Some open-world games hand out easy wins, but these make you work for every step forward.
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15. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Breath of the Wild makes the early hours tough, with fragile gear, one-shot enemies, and survival systems to master. As you grow stronger through shrines, upgrades, and cooking, every hard-fought step feels like real progress. | © Nintendo
14. Valheim
Valheim ties difficulty to patience, pushing you to prepare, adapt, and survive in its hostile world. Every upgrade and victory comes from effort, making progress feel like the real reward. | © Iron Gate Studio
13. Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds keeps its core loop alive by making every hunt a real test of skill and patience. Without struggle, the series loses its purpose — but here, tough monsters ensure every victory pushes you to improve. | © Capcom
12. Caves Of Qud
Caves of Qud drops you into a bizarre sci-fantasy world full of dangers, strange NPCs, and unforgiving systems. With permadeath always looming, every character that makes it further feels like a true accomplishment. | © Freehold Games
11. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers one of the richest open worlds ever made, with unforgettable characters and a story that rewards patience. Its slower controls can frustrate, but they make every shootout and survival moment feel more deliberate. | © Rockstar Games
10. Pathologic 2
Pathologic 2 is designed to break you on the first run, forcing you to learn its punishing systems through failure. Scarce supplies, missed story beats, and harsh consequences make survival grueling, but every small success feels monumental. | © Ice-Pick Lodge
9. Bloodborne
Bloodborne forces you into close-range combat, with guns serving more as parry tools than real damage dealers. With no safe way to cheese fights from a distance, every victory comes down to aggressive play, sharp reflexes, and perfect timing. | © FromSoftware
8. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3 makes you adapt, with fights that can feel overwhelming until you learn to use signs, potions, and preparation to your advantage. Staying patient, picking battles wisely, and mastering Quen turn survival into victory. | © CD Projekt
7. Kenshi
Kenshi throws you into a harsh, unpredictable world where survival is slow and unforgiving. Patience and resilience pay off though, as every hard-earned step forward leads to a deeply rewarding experience. | © Lo-Fi Games
6. Borderlands
The first Borderlands throws players into a punishing start, facing enemies that always seem a little stronger than you. Its gritty tone and unforgiving opening make every early victory feel earned, setting the stage for the series’ trademark style. | © Gearbox Software
5. Battle Brothers
Battle Brothers punishes every mistake, with brutal turn-based battles where injuries and death are permanent. Careful strategy and resource management are the only way to keep your mercenaries alive, making each victory hard-won. | © Overhype Studios
4. The Long Dark
The Long Dark makes survival a constant uphill battle, where even small mistakes can spiral into disaster. With no real victory condition, every extra day you endure feels like an achievement in itself. | © Hinterland Studio
3. Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas challenges players to think their way through every quest, with choices that are rarely simple and resources always limited. Its branching paths and emergent systems reward creativity, making every victory feel like it’s truly yours. | © Obsidian Entertainment
2. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is brutal on newcomers, with mutants and firefights that punish even the smallest mistakes. Mastering its survival systems and combat timing takes practice, but every hard-fought victory feels like you’ve truly earned it. | © GSC Game World
1. Elden Ring
Elden Ring doesn’t hand out wins - every boss demands patience, skill, and persistence. Its massive open world gives you freedom to explore, but every triumph feels earned after countless hard-fought battles. | © FromSoftware
Some open-world games hand out easy wins, but these make you work for every step forward.
