when enough parts are collected. The world is populated with hundreds of goofy LEGO minifigure characters that inhabit the diverse sections of LEGO City, from skyscrapers to suburbs and nature parks.
2Animal Crossing
Nintendo’sAnimal Crossingfranchise is something of an anti-video game. Normally, a game would have some major end goal to achieve and puts the player through some trials or challenges to face.Animal Crossingis not about that. Sure, it has goals to work towards, butAnimal Crossingis justa fun way to relax.
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The mechanics of the game incentivize regular visits to the user-created village. The console’s built-in digital clock determines the day and time of the in-game world, meaning that time passes at the same rate as in real life. With that, seasons change, and events change. Different insects become available to catch, and special festivities occur on Holidays. Resetting the game comes with its own surprises as well.
1Minecraft
It seems like, with every listicle,Minecraftrears its blocky head, demanding the attention that it has already received from millions upon millions of players worldwide.
Minecraftcertainly deserves its place on this list. Each world seed generates a new environment full of cliffs, caves, deserts, and mountaintops, along with dangerous mobs to discover. Regular updates mean the world is constantly evolving with new creatures and mechanics. With the power of Redstone, players can make near-limitless crazy contraptions, from automated doors to a walking AT-AT.
