Summary
The life of a gamer can be bombastic. One session can be an action-packed adventure, the next a sprawling journey through miles of open terrain. While many gamers might enjoy a game with explosions and jet-pack assassins hiding behind every corner, others appreciate the option to kick off their mud-caked boots and rest by the fire for a hot soup and a moment of rest.
Open-world games that let players live normal lives don’t have to be cozy or relaxing. However, to land a spot on this list, they do have to provide gameplay loops evocative of the mundane, such as cooking, bonding with neighbors, orworking a day job, as well as the option to, at the time of their choosing, launch back to an adventure.
For most of recorded human history, normal life meant farming the land, and many people caught up in the trappings of modernity still yearn for this ordinary dream.Medieval Dynastymight look like just another survival-crafting sim set in a medieval world, but its gameplay goes far beyond foraging and fort-building. Players start as a lone peasant and gradually shape a life through farming, crafting, building a village, starting a family, and even paying taxes.
There is danger out there in the woods, and even a combat system for peasants with the hearts of knights, but for those who would rather tend a garden andbuild a community in an open worldthan clash swords with bandits or wolves, Medieval Dynasty will reward that patience and planning with satisfying progression.
InMy Time at Portia, players inherit a rundown workshop on the outskirts of a charming, sun-drenched town, one that just so happens to bequietly recovering from a long-forgotten apocalypse. Though the world may be dotted with ancient tech ruins and the occasional robot, daily life in Portia is all about simple pleasures and steady progress. Players can spend their days crafting furniture, farming crops, raising animals, fishing off scenic piers, and gradually upgrading their home and tools.
Players can befriend townsfolk, participate in seasonal festivals, and even take commissions to help the community thrive. While some light combat is available for those seeking adventure,My Time at Portiashines brightest when embracing its steady rhythm of work, play, and small-town connection.
From executing epic super-builds and fighting void-dragons to finding exploits with redstone to fully automate nature,Minecraftmight seem like an action-packed and sometimes overly complicated game, but the truth is that the pace and themes of the game are only ever as fast as the player wants it to be. At any moment, players can stop to watch the sun rise, hop into a boat, and drift gently out into a lake for an afternoon of fishing.
Cozy-minded players might find comfort building a small log cabin out in the woods,building a campfire to cook, and surrounding themselves with faithful wolf companions. Civic-minded folks might prefer to set up shop in a village, tending the fields for profit and (should they so choose) putting back into the community by improving the lives of the town’s villagers. WhileMinecraft’s systems might incentivize the exploitation of nature, there are plenty of slice-of-life loops to keep those looking to live a normal life satiated.
This indie game about a mail carrier in a small rural American town lacks the explosions, excitement, and length of other open-world games. However, as a “live a normal life” and “touch grass” kind of game, it is medicine for the modern dopamine-and-cortisol-addicted soul.Lakeis the story of a city-job-frazzled young woman, Meredith, returning to her hometown for a couple of weeks to help out her dad.
The main game loop consists of delivering letters and packages, learning stories about the characters in town, and catching up with old friends. The 80s, slow-paced town has plenty for the player to do without overloading them with checklists, which contributes to their sense of homeliness and humble humanity. Those who are looking to reconnect with themselves, only for a little while, might want to give this old town by a lake a visit.
While its direct sequel does everything thatKingdom Come: Deliverancedoes and more, roleplaying a peasant in medieval Bohemia from Henry’s humble starting place as a simple blacksmith’s son makes for one of the most immersive “normal guy” experiences in any open-world RPG. Before Henry swings a sword or joins a noble cause, he spends his days running errands, helping his father at the forge, and scraping together coin.
Even later, players still have to eat, sleep, clean their clothes, and earn their keep. With no magic, dragons, or over-the-top heroics, the day-to-day ofDeliveranceis grounded, challenging (but interesting),relatively historically accurate, and rewarding for those who want to roleplay an ordinary life.
2Skyrim
Hunt In The Morning, Fish In The Afternoon, Slay Dragons In The Evening
It is said that, compared to the traditional tabletop experience, roleplaying in computer-driven RPGs is done in the player’s head (rather than mechanically). While that may be true, few open-world games are as filled out and as deep asSkyrim, which allows players to filla small library with readable books, find inconspicuous ingredients organically all across the world for their soups and potions, and take a seat at the bar and overhear the gossip of the local townsfolk.
Besides the main story, players are never rushed into action or forced to assume a particular playstyle. With all the new version updates and mods over the game’s life, there are now plenty of mechanics to allow players to live in the province of Skyrim, from humble woodsman to well-to-do thane about town.
While it may sound simple to design a game about the mundanities of life, building the architecture for a convincing open world full of mundane possibilities is actually one of the most difficult game design projects, asThe Simsand its open-world inspirationshave proven. Although the player might lack the direct, moment-to-moment control afforded by other open-world titles,The Sims 3, even without its expansions, manages to perfectly balance the complexity and minutiae of regular life with the freedom of a sandbox.
Every day is filled with the kind of relatable minutiae rarely explored in video games: making breakfast before work, arguing with roommates, or even just finding time to read a book on the couch. There’s room for action, especially with the “World Adventures” expansion. The Sims 3still offers the most complete fantasy experience of living a full, rich, and messy life without having to deal with ever-increasing rent, soul-crushing commutes, or the cost-of-living crisis. That said, players will still need to tangle with the most embarrassing fashion trends of the 2010s.
