Open-world games are often considered a massive time commitment. They typically offer huge worlds that players can disappear into. Side quests, collectibles, and a sprawling map full of secrets are common staples of the genre. And its reputation is well-earned, as many open-world games offer experiences that can last up to a hundred hours and beyond. But this isn’t always the case. Just because it’s an open-world game doesn’t mean it’s a long game. Sometimes, developers create smaller open worlds or offer ways to complete the game quickly.
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In fact, a handful of games prove that scope doesn’t always equal hours played. Three titles stand out among open-world games that manage to offer freedom and discovery without taking up too much time.
3) Far Cry 4 & 5
Ubisoft is known for its massive open-world games, both in the Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry series. However, players may not know that two of these games can be beaten by doing absolutely nothing. Far Cry is famous for its chaotic firefights, lush open maps, and countless side content. But Far Cry 4 and Far Cry 5 offer players a secret method that bypasses nearly the entire game, allowing players to beat them incredibly fast.
In Far Cry 4, players can use this trick to reach the secret ending almost immediately. The opening sequence introduces players to Pagan Min, the antagonist of the game, at a lavish dinner. Players are expected to escape Pagan Min’s compound, launch a rebellion, and overthrow the dictator. However, if players simply do not act and remain at the table, another outcome happens. By remaining at the table, Pagan Min will take you to scatter your mother’s ashes, and within 15 minutes, the credits roll, signalling your victory over Far Cry 4.
Players can pull off a similar stunt in Far Cry 5 that happens almost immediately as well. The game begins with the protagonist and his team preparing to arrest cult leader Joseph Seed. Players are tasked with handcuffing him, and doing so kicks off the game and the resulting chaos that erupts by liberating Hope County. But a secret option exists. By not handcuffing Seed, the player and his companions will leave the compound, ending the game and allowing players to bypass the entire game.
2) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the biggest changes Nintendo has ever made with its iconic series. It revolutionized open-world design through enhanced player freedom. Nearly everything can be climbed; the physics system has huge impacts on exploration and combat, and players can tackle any challenge in any order. Or, if you so wish, you can only tackle the main challenge: defeating Ganondorf.
The only requirement is to clear the Great Plateau tutorial area. After this, players can completely ignore all the side quests, the Divine Beasts, and the collectibles and head straight to Hyrule Castle. There, players can challenge Ganondorf, and though the fight will be difficult, it is possible to defeat the final boss immediately. Speedrunners have honed this method, with the world record being just 24 minutes and 10 seconds.
What makes this fascinating is how much it embraces player freedom. A normal playthrough, not even a completionist run, could see players spending hundreds of hours exploring Hyrule. But Breath of the Wild allows players to circumvent this and go straight for the ending. Few games, especially open-world games, allow players to do this.
1) A Short Hike
In contrast, A Short Hike offers players a small, condensed world to explore. True to its name, the experience can be completed in under two hours. Despite this, the world is brimming with charm and secrets to uncover. Players assume the role of Clair, a bird exploring a whimsical mountainside park in search of a signal for her cellphone. Along the way, she encounters NPCs to chat with, activities like fishing and racing, and collectibles.
Even casual players can breeze through the game quickly, and it’s a joy to do so. It also doesn’t feel incomplete or rushed. Part of A Short Hike’s magic is its ability to condense joy into bite-sized form. Every corner of the mountain feels purposeful, and every cozy interaction has meaning. Not only that, but flying as Claire is so satisfying and relaxing, and it allows players to freely explore the mountainside as they head for the summit.
A Short Hike respects players’ time and their wallets, as the game is only priced at $7.99. And it frequently goes on sale, sometimes as low as $1. It’s hard to imagine such an unforgettable experience can have so low an entry point, but somehow it does. This relaxing open-world adventure is one players want to miss out on.
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