The best open world game with a short story

Key Takeaways

• The short open world game offers an exciting experience in 10-15 hours or less, leaving players wanting more.
• Options for base building, exploration and co-op make titles like State of Decay 2 unique and replayable.
• Multiple endings, customization, and effects in short stories like The Outer Worlds keep the game fresh and engaging.

This list features some of the more open-world games that don't quite pull any punches when it comes to detailed, imaginative world-building, exciting side quests and of course, a short but concise story. sweetness that unites everything. Perhaps the best part of these short stories is that they leave the player wanting more, keeping the momentum going until the end, encouraging more gameplay beyond the core narrative.

After all, the magic of open-world games is that they don't have to take long to become deep and exciting experiences. Players can log hundreds of hours into these worlds through exploration, or stick to the quick fix of the main story.

Semi-open worlds like Journey to the Savage Plane will also be explored.

8 Nature of Decay 2

A post-apocalyptic zombie survival simulator

• Story Length: 10–15 hours

Survivors of the zombie apocalypse must build a community and protect themselves within it Nature of Decay 2. Although the central story is not the longest, the game offers many different campaign modes and a sandbox world, which makes it completely replayable. Players are also responsible for base building and resource management, adding to the post-apocalyptic feel.

There are many options throughout Nature of Decay 2with the option of building and upgrading to design a suitable residence within the camp, there is a lot to do, and the ability to play co-op with three players means that you can enjoy alone or together the friends.

7 The Outside World

Space exploration driven by player choice

• Story Length: 10–15 hours

In The Outside Worldplayers must fight against a conspiracy that threatens to destroy a space colony. Fans of the game praise it for its well-written and clever dialogue, choice-based gameplay, and compelling central story. The Outside World also plays with the idea of ​​flaws, monitoring the game to adapt the experience to the player's abilities and foibles, making it more personal.

Despite the brevity of the first story, the variety of possible endings makes this game a good replay value. With each different choice comes a different outcome, keeping the story fresh and exciting for the player.

6 The forest

A mysterious horror experience

• Story Length: 10–15 hours

The sole survivor of a plane crash must fight to stay alive on a strange island inhabited by cannibalistic creatures. The forest combines horror elements into a classic survival game, with first-person gameplay that emphasizes the isolation and fragility of its open world.

Although short, the central story is compelling and works well when combined with the interactive forest world, where any tree can be used to build a camp or a fire. This game is full of options for those who like different play styles, including crafting, active combat, base building, and exploring different worlds in its deep forest.

5 Anger 2

Chaotic warfare in a post-apocalyptic world

• The length of the story: 8–12 hours

Anger 2 is a dystopian first-person shooter with exciting combat mechanics, focusing on vigilantes fighting for justice in the wasteland. Fans of the game describe the gameplay experience as rewarding and exciting, with ready-made vehicles and collectible weapons enhancing the open world beyond the ordinary.

The open world is a perfect setting for the game. It is colorful, varied in terrain, and full of fascinating abandoned buildings. Anger 2 perfect for fast and explosive fun without a complicated and long narrative.

4 Journey to the Savage Planet

A History of Space Exploration in a Semi-Open World

• Story Length: 6–10 hours

This unusual story follows a corporate explorer who travels to a mysterious planet, ARY-26, with the goal of colonization. The semi-open world is made for deep exploration, with psychedelic backgrounds and unusual creatures throughout. The text in Journey to the Savage Planet is also a special highlight, with plenty of silly events punctuating the central narrative.

Although the main story of this game is particularly short, players are welcome to explore the world as they wish, with extensive investigations to complete and the option to craft items from scavenged. Short but sweet, there's a lot of fun to be had with the ARY-26.

3 The Pathless

Action-Adventure Mystery Story

• Story Length: 6–10 hours

This game follows a hunter and his friend, an eagle, as they try to remove a curse from the world. Players will love the open world environment, which holds many beautiful environments, including mountains, forests, grasslands and snowy areas. The Pathless offers two unusual abilities to hone during the game: archery and falconry. With dynamic flight and shooting systems, there are unique perspectives to be gained while exploring this world.

if The Pathless is a relatively short story, fans of the game love it because of the research, following the plot at a gentler pace so that they can enjoy the emotional bond between the player and the eagle, and take time to enjoy the environment.

2 Sable

A unique artistic journey

• Story Length: 6–10 hours

Sable is a coming-of-age story that follows a nomadic actor across the vast desert, searching for his place in the world. An entertaining and exploration-based game, it features and unique art style Sable a most unforgettable experience, with its short story combining adventure and good observation.

Complementing the stunning visuals is a full soundtrack from Japanese Breakfast. This reinforces the quality of the truly immersive Sablewhich can be explored gradually, at the player's pace, allowing all aspects to be enjoyed in their own time.

1 Firewatch

An exploration-oriented wilderness story

• Story length: 4–6 hours

In the Wyoming Wilderness of the 1980s, a firefighter investigates mysterious occurrences in the forest where he works. .

While the central narrative of this game is very short, it leaves a lasting impression. With a dark and emotional style and stunning visuals, exploring the desert and trying to understand the strange happenings is thoughtful, immersive and a little scary.