Summary
Open world games are constantlypushing the boundariesof what this genre of game can do. What it means to explore, to exist in another world, is constantly being redefined. Alongside this, the kinds of worlds being created by developers and writers leave nearly endless room for storytelling. Conflict, while not prevalent in every single story, certainly appears in a lot of them. Clashes of wills, ideas, beliefs, or less abstract things such as people with guns who dislike each other, often end up serving as the basis for many open world titles.
An idea that has captured human imagination for millennia is the idea of oneness with nature. The idea of wandering through idyllic landscapes, being at peace withthe animals that roam there, and overall finding a sense of purpose away from society has been utilized in a huge range of games, fromRed Dead Redemption 2to text-based games and everything in between. An idea that is almost the antithesis of this is the Steampunk aesthetic, which takes concepts of industrialization, alternate technology, retro-futurism, and a very hardline look at the material instead of the immaterial, before dialing all these things up to eleven. Players wanting to see a bit more of how these two forces of nature and Steampunk clash should check out these open-world titles.
Starting off this list is a game that combines steam-punk elements (albeit in a color scheme that doesn’t usually suit the aesthetic) alongside a vibrant natural world, a kung-fu fable story, genetic manipulation, and adorable, wide-eyed critters — some of whom want to burn the world to a crisp.
Biomutantwasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but players looking for a light time-sink that goes on frequent sales with a truly unique premise and means of storytelling could do worse than this title. The clash between steampunk elements and nature here is grounded in the post-apocalypse, where “Steampunk” is mostly rickety, hand-cranked items scavenged together in the ruins of an overgrown earth.
The story ofTales of Maj’Eyalis one where “magic” in its arcane sense clashes with a mastery over the natural world. In essence, it’s a battle between wizards and druids. TheAshes of Urh’RokDLC adds a technological element to this battle, as steampunk Orcs utilizing artifacts, contraptions, and guns also throw their hat into the ring.
Ashestakes place in the next age after the base game ofToME, and is another example of how expansive and densethis open-world roguelikeis, especially considering it comes from a single developer. Players looking to explore a clash between artificial and naturalistic forces, with or without a Steampunk spin, should giveTales of Maj’Eyala try, alongside its three DLC packs.
While technically emulating the highly imperialistic Age of Discovery, which preceded the Industrial Revolution that usually inspires the Steampunk aesthetic,Greedfallis still a fantastic example of Steampunk aesthetics and ideals clashing with the natural world. It’s thefoundation of the entire narrative, in fact.
De Sardet’s journey will pull players between the forces seeking to exploit this newly found, lush land, or protect it from colonizing forces. Along the way, technology such as steam automatons and early firearms bring that Steampunk style to life — either as forces helping De Sardet, or hindering the protagonist from keeping the lush island of Teer Fradee safe.
Showing gamers that Steampunk aesthetics don’t just have to appear on Earth,The Outer Worldsis an excellent example of the Steampunk vs Nature clash, set within a limited span of tighter open-world environments. The capitalist forces of The Board are clearly inspired by Steampunk, with the retro-futuristic style of technology dominating the otherwise untouched environments of the game’s worlds.
With asequel on the horizon, this is the perfect time for new players to immerse themselves in this setting. It’s a witty, high-intensity ride that will be perfect for any RPG fan, and of course, anyone who enjoys Obsidian titles.
Harkening back to the roots of the Steampunk style,Assassin’s Creed: Syndicateshows players the clash between natural and artificial forces at its most basic level. While this clash isn’t the main conflict of the story (which is, of course, the battle between Assassins and Templars), there is still much to explore beyond this conflict.
On an environmental level, this clash of industry against nature is everywhere inSyndicate.It colors the setting as London’s greenery slowly fades away and makes room for the smog-choked rooftops of the Victorian age.
There are manyexceptional modern CRPGson the shelves that bring light to this foundational genre of gaming, but there are some older CRPGs that have rightfully earned the title of classic as well.
Arcanumis a game with very few equals in terms of both style and quality. It’s a truly huge game, not necessarily in terms of its open-world traversal, but simply with the amount of dialogue and branches to its narrative that the game offers. At the core of this game is the clash between natural, magical forces and the new wave of Steampunk technology that’s come to define the world.
A more recent endeavor from Obsidan that’s been met with high praise,Avoweddoes an excellent job bringing the world that so many players fell in love with duringPillars of Eternityinto an entirely new paradigm.
The heavy focus on colonization, gunpowder technology, and rampant industry in the lush and beautiful Living Lands is a perfect example of a limited-open-world game that highlights natural and Steampunk forces in equal measure.
