Summary
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Red Dead Redemption 2 focuses on realism and lets players live with consequences in its open world.
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Mafia challenges players with realistic rules, fines for violations, and contemporary details.
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SnowRunner offers a challenging open world with realistic physics for difficult truck deliveries.
Many gamers like open-world adventures because of the unparalleled feeling of freedom they carry. However, this is not the goal of every game. Some of them are more interested in a realistic experience. The systems, mechanics and story aim for players to live in the game world and become a part of it.

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The following games do not allow players to become all-powerful and manipulate the world and its NPCs to their will. It's exactly the opposite. Players are lucky if they can survive for a certain period of time in these open-world games against the rules set by the developers.
6
Red Dead Redemption 2
The brutal, unforgiving life of an outlaw
- Released
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October 26, 2018
- OpenCritic review
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Powerful
The easiest way to describe it is Red Dead Redemption 2 Is “Grand Theft Auto with horses.” That would trivialize what the Western achieves. Red Dead Redemption 2 certainly has a lot of DNA from the legendary series, but aims for a more immersive and realistic open world than Mayhem's playground Grand Theft Auto can be.
Players must pay attention to their weapons and equipment, dress appropriately for colder weather, and even cut their hair if it gets too long. Breaking the law isn't an easy distraction for a few fun shootouts either. Committing crimes has real consequences.
Players must pay the bounty placed on their head in each region, otherwise they will regularly encounter bounty hunters along the way. To top it all off, the game is simply great, with a realistic weather system and a vibrant nature full of cute and deadly animals.
5
mafia
Open world rules you can't resist
Mafia (2002)
Action adventure
Third-person shooter


- Released
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August 28, 2002
- developer
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Illusion Softworks
- Publisher)
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Developers meeting
mafia came out in 2002, at a time when open-world games were just starting to reach their potential. Instead of letting players indulge their wildest power fantasy, mafia challenged players to live by precise rules established in the open-world environment of the early 20th century.

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Players can be fined for simple traffic violations such as speeding or running a red light. Furthermore, the cars themselves behaved as one would expect cars of the time to behave. However, the realism doesn't stop with driving. Ammo in one magazine does not load into the next magazine when reloading and the game has a minimal hud.
The 2020 remake makes the game much more accessible. However, for those who want something unforgivable and close to the original, a classic difficulty is available mafia.
4
SnowRunner
Death Stranding, but in trucks
SnowRunner
- Released
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April 28, 2020
- OpenCritic review
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Strong
SnowRunner is based on a simple premise. All players have to do is get from one point to another while delivering supplies in a truck. Of course, the task is never as easy as it seems, as the open-world environment is full of difficult terrain that even these trucks have difficulty tackling.
The realistic physics make the game so exciting and challenging. The concept sounds very similar Death Strandingwhose core gameplay also focuses on the difficult journeys of delivering packages. SnowRunnerHowever, it is set in the present and lets players trudge through realistically brutal environments.
3
LA Noire
Investigate crimes and determine who is guilty
- Released
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May 17, 2011
- developer
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Team Bondi
The amount of work and money that went into it LA Noire is impressive given its niche premise and mechanics. It's easy to consider an open world game with this title published by Rock star and think that it will be so Grand Theft Auto in the 1940s.
The true gameplay and story are a far cry from the spectacle and satire it represents GTA however, is known. LA Noire In this game, players control Cole Phelps as he investigates a series of crimes across various police departments. Eventually, a larger story unfolds and reaches its climax.
There are gunfights here and there, but the majority of gameplay involves players interviewing witnesses and suspects, carefully observing their faces and reactions to determine if they are telling the truth, and incorporating elements of adventure games into the gameplay.
The game's facial capture technology remains extremely impressive to behold to this day.
2
Shenmue
Way ahead of his time
- Released
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December 29, 1999
- OpenCritic review
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Just
Shenmue It's not about creating the largest open world environment. It's about creating the most realistic and immersive experience. The first game takes place in a small town as players investigate the death of their father.

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Combat is part of the equation, but the majority of gameplay involves players talking to NPCs to track down a trail of clues. There is a day and night cycle as well as an in-game clock that players must adhere to in order to trigger certain events.
Although the game and its sequels draw many comparisons to the Like a dragon In series, the tone, story and plot are more down to earth.
1
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Fly around the world

- Released
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August 18, 2020
- Publisher)
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Xbox Game Studios
- OpenCritic review
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Powerful
The Microsoft Flight Simulator Games are already expected to be realistic. The 2020 edition of the game goes a big step further and uses Google Earth data for the map. The open world players fly around in is literally Planet Earth. How can an open world game be even more realistic?
The game also offers casual options for players who are more interested in flying through a virtual environment than creating the feeling of actually piloting a plane. Developers keep geographic information up to date while adding new content.

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These games can be completed without players having to deviate from the main path too often.