Open-world games continue to expand in size, offering vast landscapes for players to traverse. Many of these games are filled with side quests and optional content that breathe life into the immense world. However, not all games follow this pattern.
Some open-world games skimp on extra activities, lacking side quests and additional content altogether. This absence of optional content can diminish the gaming experience, rendering the expansive world merely a backdrop without depth or engagement for players.
5 Viking: Battle For Asgard
Viking Recruitment Takes Center Stage in the Nordic Realms
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Viking: Battle for Asgard delves into a Norse goddesses' conflict across three islands where players focus on recruiting Vikings. This main task involves raiding camps and freeing prisoners, making it a core gameplay element rather than an optional side quest.
While players can collect various items like treasures and kegs scattered around the islands to enhance their Viking's abilities, these activities lack the depth and narrative drive of the recruitment missions.
4 Assassin's Creed
The Original AC Game Requires Mandatory Tasks for Progression
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The first Assassin's Creed game focuses on mandatory tasks to gather intel on main targets. Players must complete repetitive missions like eavesdropping and collecting flags to progress, leaving little room for optional exploration beyond the main story.
While some side activities like collecting flags exist, they are tied to main missions and offer minimal incentive for further exploration, limiting the game's open-world experience.
3 Ultimate Spider-Man
Sparse Activities in an Open NYC for the Web-Slinging Hero
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Ultimate Spider-Man sets players in an open-world New York City with linear progression. The game offers limited optional activities beyond the main story, such as crime-solving missions, with the majority of tasks being essential for game advancement.
While players can engage in activities like collecting comic tokens and participating in races, these activities lack variety and depth, failing to provide substantial optional content for players to explore.