Bringing the best strengths of linear games and games with semi-open worlds full of events and interactions in one game is not an easy task at all, as maintaining the perfect balance between what each offers and succeeding at it greatly is not a task that anyone can do.
1- God of War Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarokoffers linear gameplay within a world with diverse environments that differ slightly from the previous part released in 2018, as the game takes us on a tour through the series’ fantasy world that offers a set of larger maps throughout the new journey of Kratos and his son.
2- Resident Evil Village
The Resident Evil series has always had exploration as one of its core pillars (with some notable exceptions), so expanding that into a relatively large setting that emphasizes this aspect seems like a natural move that Capcom should have made long ago, and it finally did with Resident Evil. Village.
The main village and its surroundings provide a different
qualitative environment in terrain and landmarks that players will enjoy as
they move through it throughout the experience, Since there are four primary
sections connected to the settlement, new doors, passageways, and secret
underground locations will eventually open up. In addition to the primary evil
characters that will lurk in each new region and give a fresh gameplay style
through several new opponents and other traps and tricks unique to each place,
players will have a fantastic time searching for Its keys., which players will
have to get rid of to complete their path.
3- Alan Wake 2
The first part of the Alan Wake series was a completely
linear game. Still, its sequel went in the exact opposite direction, with Alan
Wake 2 featuring a slower pace of play and allowing players to immerse
themselves deeply into its main areas, with a great deal of freedom to explore
at a pace that suits players' tastes on the Reverse the previous part.
Exploration also offers many benefits and rewards that are
worth the effort, not to mention the possibility of finding new ways to return
to some previous areas to reach sections that were previously inaccessible when
you were in the same area. The game also has, of course, many meticulously
designed linear sections. To enjoy an amazing narrative style of a different
kind.
4- Like A Dragon: Ishin
While the majority of the game is played on a single, "not very large" area set in Kyoto during the Edo period, Like a Dragon: Ishin concentrates on depth and complexity within a playable setting, emphasizing the content and how it gives players the perfect setting for their favorite series. This amazing feeling of location and atmosphere, which perfectly captures how Japan's beautiful architecture was created at the beginning of the modern age, is abundant, and RGG Studio has masterfully crafted and presented it together.
5- Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Uncharted 4 brought the best of both linear and semi-open
world elements to Naughty Dog's popular, previously largely linear series, and
its standalone sequel The Lost Legacy took that to even greater levels.
The first installment of the previously mentioned sequel
allows you to explore the Western Ghats region of India, which provides an
incredibly expansive playing area and makes an impressive impression on many
series fans, as you will go on an exploratory journey through its diverse
terrain, part of which will be on foot. The feet and its other parts use a
four-wheel drive vehicle so that you can reveal its secrets and side contents,
which represent one of the strongest sections of the game.
6- Lies of P
Soulslike games have become one of the dominant and
successful genres in the last decade, but few development companies have
succeeded in providing successful experiences like Lies of P.
Which created the huge, winding city of Krat, full of all
kinds of threats and dangers. You will make your way through its interwoven
areas that wrap around itself without making you feel bored or repetitive
because in almost every corner there is something new and exciting that you can
explore.
7- Outer Wilds
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Because the gameplay and story are interwoven so seamlessly,
Outer Wilds provides the ideal balance of thrilling, novel gameplay and
captivating narrative. The more you go into each time loop, the more you
discover about the Nomai and the solar system they inhabit.
The idea of the time loop depicted in the game is almost
perfect, as your entire experience in Outer Wilds will differ greatly from
anything else you have played before, and you will enjoy a rich experience in
story details and fun gameplay at the same time.
8- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The previous part, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, was the
first strong experience in designing the Metroidvania style for Respawn
Entertainment, but with the sequel, Jedi: Survivor, the developer expanded its
ideas into much larger playing areas than before, giving it its character.
9- Prey
Perhaps we can consider “Prey’s Talos I” the best
environment we have ever seen in Arkane Studio’s successful games, which
deserve the highest levels of praise and appreciation, as the space station is
distinguished by its atmosphere that makes you feel like you are in space, not
to mention the accuracy of its design and its familiarity with very fine
details.
10. The Deathloop
While Deathloop is undoubtedly more linear than the majority
of other Arkane games (including Prey), it nevertheless has a considerable deal
of the open-ended design you'd expect from the studio, even though action and
combat are the game's primary focus.