Some open-world games want you to follow the story. But sometimes, the real magic happens when you ignore it completely. Leaving the story completely often opens up a whole new world of secrets and chaos. Some games specifically reward players for stepping off the main path.
After spending countless hours in each of these titles, I’ve found that skipping the story often leads to the best moments (and sometimes ones the devs probably didn’t plan for). So if you’re the kind of player who sees a glowing quest marker and runs the other way, this list is absolutely for you.
You can technically defeat Ganon right after the tutorial, and that’s the biggest hint that the story doesn’t really matter! Breath of the Wild is at its best when you’re cooking weird recipes or getting repeatedly zapped by lightning while climbing something you shouldn’t be. It’s one of the first Zelda games that relies heavily on exploration.
The game trusts you to find your own fun, and that freedom is what makes Hyrule feel alive. I spent over 80 hours before I even touched the Divine Beasts, and I don’t regret a second of it.
The main quest of Skyrim is completely fine, but most players abandon it as soon as they get to Whiterun. The real appeal is wandering into a random cave and discovering a centuries-old vampire cult or getting sidetracked by a talking dog.
Try fast-travelling less. Sometimes the best discoveries come from taking the long way.
I’ve easily sunk thousands of hours into Skyrim, and the vast majority of that time was not spent chasing the main quest. There is always something more interesting just over the next hill. The world rewards curiosity more than following questlines.
Elden Ring technically has a story. However, FromSoftware practically dares you to ignore it. Instead, the game pushes you to explore with your gut, chasing cryptic whispers and distant spires across the Lands Between. I found entire regions and bosses just by riding in a direction that ‘felt wrong.’
And whilethe lore is richif you want it, the real three comes from discovering a completely random swamp temple or falling into an unexpected dungeon pit.
Rockstar crafted adeep, emotional storyin RDR2, but it can feel a bit like a leash if you aren’t in the mood for the slow-burn drama. The game comes alive in the quiet, unscripted moments, like finding a ghost in the swamp or being ambushed by a cougar while picking herbs.
Arthur’s journal starts to feel like your own scrapbook of wild west misadventures. I spent hours just riding around and talking to strangers. Honestly, that’s where the game feels most real.
Minecraft technically has an ‘end,’ but chasing the Ender Dragon misses the point entirely. In Minecraft, theworldis your story. Whether you’re carving out an underground or stumbling into a lush cave system, adventure is absolutely something you find.
Typically, the goals in Minecraft arethe thingsyoudecide to do, not given to you by a random quest. Sure, you might get to the Ender Dragon eventually, but that is rarely the point of a playthrough.
Odyssey’s main plot can get lost in a sea of political intrigue and ancient prophecies. But the best parts of the game pop up when you ignore all that and become a chaos agent in sandals. You can absolutely spend most of your time sailing between islands, kicking bounty hunters off cliffs, and collecting legendary armor just to look cool.
Open-world freedom has limits. Skipping the story can land you face-first into overleveled enemies. Explore, but pick your battles.
The game throws so many side activities your way that it’s easy to forget there’s a central narrative at all. And honestly, it’s more fun that way. Kassandra doesn’t need a destiny. Sometimes, she just needs another mercenary to punch.
Yes, Mr. House wants a word, but he can wait. New Vegas is one of the rare open-world RPGs where wandering aimlessly actually reveals deeper layers of worldbuilding. I’ve stumbled into side quests more compelling than the main plot just by poking around ruined towns or chasing odd radio signals.
In games like Fallout: New Vegas, wandering too far without context can trigger quests out of order or lock you out of certain options (so be curious, but save often).
The Mojave is packed with weird characters and genuinely funny moments you’d miss if you laser-focused on the story. It’s obvious that the game was designed for wandering.
While the single-player story is solid, it’s GTA Online that really lets the open world shine. The second you stop worrying about narrative arcs and start building chaos with friends, everything clicks. I’ve spent hours just robbing convenience stores and trying to make it across the map with a five-star wanted level.
The game turns into an open-world sandbox of mayhem. Most memorable moments have nothing to do with scripted missions. They happen when someone crashes a tank into your yacht mid-poker game.
There is a story in Subnautica, but it’s completely optional (and, honestly, a bit easy to miss). What makes the game shine is the sense of isolation and discovery as you dive deeper into its hauntingly beautiful ocean. I spent hours just building underwater bases and avoiding Leviathans I wasn’t emotionally prepared to meet.
It’s one of the few games where doing ‘nothing’ feels like progress. After all, at least you didn’t get eaten. You’re not told where to go, so you never quite feel lost.
The plot? Something about revolution. The real reason to play? Strapping C4 to a gas tank, grappling onto a jet, and launching yourself into pure Michael Bay chaos. Just Cause 3 gives you a massive playground filled with things that explode beautifully and physics that don’t care about realism.
The best moments tend to be completely unscripted, like when I accidentally paraglided into a military base and somehow left with a helicopter. Rico’s story really doesn’t matter. What matters is that you can tether a cow to a wind turbine and watch what happens.
