Key Takeaways
- Open-world games have diverse biomes & mechanics like climbing, essential for exploration & story progression.
- Games like
Zelda, Assassin’s Creed, Shadow of the Colossus,
and
Horizon
rely on climbing as a key game mechanic. - Climbing allows players to explore vertically, reveal secrets, puzzles, & breathtaking views in open-world games.
Open-world games are full of possibilities for players to explore and enjoy. The genre is so versatile that it can be combined with other genres, such as FPSs, action, and especially, fantasy. Open-world titles usually have very complex game mechanics that work with the concept of their title, and NPCs ready to give players quests and useful information.
Climbing is one of the most popular game mechanics in the open-world genre, as there needs to be accessibility to all areas within a map. Without climbing, open worlds would feel flat and linear, and their exploration features would be severely limited. Here are some games players who love climbing must try.
5 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Explore Hyrule’s Endless Vertical Pathways
- Breathtaking views.
- Almost every surface can be climbed, which allows for deep exploration.
Being one of the best games in the series to date, and the recipient of the 2017 Game of the Year award, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild lets players control Link in an open-world version of the Kingdom of Hyrule. Climbing is a central mechanic in this game, and almost every structure, cliff, and wall can be explored vertically. If players have enough patience and the will to climb the highest structures, they will not only be rewarded with precious items but also breathtaking views.
Players must be careful when climbing, as running out of stamina can be an obstacle to reaching difficult areas. The climbing mechanic also plays a critical role in solving puzzles, so players must master it to progress through the game.
4 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Set In The Viking Era But Retains Its Predecessor’s Core Elements
- Great climbing mechanics combined with fast-paced combat.
- The game retains many of its predecessor’s elements.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla received fairly positive reviews upon release; however, many of the franchise’s veterans who’ve been playing these games since the days of Altair had a thing or two to say about certain mechanics and storylines. Despite this, the game was applauded for maintaining many of the Assassin’s Creed franchise elements, such as climbing and using viewpoints to uncover new secrets and sections of the map.
Valhalla’s main character, Eivor, can explore Norway’s small settlements and fjords alike with ease, before traveling to England’s lush fields and stony castles, all thanks to his advanced parkour and climbing skills. Like its predecessors, viewpoints offer incredible views and uncover areas of interest and valuable items. Combining great climbing mechanics with fast-paced action and a compelling story, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla should definitely be on the list of any player who loves vertical open-world exploration.
3 Shadow Of The Colossus
A Gargantuan Adventure With Lots Of Climbing
- Every Colossus has a different design, forcing players to adapt.
- This title’s mechanics were well ahead of its time.
When Shadow of the Colossus was first released in 2005, it broke the mold in several ways. Not only was it graphically impressive for the time, but its game mechanics were very advanced and provided players with the amazing experience of climbing towering Colossi as the main character, Wander. It’s one thing to climb a static structure, such as a tower or a cliff, but when the task is climbing a moving being that’s trying to squash the player, things get a little trickier.
The game has a beautifully designed open world that feels both full of life and empty at the same time. Each Colossus presents its own challenge and has a different design, forcing players to adapt every time in order to reach the creature’s weak points and emerge victorious.
2 Horizon: Zero Dawn
A Sci-Fi Game With Wild Mechanical Creatures And Towering Cliffs
- Climbing is key for story progression and discovering the world.
- The game is set in a post-apocalyptic version of Earth.
Few games can make a post-apocalyptic sci-fi version of the world look as appealing as Horizon: Zero Dawn can. Hundreds of years after the fall of an advanced version of human civilization, societies have begun to rebuild in a more primitive fashion. Mechanical animals roam the countryside, and while many are easily scared and not aggressive, others are extremely dangerous.
Exploring the world as Aloy, players will get the chance to meet interesting characters as they explore every corner of this colorful wasteland, climbing rocks and cliffs, as well as balancing on thin ropes suspended dozens of feet in the air. Like many other games in its genre, Horizon: Zero Dawn relies heavily on vertical exploration to progress through the story and discover precious items and new locations.
1 Far Cry 4
A Himalayan Civil War Story With A Strong Focus On Climbing
- Players can use a grappling hook to traverse through the Himalayan regions.
- Witness breathtaking views and scale Bell Towers to unlock new areas of the map.
As Ajay Ghale returns to the fictional Himalayan town of Kyrat to spread his mother’s ashes, he’s suddenly caught in the middle of a civil war between the rebels of the region, and its oppressive leader, Pagan Min. Thanks to the game’s mountainous location, there is a lot of climbing involved. Players can use their grappling hook to reach vantage points and Bell Towers, which are necessary to unlock new regions of the map and uncover important items and quest locations.
With its beautiful views, numerous climbing opportunities and amazing story, Far Cry 4 is one of those games that any player who loves climbing, and fast-paced action, should play at least once.