Realism is an aspect that many games consider to be of the utmost importance. It can be through graphics, world design, or gameplay mechanics, but one of the best ways of conveying realism is by making the exploration within the world feel as close to reality as possible.
Achieving this can be difficult, but if done correctly, players can feel fully immersed in their surroundings and ready to take on any challenges they may face. Some achieve realism through movement, others through authentic animations, and some go above and beyond, dedicating a huge amount of resources to ensuring that every moment of the player's exploration feels as real as possible.
Red Dead Redemption 2
As Close To Reality As It Gets
Details:
- Slow, deliberate traversal that makes everything from distance to terrain feel meaningful
- An environment that moves with the seasons and shifts depending on the weather and time of day
Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers one of the most convincing open worlds ever created, anchoring exploration in realism in every way possible. Players will forget they are in a fictional world, as everything from the wildlife to the ground itself is crafted with the real world in mind, creating an environment that is both beautiful and surreal.
When exploring the open roads, players need to choose routes accordingly, as, unlike most other games, they can't simply ride
wherever they please. Vertical slopes become potential hazards, landmarks serve as helpful guides, and the overall experience simply breathes realism, transporting players in a way that no other game ever has.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Historical Accuracy On Another Level
Details:
- Perfecting the medieval simulation aspects of the original
- Navigation depends on local geography and in-world elements rather than markers
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 preserves the grounded realism of its predecessor, presenting Bohemia as a living medieval landscape just waiting to be explored. The world has been built using extensive historical research, allowing even simple walks in the forest to feel authentic rather than arcadey.
A lot of the time, players will find themselves relying more on their eyes than clear map markers, as the world itself can often be more helpful than any map could. This makes every journey feel like a momentous task, requiring a good amount of attention to the environment that keeps the game feeling immersive always.
The Long Dark
The Harsh Realities Of Winter
Details:
- Survival systems are directly tied to weather and the world
- Constant thought about shelter, visibility, and other biological requirements
The Long Dark offers one of the most unforgiving exploration experiences out there. Movement itself becomes a challenge in the icy wilderness, as players need to navigate their way through terrible blizzards, and even paths previously trodden can become dangerous unknowns in a matter of moments.
In survival mode, there are no markers of GPS to help guide players forward, instead forcing them to rely on their own map knowledge and the markers in the surroundings. There are also just so many different challenges that players need to deal with, all affecting movement and survival, and all creating the perfect combination of punishment and realism.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Gliding Effortlessly Across The Skies
Details:
- Premier flight simulation on a global scale
- Genuine aviation physics and trackable flight paths
Microsoft Flight Simulator brings the Earth itself into the gaming world, giving players all the freedom they need to glide across familiar landscapes and see the world in all its glory. Everything has been recreated with as much realism as the technology allows for, and even mechanically, players need to manage real-world problems like wind patterns and altitude gauges.
The flight gameplay feels relaxing yet engaging, and players will find themselves managing several things at once rather than just flying around aimlessly. The whole package stands as the most authentic flight sim out there and a real landmark in open-world scale and realistic design.
Death Stranding
Feeling The Weight Of The Task
Details:
- Traversal depends heavily on terrain
- Movement requires management of balance and footing at all times
Death Stranding transforms exploration into a logistical challenge that forces players to wrestle with their own weight as they trudge across the empty landscape. Players will face more challenges in the environment than from the enemies, as rocky slopes can be perilous, rivers can be major roadblocks, and even seemingly flat paths can quickly turn into major obstacles.
Instead of traditional fast travel or unobstructed paths, players must study landscapes and slowly deploy paths that can help them travel between locations in a much easier manner. The more fantastical setting may make things feel more fictional, but the movement and traversal are about as close to the real deal as it can get.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
