Summary
One of the most exciting moments in playing a game is discovering something new. Whetherplayers have already logged hundreds of hours, or they’re relatively new to the world and its rules, uncovering a secret passageway or a new piece of lore keeps the game fun and encourages even deeper investment in the story.
This list aims to highlight both well-known picks and some indie titles that encourage curiosity throughout gameplay. These games contain hidden items, secret areas, special rewards, and revealed backstories that make grinding away rewarding — and implore players to look at the world in greater detail. All of them approach exploration in different ways, with some leaning on hidden text as a storytelling medium , while others encourage broadopen-world travel in maps with hidden places.
Kentucky Route Zerois asurreal storytold in five acts. It is set beside a rural highway in America, following a truck driver who gets lost and the adventure that ensues. The art style is striking and immersive, with beautiful renderings of both day and night.
PlayingKentucky Route Zerowith curiosity is surely the best approach. Investigating side paths and engaging in optional dialogue reveals extra information that enriches the gameplay experience, telling hidden stories and increasing the surrealism of the player’s world.
Red Dead Redemption 2is a game with a fiercely loyal following, it’s and certainly one of the more popular choices on this list. Nonetheless, its depth and stunning world-building ensure thateven the most seasoned players are often learning something new. The western open-world map is vast, with various settlements to explore across the dozens of missions laid out in the main story, as well as all the side quests too.
Continued exploration inRed Dead Redemption 2rewards players in a few ways: random encounters with dynamic NPCs add to the storytelling, many of which trigger fun side quests. There are also lots of unique items hidden in the detailed environments as well, ensuring a wide variety of rewards for the curious cowboy.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s ancient Greek setting makes it a game players can’t help but be curious to explore in great depth. The open world is massive and chock-full ofhistorical landmarks and mythological referencesthat make gameplay super immersive, especially for fans of ancient history or who love to work through significant lore.
Within the stunning open-world map, players can explore to find lots of hidden things: various locations unlock historical information, special items, and new abilities that add additional depth to an already exciting and detailed game.
This sandbox game offers almost endless possibilities for players who approach it with enthusiasm and curiosity. Gameplay involves procedurally generated space exploration, where each new territory offers unique biomes, species, and sights to enjoy.
The exploration opportunities inNo Man’s Skyjust keep coming, with no time for boredom when each new planet offers the possibility of entirely new experiences.As players travel, they can increase their knowledge, gather resources, and discover new interstellar information, all of which has been aided by regular updates to the game.
Ghost of Tsushimais a samurai action-adventure game set in feudal Japan in the midst of a Mongol invasion.The game definitely takes its visuals seriously, which adds hugely to the gameplay. There are incredible naturalistic backdrops that draw inspiration from Japanese art, as well as the option to play the game in ‘Kurosawa Mode,’ which throws players into the midst of a classic black-and-white Samurai film.
Deep exploration rewards players with hidden locations, armor upgrades, and the option for Jin Sakai, the game’s protagonist, to compose haikus when visiting certain locations. Additionally, there’s lots of lore to be learned about Japanese culture and the country’s earlier history, providing a wonderful experience for history enthusiasts.
3Subnautica
New Items And Resources Available Through Deep Exploration
Thisunderwater survival game is all about exploration. Players descend into an alien world filled with all manner of awe-inspiring creatures. The game is full of mysteries that encourage players to interrogate the world around them in the hopes of making new discoveries.
The rewards for playingSubnauticawith a sense of curiosity are rather valuable, including crafting blueprints and access to new biomes with useful items that can advance gameplay significantly. Players can also learn much more about the story of the mysterious alien sea as they explore the vast map.
The latest iteration inThe Legend of Zeldafranchise,Breath of the Wildpresents Hyrule asan expansive, interactive open world full of secrets and stories. On their journey through the world, players must solve puzzles, battle enemies, and uncover useful information found in the environment.
The design ofBreath of the Wildcertainly encourages exploration, and fans will agree it is one of the best games for constantly uncovering new details that enrich the experience of playing. Curiosity is rewarded with hidden areas, rare items, and fascinating lore that expounds the central story.
Outer Wildsis all about searching for answers in an unfamiliar environment, making it an ideal game for curious players who love exploring strange landscapes. Players are new recruits to a space program exploring a mysterious solar system full of wonder and weirdness.
The world ofOuter Wildsis made even more fascinating using a time loop that retains the player’s knowledge but resets the world in a way that has boggled many players' minds. This exciting mechanic encourages players to explore without fear of failure, and it means there’s plenty of room for experimentation in beautiful, brilliant environments that change over time.
