Summary
Slaying monsters and experiencing an epic storyline or two is always a joy inopen-world video games, but sometimes, a player just wants to sit back andrelax in the ambience. Escapism is a great way to relieve stress, and video games can provide that by immersing players into a world that captures their hearts and imaginations through visual and audio artistry.
Whether they’re set in a real-world location or a fantastical one, the developers of these games put significant effort into their world design, allowing gamers to enjoy the experience without necessarily being distracted by all the action. The ability to roam an open world or simply stand still in a specific spot and take in the view is sufficient for anyone to appreciate the ambient sounds, music, and visuals of these open-world games.
Batman’s world is mostly unpleasant, with mad, costumed criminals and metahumans running around causing chaos. However, Gotham City has always been a strange mix of beauty and grime, with one of the best examples being inBatman: Arkham Origins, where the whole gametakes place on Christmas Eve.
The mix of gothic and modern metropolitan architecture topped with snow and ice and a constant blizzard provides Gotham City with a unique visual flair that is strangely relaxing. The ambient sounds of wind and orchestral music also help, making Gotham City look and feel cold, but in a good way, as Batman pummels criminals and villains before sending them home to Arkham for Christmas morning.
While the object ofStardew Valleyis to raise crops, mine for materials, and take care of animals on a farm, ConcernedApe has crafted one of the most charming in-game atmospheres to enjoy. Pelican Town is a pleasantly small place that changes visually and audiblyevery season of the year. With those changes come different natural items to collect and stories to unlock.
The music inStardew Valleyhas become so beloved that the official soundtrack is available for anyone to buy with the game. It helps make chores that should be boring feel like experiencing a serene existence, especially with the sound effects used to make the world feel alive and the cute pixel art visual style.
Every game inThe Legend of Zeldafranchise puts a new spin on the realm of Hyrule.The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HDdepicts Hyrule as an endless oceanthat can be sailed upon freelyonce Link unlocks his boat, theKing of the Red Lions. Even players suffering from thalassophobia have creditedThe Wind Wakerfor its fun and imaginative open world.
When sailing, the adventurous music takes classic jingles fromThe Legend of Zeldaand recomposes them to give the soundtrack a swashbuckling feel akin toPirates of the Caribbean. Even when Link is just wandering Kakariko Village and other islands, everything feels peaceful, despite it being a post-apocalyptic version of Hyrule.
Procedurally generated planets are the big gimmick ofNo Man’s Sky, with each world providing new, never-before-seen environments, flora, and fauna to create a massive space-exploring venture. While there are many dangerous planets, the peaceful ones stand out for having stunning sci-fi visuals that truly feel like alien worlds as the player explores them.
No Man’s Skywas initially controversial at launch, but over the years, the developers at Hello Games have taken the time to rework and resurrect the game, turning it into the product that was promised. Now, gamers can set their controllers down and take in the extraterrestrial landscapes, with creatures wandering the land,starships flying through the sky, and other planets visibly looming in space waiting to be explored.
For as many decades as theMariofranchise has been around, it is surprising that it took until 2022 for Nintendo to give fans their first open-worldMariogame withBowser’s Fury. It may not be a complex game, but it providesclassic 3DMariogameplaywith a unique NPC mechanic and a brand-new world for players to explore.
Lake Lapcat is free for players to explore and complete all missions in nearly any order that they wish. Rather than the bouncy tones thatMariogames are known for, Lake Lapcat is more tranquil, with soft music that can melt the heart of even the most cynical player, especially when everything is visually based on cats. Aside from when Fury Bowser attacks, it is one of the most peacefulMarioexperiences players can have.
With hundreds of side quests, instances, and main storylines, the Old West has never been more expansive than inRed Dead Redemption 2. It’s a hostile, dirty, and unpleasant time to live in, but it can also be breathtaking in its visuals, which aim for realism above all, as Arthur Morgan travels through towns like Strawberry and cities like Saint-Denis.
There are biomes inRed Dead Redemption 2for everyone’s tastes, rather than just the typical deserts and small townsseen in so many Westerns. There are the forest-coated mountains in the vein of Montana and bayous akin to Louisiana. It’s easy to get lost and end up exploring hours of wilderness, just enjoying the massive world developed by Rockstar.
Ghost of Tsushimamakes it easy to get wrapped up in the story of Jin Sakai protecting his home from the Mongolian invasion. However, suppose one takes the time to pause and appreciate the visuals of Tsushima. In that case, they will find it to be an island of beauty and majesty, with every section designed with meticulous detail.
Even something as simple as grass fields is enough to makeGhost of Tsushimatake a player’s breath away. Japan is already famous for its serenity, and Sucker Punch embraced that to the fullest, creating a beautiful landscape that makes it easy to put down the controller and relax, especially when the sun is on the horizon, making everything glow in different hues of gold.
Freedom is what has helpedThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimremain a consistently popular RPG over a decade after its release. From playersbeing able to craft any classthat they desire to the entire province of Skyrim being explorable—with even more areas in later releases of the game—Skyrimis designed to be one of the most immersive fantasy games ever made, and it succeeds.
Whether players are in the city of Whiterun in the heart of Skyrim or the lakeview town of Riften,The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis oddly relaxing when there are no monsters or raiders to fight. The sound of rivers running, the visual of aurora borealis, and the knowledge that adventure is around every corner makeSkyrim’sprovince feel like a living world.
Arguably, most of what players experience inMinecraftis the ambience with which it bombards them.No matter if it’s in the Overworld biomeor the Nether, it is designed to fully immerse players in the blocky and pixelated world as they craft anything they please and survive the elements.
Minecrafthas become a sensation for a reason, mixing imagination and welcoming visuals to keep fans coming back, with new players joining every year. The charming atmosphere and procedurally generated world make everyMinecraftplaythrough feel like a warm embrace. Even when the sun goes down and monsters roam, it’s difficult not to sit back and just relax.
