10 Open World Video Games That Mock You For Exploring

8. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Sunset Overdrive
Nintendo

On the face of it, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a game that absolutely rewards players who venture off the beaten track and explore every last square inch of Hyrule's lovingly rendered open world.

Hell, the game even lets you make a bee-line straight to the final boss, Ganon, immediately after the brief opening prologue section.

But this is also a game that, for all of its apparent celebration of player freedom, has a rather perverse, even cruel regard for those who wander off at the very start.

Players who extensively explore the game's first area, The Great Plateau, are likely to find themselves soon enough getting summarily spanked by grossly overpowered enemies like Black Bokoblins and the Lynel.

In the early going, when you've got just a few hearts of health to your name, you're going to die a hell of a lot, which is effectively Nintendo's way of not-so-subtly nudging you towards shrines to help build out your character.

As inviting as the game's world might seem, it's surprisingly punishing of players who want to just take a stroll in a random direction and soak in the sights. That is to say, prepare to die.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.