Open World
Ongoing coverage on Open World.
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Samson’s Crime Story Helps It Stand Out From GTA, But Jank Is A Problem
Samson: A Tyndalston Story offers a dark crime narrative and open-world gameplay, but is hampered by frustrating jank and repetitive tasks. While its desperation-driven gameplay loop and serious tone differentiate it from Grand Theft Auto, issues with clunky melee combat, irritating bugs, and a story soft-lock mar the experience. The game is available on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Forza Horizon 6’s Reveals Full Map of Japan, Playground’s “Most Dense and Vertical Map Yet”
Playground Games has revealed the full map for Forza Horizon 6, featuring diverse environments from the snowy Japanese Alps to the bustling streets of Tokyo. The game, launching May 19th for Xbox Series X/S and PC, is described as the studio's most dense and vertical map yet, with a PlayStation 5 version planned for later in the year.
Crimson Desert Players Discover Incredibly Detailed Space After Reaching Planet’s Orbit
Players have discovered that Crimson Desert features a surprisingly detailed in-game space environment, including a visible planet curvature, atmosphere, and the Milky Way galaxy. This was achieved by players using a PC mod for infinite stamina to ascend to orbit. The developer, Pearl Abyss, has also potentially modeled re-entry effects, hinting at future content possibilities for the game, which has already sold 4 million copies.
Crimson Desert's map is so big that you can go to space and look down at Pywel from the surprisingly detailed stars
Players have discovered that Crimson Desert's massive map extends into outer space, featuring detailed stars and a visible planet curvature. This discovery was made possible through mods and exploits, leading to speculation about potential space-themed DLC or future game content from Pearl Abyss.
Crimson Desert players are literally running out of enemies to fight after blasting to the endgame: "Pearl Abyss…
Players of Crimson Desert are reporting a lack of enemies and engaging content in the endgame, with some suggesting the map becomes empty after progressing through main story missions. This has led to discussions and calls for developer Pearl Abyss to address the issue, with comparisons drawn to other open-world games like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and Cyberpunk 2077 which faced similar criticisms.
"We had everything that I've seen from Crimson Desert," former Just Cause boss says of Avalanche's cancelled fantasy open-world game
Former Avalanche Studios co-founder Christofer Sundberg stated that the studio's cancelled fantasy open-world game, AionGuard, had plans that mirrored features seen in the recently released Crimson Desert. Sundberg believes AionGuard could have been very similar to Crimson Desert, which has achieved significant sales success.
Starfield PS5 Review: Great Performance, But Still Hollow Planets | DualShockers
Starfield is described as a game with great performance on PlayStation 5 but ultimately hollow and lacking in substance. Despite its vast content, it struggles to invest players and falls short of the depth found in Bethesda's previous titles.
Review: Starfield (PS5) - Better Than Ever, But Still No Space Skyrim - Push Square
Starfield on PlayStation 5 is described as a game with great performance but ultimately hollow planets and wasted potential. While not a bad game, it lacks the substance and engagement found in previous Bethesda titles, leaving players seeking deeper experiences wanting more.
Review: Starfield (PS5) - Better Than Ever, But Still No Space Skyrim
The PlayStation 5 version of Starfield offers a definitive console experience, incorporating all post-launch updates and new features like the Free Lanes content. While it boasts improved performance and DualSense integration, the game still struggles with its core design, relying heavily on fast travel and lacking meaningful exploration between objectives. Despite its solid combat and engaging faction quests, Starfield fails to capture the immersive journey found in Bethesda's previous titles.
Wuthering Waves Is Coming to Xbox – Here’s What the Team Built for You
Wuthering Waves, a free-to-play open-world action RPG, is confirmed for release on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2026. The game, developed by KURO GAMES, has received multiple industry awards and will offer exclusive in-game benefits for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. The developers emphasize a player-first approach with deep combat, extensive exploration, and ongoing content updates.
Crimson Desert Ranks in the Top 20 for Total Weekly Active Players on Consoles in the US
Crimson Desert has maintained strong player engagement on consoles in the US nearly three weeks after launch, with players averaging significant hours per week. The game ranks in the top 20 for total weekly active players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and has sold over four million copies.
Crimson Desert fan spends days watching NPCs build a statue in real time like a Red Dead Redemption 2 fan watching clothes dry, Kingdom Come: Deliverance boss says "this is absolutely insane"
Players of Crimson Desert have discovered that they can observe NPCs constructing a statue in real-time after completing a specific quest. This detailed, albeit slow, process has drawn comparisons to the idle activities found in games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5, with industry figures like Daniel Vávra of Warhorse Studios expressing astonishment at the dedication to such a granular detail.
Ignoring Valve's Half-Life lessons, Baby Steps dev says trolling players with level design is important, actually
Baby Steps designer Gabe Cuzzillo discussed the game's intentional use of maze-like level design, contrasting it with Valve's Half-Life approach. He argues that intentionally creating confusing paths encourages players to explore the game's boundaries and discover unique solutions, fostering a more engaging experience.
After Hundreds of Hours, Some Crimson Desert Players Are Complaining That the World Has Become Too 'Peaceful' Because They've Basically Killed All the Enemies
Some players of Pearl Abyss' action adventure game Crimson Desert are finding the open world too peaceful after hundreds of hours, as they have cleared out most of the enemies. The game features a large map and a story that takes over 100 hours to complete.
This New Game Might Scratch That GTA 6 Itch, Just Don't Expect A GTA-Sized Experience (Or Price Tag)
Liquid Swords has released the launch trailer for its debut title, Samson: A Tyndalston Story, a $25 action game that draws comparisons to Grand Theft Auto but focuses on brawling and driving rather than guns. The game features a debt system where players must pay off mobsters, with consequences for failure. Developed and published by Liquid Swords, Samson launches on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on April 8.
The Best PS5 Games In 2026
This article rounds up the best PlayStation 5 games available, covering a wide range of genres and styles from AAA blockbusters to indie darlings. It highlights recent favorites and modern classics, aiming to help players discover must-play titles for the console. The list includes critically acclaimed games like Astro Bot, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, among many others.
Sands of Aura Review | TheXboxHub
Sands of Aura is a souls-like action RPG that ultimately fails to be fun due to a shallow combat system and an unrewarding progression loop. While the desert setting and soundtrack are atmospheric, the game suffers from a lack of engaging gameplay mechanics and a poorly defined open world. Despite offering a substantial amount of content, the overall experience is hampered by unfulfilled potential.
Board Games for Video Gamers: Tabletop That Feels Like Your Favorite Games
This guide matches board games to popular video game genres, suggesting titles like Slay the Spire: The Board Game for roguelike fans and Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion for action RPG players. It emphasizes that many board games offer similar strategic depth and satisfying loops to video games, often with a lower time commitment and a unique social element.
Mini-Games And Whether They Add Or Detract From Console Games
Mini-games in console titles can offer a welcome change of pace or extra challenges, but their effectiveness depends on implementation. Titles like Grand Theft Auto V integrate them seamlessly, while sports games use them for skill training. When well-executed and purposeful, mini-games enhance player autonomy and exploration without disrupting the core experience.
After over 150 hours with Crimson Desert, it still makes no damn sense—compels me though
After over 150 hours, Crimson Desert remains a compelling but confusing experience, defying easy categorization as an MMO or traditional RPG. Pearl Abyss has significantly softened the game's initially harsh design choices post-launch, resulting in a smoother, more accessible single-player experience that blends elements of both genres. Despite its identity crisis, the vast open world and numerous systems make it one of the most engaging games played recently.
