10 Open World Games Where Exploration is Completely Optional

There is truly something special about the adventures that you can go on in open world games. You're dropped in a massive world you're meant to run around and explore, finding all the tiniest details that add to the world and even the main plot.

That being said, you don't have to actively explore in all of them.

Unlike games like The Elder Scrolls where exploration is a genuine must, these open worlds allow you to have a great time with as little exploration as possible. You could completely bypass the side content, and in some cases, most of the main quest itself.

So if you simply want to treat these games as linear rather than open world, you'll still have a fantastic experience playing.

10 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

First, Tutorial. Next, Final Boss

At this point, what's not been said about The Legend of Zelda and all of its contributions to the open world subgenre? It's been a boom in gaming since its first entry, but in Breath of the Wild (and in its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom), open worlds have freedom far beyond your imagination. Just when you think you hit a creative limit, there's more you discover that you can do.

Most infamously, you can march right up to the notorious Hyrule Castle right after completing the tutorial on the Great Plateau, armed with only some sticks and your underwear, and go take down the final boss. You can ignore literally everything and everyone and just go straight for Ganon.

Simply put, you can't get any more optional than that.

Of course, I would encourage exploration (especially with how the game is structured, it feeds into your natural curiosity, and it's incredibly organic), but if you want to just give Ganon a piece of your mind, you're more than welcome to do so.

9 Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

The Galaxy is Yours ... if You Want it

Before anyone tries to tell me that the Mass Effect Trilogy (and, by extension, the Legendary Edition) aren't open world, the vast and incredible space exploration (as well as exploration of those individual planets and how the benefits of that exploration will be felt in the sequels) would argue otherwise. On technicality, the game is semi-open world, but the experience players end up getting is on par with every other open world title to date.

But, of course, you could just skip all of it and go fully linear; the consequences aren't that significant. At most, you'd miss out on some extra war assets that will help you in Mass Effect 3, but you could easily make up the gap by following main quests and companion storylines.

Even if you neglect a companion, and they end up dying, future games will provide a different character so you're still able to progress as normal — the story just won't play out quite the same, but it still gets done.

As far as the entire universe at your fingertips? That's only if you want Joker to fly you out there.

8 Cyberpunk 2077

The City is Dangerous, After All

The world of Cyberpunk 2077 is an incredibly hostile one. Night City is as oppressive as it is impressive, so you already have to be incredibly careful when you're making your way from Point A to Point B.

And if you want to stick to the main quests, it'll naturally take you all around the map and will have you meeting all kinds of characters. Worst case scenario, you can deal with your side Gigs, NCPD missions, and whatever other exploration after you beat the game; the option doesn't go away after credits roll.

Of course, there is an ending that does require you to dig a little deeper, but the typical endings that players tend to get on their first playthrough don't require that much digging into the world. The main story will take you everywhere you need to go, and it's your choice of where you go after that.

Because of that, Night City can wait patiently for you after you become the new legend of Afterlife.

7 Baldur's Gate 3

The Pinnacle of D&D's Freedom

Considering that Baldur's Gate 3 is based on Dungeons & Dragons, one could expect to have a ton of freedom and autonomy in how they would play — and they'd be exactly right. It's as faithful to the tabletop as you can imagine, and so you're able to play through the game in all kinds of ways.

And if that means ignoring every plot hook your DM throws at you and paving your own way through, then so be it.

Exploration in this game is as optional as everything else is; you can seriously blast past most of the main quest and do things your own way if you want to. There are thousands of different endings that account for every single decision you make during your playthrough, creating an experience that's unique and refreshing every single time you play it.

Baldur's Gate 3 is a game of endless possibilities, and that includes the possibility of only focusing on the Grand Design.

6 DREDGE

You'll Get Where You Need to Go Naturally

One of the best parts about DREDGE is the fact that it's a perfectly contained open world, and a cozy little horror game as a result. You don't have to go out into the sea, the story will take you there naturally — as it will take you to all the different areas on the map.

While you fish and discover some interesting aberrations, you'll end up on a journey of trying to dredge up various artefacts for a mysterious man. These artefacts are all around the map, and sometimes, in order to even access them, you'll have to do some mandatory side quests (that actually add to the story rather than serve as padding).

It's an addictive little game, one where you'll want to go out into the ocean and soak in the Lovecraftian charm; but if you want a bite-sized version of the experience, you can let the exploration happen when you're already on the main quest.

