At one point, all of us were beginning gamers. When first starting out, the number of recommendations can be overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to start if you’re just getting into the hobby.Open world games, in particular, are expansive and intimidating for people lacking experience.
However, plenty of these games are welcoming to gamers of all levels. From cozy harvesting tasks to dangerous, adventure-filled quests, the games in this list are perfect for beginners who want a taste of the freedom open worlds offer.
Stardew Valley is a great open-world choice if you’re looking to get into a cozy game with low stakes. You slowly build a village as you develop land, plant crops, and get to know your neighbors.
With a gentle learning curve, the controls are fairly straightforward and quests are done at your own pace. Some open-world games feel overwhelming, but this one eases you into the gameplay and is perfect for more casual gamers.
Similar to Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a great cozy, open-world game for beginners. As you build your community on your island, you can fish, gather fruit, pick new outfits. There are a lot of adorable animal villagers to meet along the way.
This game is great for people who are new to gaming as a whole, though more experienced gamers who want a taste of the open world format will enjoy it as well.
Minecraft
Minecraft is a classic open-world game. With simple controls and customizable activities, this game is perfect for any level of gamer, especially beginners. you’re able to focus on building your home and herding animals, or you can fight various enemies and run from creepers.
The fights don’t require a ton of skill, so it’s a great game to ease you into the open-world concept with little to no experience.
If you want a beginner-friendly open-world game with a little more action, try Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. The historical setting and light RPG elements make it an engaging and immersive story for newer players.
You can explore the map as a deadly assassin and choose whether to complete main quests or side quests. It’s a large world, but it’s not as overwhelming as some other open-world maps that require a little more experience.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a very popular, beginner-friendly open-world game. The world is large, and there are tons of characters with well-written dialogue and adventurous quests to complete as you run around the Wild West.
While it’s an expansive map, the combat is fairly simple, allowing you to enjoy the narrative and explore new destinations without much difficulty.
As long as you have aPlayStation, you can live out your superhero fantasies in Marvel’s Spider-Man. The game offers newer players an exciting super-powered experience with a fairly easy learning curve.
While web-slinging can seem complicated, once you have the basics of combat down, the gameplay is straightforward. The detailed city and satisfying combat make this a fun, introductory open-world game.
Open-world newbies who want an immersive, action RPG experience will enjoy Fallout: New Vegas. While all the Fallout games are fun, New Vegas is the most beginner-friendly, sucking players in from the start.
Everything from the dialogue to the game design is captivating. With hundreds of hours worth of gameplay, you’ll encounter intriguing NPCs and unique dialogue options as you explore the post-apocalyptic Mojave wasteland.
Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the best open-world games for beginners. World-building alone is a reason to play. While it’s a post-apocalyptic world like Fallout, the aesthetic is completely different, offering players a lush, colorful land to explore.
As you try to survive the hazardous land, you’ll fight giant robots and encounter unique characters. While there is a lot to explore, the game doesn’t require you to travel everywhere. If the open-world is too overwhelming, you can stick to the main quest line and still enjoy the game.
Skyrim is the best exploration-based game for beginners. The map is massive, allowing players to explore to their heart’s content. Beginner players will find the game accessible on every platform and the controls user-friendly.
You can follow the main quest fairly easily, but you’ll most likely get sidetracked along the way. Every player has a unique playthrough, as the game offers too many choices to play the same way every time. If unfettered access to a gigantic world of stories intrigues you, Skyrim is the right game.
The best open-world game for new players is The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. The controls are simple, and the gameplay is creative and engaging. The world design is captivating and you’ll fall in love with the surrounding land.
Even if you aren’t familiar with theprior Zelda games, this is a great place to start. Breath Of The Wild completely changed the franchise, opening up the previously linear world to allow you to pick your path while you save Hyrule.
