According to GamesIndustry, the highest selling games in the U.K. were the sandbox titles "Elden Ring" and "Grand Theft Auto V." Previously known as "GTA" Clones, sandbox games have become one of the most dominant genre in the world of gaming, leading to blockbuster franchises such as "Far Cry" and "Horizon." Awhile ago, I made a list of ways that the sandbox genre was getting stale, but there are some titles that demonstrate their ability to adapt and provide new experiences.
Exploration is still fun
One of the best aspects of open-world games is the realization that the landscapes beyond the horizon aren't just there for decoration. They can be reached. "Breath of the Wild" is as equally impressive for its sheer size as it is for the many creatures, secrets and encounters that it contains. The best open world games can have players discover something new even after dedicating months to the title.
Technology has advanced
3D games have come a long way from their low polygon count roots. For years, games have had to use tricks such as fog and imposters to mask low draw distances in games like the "GTA" trilogy or "Shadow of the Colossus." Now, graphics have progressed to the point where worlds can be entirely seamless and immersive. Games like "The Witcher III" and "Read Dead Redemption II" are about as close as players can get to real life holodecks from Star Trek.
Many of them have fun ways to get around
Sandboxes are perfect for super-powered characters such as Cole MacGrath. If the way to get around is fun in and of itself, players may not even bother with the main missions. The "Infamous" games allow players to leap over tall buildings, grind on powerlines and hover. This leads to many races and challenges that take full advantage of Cole's powers. Similarly, web-swinging in Insomniac's "Spider-Man" not only feels cathartic, it also takes a degree of skill to pull off without error.
Great water cooler conversations
One of the great things about sandboxes is that gamers of all shapes and sizes can dedicate hours to them but still have entirely different experiences. These can lead to great conversations by the water cooler about certain enemy encounters, the locations of handy items and standout side quests. Players have discussed at length the different weapon combos in the "Dead Rising" series, their favorite dungeons in "Skyrim," or what bizarre creatures they encountered in "Breath of the Wild."
Mods can breathe new life into familiar sandboxes
If there's one community that extends the life of a title that gamers have been playing for awhile, it's the modding scene. What to play "GTA V" as Kermit the Frog or Bender from "Futurama?" Maybe gamers might like to replace every dragon shout in "Skyrim" with Macho Man Randy Savage shouting "Oh, Yeah!" With mods, anything is possible.
