Summary

• Elden Ring tops the list of difficult open-world games with its punishing mechanics and brutal enemies.
• (Character count: 94)
• Green Hell offers an intense survival experience in the Amazon Jungle, testing players’ skills with harsh conditions.
• (Character count: 100)
• The Long Dark challenges players with harsh cold, rare resources, and relentless wolves in its isolating open-world setting.
• (Character count: 112)

Open-world games can be a little bit overwhelming for players who do not have enough experience with huge sandboxes, and the sheer amount of content to explore can sometimes be too much for players who are trying to enjoy their first time in this type of game.

This list showcases several examples of Open-world games that can be difficult for beginners. From a game where the slightest mistake can kill you, to a huge sandbox filled to the brim with thousands of vicious undead that will make the players’ lives miserable.

7

Elden Ring

Its Sandbox Might Look Gorgeous, But It’s A Trap

Among all the many Open-world games that can make players suffer, Elden Ring places at the top of the list. Though many players say it is not the most difficult of Soulslikes, the devs of this game have put a serious effort into making players suffer. From the start of the adventure, there are tons of things that can kill them, and to make things worse, most bosses have an OHKO move.

Plus, if players are not accustomed to the FromSoftware interface style and certain particularities of its mechanics, they are going to have it rough. So, if readers are thinking of trying their first Open-world game, they should avoid starting with Elden Ring.

6

Green Hell

A Death March Through One Of The Most Dangerous Places On Earth

As the name of the game implies, players will be trapped in the closest place to hell on Earth: The Amazon Jungle, an unforgiving land where even the tiniest of insects can kill players if they are not careful. Every step can be their last, be it that they are bitten by a poisonous snake, or attacked by one of the vicious cannibal tribesmen roaming around (or a Jaguar), they are bound to face death more than once.

If the injuries sustained during their struggles don’t kill them, then the parasites, hunger, thirst, or even a mild fever can kill them. Even getting water is extremely difficult, so, basically, it’s an overhauled survival experience set in an enormous Open-world jungle. Not for the weak of heart, and definitely not for rookie players.

5

The Long Dark

Wolves, Cold, Wind, Everything Plays Against You

Unforgiving and relentless, the cold is the major enemy in The Long Dark, a game where players need to think first of getting warm, even before thinking about taking a step in its enormous and dangerous sandbox. If players are not used to survival mechanics in Open-world games, which include resource management at extreme levels, then this is a title that will treat them poorly.

Adding to the extreme difficulty level, weapons are tremendously rare, and so is ammo. Players might scare a wolf using a stone, but it will come back, bringing its friends with it next time, and then, not even a flare gun will save them from the jaws of death. It is one of the most isolating experiences players will have in an open-world game.

4

Fallout: New Vegas

One Of The Hardest Games In The Franchise

The Fallout franchise is one of the most important representatives of the Open-world RPG genre, with hundreds of quests, secrets, and its own metanarrative that has overgrown the very lore that sustains the legends of the Wastelands. Among its many titles, Fallout: New Vegas ranks among the hardest to conquer (without using console commands or mods, that is).

From the moment the players set foot in this game, they will be welcomed by a bullet to the head, and even though their avatar survives the experience, every successive encounter with death will quickly turn into a thrilling and unforgiving experience. So, Fallout: New Vegas will surely give first-timers a run for their money.

3

Kenshi

To Dominate The Wastelands, You Must Be Ruthless

Kenshi is an enormous game that boasts a gigantic sandbox where players need to explore, trade, forge alliances, and ruthlessly command their squad to roam the wastelands of a dystopian world, and become the ultimate warlords that will conquer the sands. Due to the complexity of its combat and class systems and the many management mechanics the game has, it can become a true nightmare for first-timers.

Plus, there’s not only one way to play Kenshi, since there are dozens of builds and options to allow players to forge their paths. The game is surely overwhelming, and the ton of items, things to do, and quests to complete will surely make more than one player feel dizzy before one hour has passed. And then, there’s the hunger: it is the main enemy in the game and a ruthless one at that.

2

Dead Island

One Of The Most Brutal Zombie Games Ever Made

If players are looking for a good Zombie survival game that also has the Open-world tag attached to it, the Dead Island franchise might be just what they should be looking for. But beware: they’re about to step on an unforgiving land, filled with some of the most vicious and random zombies that they will ever meet. From the simple walkers that can be threatening when they’re in swarms, to the vicious butchers that come down screaming from the canopy, ready to slice and dice whatever moves or breathes near them.

The first and second iterations of Dead Island, as well as Dead Island: Riptide boast some of the most ridiculous zombie shenanigans, and a high level of difficulty that most new players will most likely find annoying. To top it off, the crafting in the game can be quite complex, and since all the weapons break, players need to constantly replace them throughout the adventure, forging new ones out of scrap, and improvising new elements for undead slaying on the go.

1

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Only True Knights Survive Here

In terms of realistic combat, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 beats most medieval simulators in every aspect. From an incredible story that never disappoints, to two huge open-world maps to explore for hours and hours, filled to the brim with wolves, bandits, and dangerous mercenaries. This game will test the patience of even the most veteran of players, more so if they want to try using a bow, a crossbow, or a gun. The game has zero aim assist, and the melee combat system is nuts.

The first iteration of the franchise was quite difficult, but KCD2 took things to a whole new level. So, players who have never set foot in an open world game might want to try a more lenient one before getting lost in the woods of Bohemia forever. The game also has a hardcore mode, which adds extra layers of difficulty like totally eliminating the combat reticle and the compass. Though the lack of a clear direction would be the least of their concerns.