These open-world games allow players to drive freely across the sprawling maps featured.
The ability to explore open worlds has been a dream in video games since Elite thrilled microcomputer owners. But it was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that expanded that experience, offering a whole world to run around in. However, getting around it could be a problem as, until Epona pops up, Link had to side-hop across Hyrule Field to move faster. So, the likes of Grand Theft Auto and Driver did something Ocarina of Time really couldn’t: add cars to the mix.
There have been other travel-mitigating options, like fast travel options, but they’re not as fun or as immersive as just riding around and seeing what the world offers. Some worlds just happen to offer more for players who take to the road. These are the best open-world games for driving around freely. This list will limit the games to one entry per franchise to prevent franchises from dominating the whole deal. 8 Euro Truck Simulator 2
The Truck Simulator games are surprisingly popular for fairly accurate recreations of what driving an HGV is like. Players have to transport cargo from one location to another on time. However, they do get to pick their routes, and the routes are based on real highways, byways, and anywhere else that’ll fit a truck. It’s surprisingly relaxing once players get out onto the road.
There are quite a few examples out there, including American Truck Simulator for those who’d rather stick to the States. But Euro Truck Simulator 2 is generally regarded as the best. It comes with more varied locations, and road laws to switch things up. It also came with expansion packs that took players to Scandinavia, the Balkans, Corsica, and Sardinia, among others, providing more bang for the player’s buck. 7 SnowRunner
SnowRunner offers a similar cargo delivery experience to Euro Truck Simulator 2, but it turns up the proverbial heat. This time, players have to drive to areas stricken by disasters and deliver equipment meant to help fix the damage. They’ll have to brave rough terrain to get to their location, risking floods, crashes, and other vehicular damage until they can make their delivery.
If they succeed, they’ll complete the job and earn enough money to upgrade their vehicle or switch to sturdier machines. If they fail, they’ll have to try again. Set in locations spread across North America and Russia, players can drive freely. They just have to think more carefully about the routes they have to take, as the consequences could be worse than just getting stuck on the Autobahn.