Just know that the main quest continues just a little longer after initially beating the game.

5 Red Dead Redemption

Not as Much as RDR2

If you're looking for a nicely condensed open world that you can play as a linear title, look no further than the first Red Dead Redemption. Sure, there are all kinds of side content that you can engage with, but it's all completely optional and won't influence the main story or how it plays out at all.

The most that would be influenced is your Honor level, but that obviously can be influenced in all kinds of ways and by all manner of choices. Basically, there's no lack of chances to adjust your Honor.

In comparison to Red Dead Redemption 2, the game's prequel/sequel, this open world has a lot less in it — that doesn't mean it's a bad world in the slightest, that just means it's an older game. Yet, that makes it perfect for players who want a more streamlined experience and not feel like they have to go through every nook and cranny.

And if you decide to get to the side content and exploration after beating the game, you're more than able (and low-key encouraged) to do so.

4 Dragon Age: Inquisition

You Won't Want to Neglect Your Party, Though

Dragon Age: Inquisition has an incredibly structured, organized, unique approach to open world: by dividing the world into several different areas that you can traverse between. You can free roam, but given how these areas are meant for you to be at specific levels, you might struggle if you try to just dive in.

In fact, there's a recommended, linear order to explore the side content and going to the different areas, so the game turns into a relatively linear experience by structure alone. It's more for your own entertainment to continue on in certain areas because you can actually handle the challenge at your level.

The side content isn't even required in order to beat the main game, and a lot of the zones are pretty clearly made to be optional — the only side content that shouldn't be treated as such are the quests related to your companions (but even then, everyone treats the party as an extension of the main quest anyway).

And don't worry, you go on one heck of an adventure with the main quest and your companions' quests.

3 Assassin's Creed 2

You Can Skip Ubisoft's Signature Padding

A lot of the early Assassin's Creed games have pretty bare-bones open worlds, meaning that if you want to just fly through the main quest, there are no true drawbacks to it. You'll get to see plenty of the specific culture in each game even if you don't go out and explore the world.

Assassin's Creed 2 is probably the best example of this, where you can get an incredible and rich playthrough without needing to go in and explore the whole map. You don't even have to get all the towers (but it would help you look at your map more clearly if you did).

This was actually one of my first open world games, so it will always hold a special place in my heart, but I'll be the first to tell you that there isn't a lot of side content that actually has significant substance. I've played the game a few times, and to this day, there are all kinds of side content and collectables I haven't done (the Feathers is one example of Ubisoft's signature padding).

Even in the modern Assassin's Creed games, there's a lot of padding that you're able to skip, but a smaller, more condensed world is a great place to start.

Stick to the Story

The Metal Gear Solid games are already incredibly linear — so much so that the actual open world title of the series, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, is also structured as such. The optional objectives don't have a tremendous impact on the story and really only contribute to extra costumes, making a game that is slightly non-linear at best.

The thing with The Phantom Pain, though, is that there is really nothing in the world outside of the main objectives. In fact, it's a common debate as to why the game is even open world at all, but I think it makes sense considering it's a recollection of memory. Things aren't always in perfect order and tend to feel a little bigger than what they actually are.

And, of course, if you do want to get all those optional objectives, you're able to replay the mission and get that extra credit (and the highly coveted S ranking). But if you just want to see what happens next in the story, there's no penalty to keep moving forward.

This is one of the few games where solely focusing on the primary content creates a more fun, less stressful time — you can always get all the extra stuff later.

1 Marvel's Spider-Man Games

All of Them, They're Just That Fun

There isn't a boring day in the world when you're Spider-Man, and you're going to be kept just as busy by the madness that is New York City. In the Marvel's Spider-Man series in particular, the main missions that you have are going to take you all throughout the city and deal with all manner of enemies, both petty criminals and villains from the Rogues Gallery.

The only thing this exploration does is give you extra rewards, but of course, you're going to be able to get them after you beat the game, and that's only if you truly want all the nice little trinkets and costumes.

The fact that there isn't a single thing that can be permanently missed should bring some comfort to those who just want to learn the story first and potentially play around later. There's not even that much pressure from the games themselves, especially since you can just go right back to it.

But of course, you're the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, so you're going to want to deal with all the things happening in New York City, big and small. You'll be zipping around on your webs regardless, and you're going to have the time of your life doing it.