8 Terrifying Monsters Hiding In Open World Video Games

Get ready to RUN.

By Scott Tailford /

Annapurna Interactive

If there's one thing the open world genre excels at, it's pure, "sorry, WHAT?!" surprise.

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Yes, you can hoover up a few days' worth of side quests or embark on an 80 hour character grind with one hell of a payoff, but the question of "What's round that next corner?" only really lands with all-out open-air freedom.

With that in mind, we're currently seeing two definable approaches to open world game design. Either you go down the Ubisoft and Sony route; peppering landscapes with icons, signposted collectibles, quests etc., or you prefer the Nintendo, FromSoftware approach: Gargantuan worlds filled with things to see, do and interact with, where navigation is entirely on you.

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No matter which you pick, both give developers plenty of opportunities to throw in the occasional creature-based curveball; a miniboss or "what the hell is that?!"-style reveal, that leaves you dealing with an encounter or scenario you REALLY didn't expect.