Death Strandingwasn’t the first time Kojima experimented with the open-world genre. Previously, Kojima has worked onMetal Gear Solid Vthat offers a full-blown open-world that is pretty vast. However,Death Strandingis unique because it offers a vast, desolate, open-world that not many games offer. It’s a brutal experience that is very subjective to the playerbase. And while some might hate it or love it, this game is an experience unlike any other.
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For the fans of the title, there may not be a directlysimilar game toDeath Stranding. However, some offer a similarlevel of the desolated landscape to explore.
Updated June 28, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding is now available on PS5 through itsDirector’s Cut. Remastered for the new console, this version is the definitive way to experience this bizarre and creative game about delivering packages and making connections in a barren wasteland. Death Stranding is a singular beast with no direct comparisons, but it is hardly the only game to notice the appeal of presenting adesolate open-worldfor people to explore. Once Sam Bridges' job is done, players can turn to these worlds for a touch of isolation, danger, and loneliness. Just don’t expect babies.
13Sable
An impressive debut effort from Shedworks,Sableis a memorable open-world game that takes inspiration from modern classics such asBreath of the Wildwhile striking a unique tone. Focusing entirely on exploration,Sableis set in Midden and follows a teenager as she heads out to complete The Gliding. This involves Sable going out into the desert to complete jobs and earn three masks. Once this is done, Sable’s journey will be finished, but the game encourages and rewards thorough exploration of its stylish andbeautiful world.
“Desolate” tends to suggest bleakness, but that does not necessarily have to be the case. Sable’s trip is largely defined by solitude interspersed with brief interactions with people. It is therapeutic and relaxing, which can also be said for parts ofDeath Strandingââââââ.
12The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The Nintendo Switch could not have delivered a stronger launch title.The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildredefined the open-world genre by presenting players with complete freedom. While Link does eventually have to challenge Calamity Ganon, he can follow any path he pleases to get there. The journey could take 20 or 200 hours, depending on someone’s playstyle.
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Set a hundred years following the fall of Hyrule,Breath of the Wild’s world is desolate, broken, but still gorgeous. Hints of a once-great kingdom are peppered throughout, along with a few splashes of communities. Throughout his journey, Link will scale intimidating mountains, skate down snow-covered cliffs, and fight off a wide assortment of Bokoblin, Lizalfos, and Lynel.Breath of the Wild’s gameplay is nothing likeDeath Stranding’s, but both games revel in their quiet isolation.
Max Maxwas released all the way back in 2015. However, it still looks like a modern-day title. Thepost-apocalyptic game is somewhat underrateddue to the stigma that follows licensed games, even ones that are not direct adaptations of a movie. However, it nails the concept of a desolated open-world pretty perfectly, and the game’s driving sections take full advantage of the map’s openness.
There is photogenic scenery everywhere, and a lot of abandoned areas to explore.Mad Maxwas developed by the same guys who madetheJust Causeseries. Hence there shouldn’t be a doubt regarding the size of its open-world.
10Fallout 4
Fallout4is one of the most renowned Bethesda RPGs ever. The reason is pretty simple: the game is built around a post-nuclear desolated world full of interesting characters and quests. This is why all the games in the series, includingFallout 4,are great for exploring.
There’s an RPG element to the game which keeps everything complex enough to last for hours. Moreover, the world has so many hidden stories and secrets that will satisfy any person who likes exploration.
9Borderlands 3
Borderlandsis yet another series that showcases a huge world split into parts. It’s a full-blown shooting experience that is incredibly fun to play and has so many weapons. The world isn’t super desolate, but it’s enough to spark a feeling of sadness.
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However, it’s a mix of smaller areas or mission zones full of enemies and hazards. The game’s tone is quirky and humorous, like aMad Maxtitle set in a Stephen Chow movie.
8Fallout: New Vegas
New Vegasprovides the bestFalloutexperience of the 3D era. It is big, empty, and packed with stories that make its desolate world full of excitement. Just exploring inFallout: New Vegasand uncovering little tales is more exciting than those featured in newer entries in the franchise.
The only downside isFallout: New Vegas’s outdated gameplay, an element that can be somewhat improved throughits PC modding community. If players can look beyond its gameplay mechanisms,New Vegashas probably the greatestFalloutworld ever made.
7Days Gone
The most underrated Playstation 4 exclusive of 2019 goes mostly uncredited for its open-world.Days Goneoffers a lot of fun to the people who will not judge it for taking inspiration from other titles.
While the game does pick many things from other post-apocalyptic zombie games,Days Gonestill does enough to stand on its own, and facing off against hordes of Freakers is always exciting.Days Gone’sopen world is full of various areas but manages to give the vibe of emptiness and sadness.
6Rage 2
Co-developed by Avalanche Studios and id Software,Rage 2unsurprisingly feels like a mix ofMad MaxandDOOM. It has the bleak post-apocalyptic world and vehicular combat of the former and the frantic, impactful gunplay of the latter. An argument can be made thatRage 2doesn’t quite reach the heights of either game, but it does offer a solid option for those who yearned to play a first-person shooter version ofMad Max. It also comes with quite afew neat powers in the form of nanotrites.
The world is large and purposefully barren, although gunfights are usually never that far away.Rage 2is also relatively short for an open-world game, so much so that most people can probably get through the campaign in around 15 hours.
5Dark Souls
Dark Soulstitles arenot straight-up open-world titles, but rather pseudo-open-worlds likeBorderlands. However, they do offer a big enough map to explore. The games are still unmatched in the way they showcase their desolated world. The art, the gameplay, traps, and ambiance make the world ofDark Soulsmore alive than any other.
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Honestly, this game would’ve been on the top of this list if it wasa complete open-world title. Luckily, the upcomingElden Ringseems like just the game to look forward to, as it will be like an open-worldDark Soulsgame.
4Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Painis a sister game toDeath Stranding. Created by Hideo Kojima, the fifth game in the franchise is a bold experiment toMetal Gear Solid’sgeneral formula,yet similar enough to the franchise’s fans.
Many similarities can be seen betweenThe Phantom PainandDeath Stranding,a given as come from the same mind.The Phantom Pain’sopen-world is vast, full of details, and desolate. Unlike other entries in the franchise,Metal Gear Solid 5emphasizes the gameplay above the story.
