I'm looking for good "open world" IFs, that is, IFs where the player can just wander and explore the world without necessarily following the main plot (think Elder Scrolls). They could take place on a planet, in a city, or even just in a building, as long as you can discover interesting things to do while exploring.
It would be better if the world evolves even if the player just sits and waits (day/night cycle, NPCs performing actions, changing weather…)
I know it is difficult to make such IFs, so any suggestions that do not follow the above criteria fully but have some sense of "openness" are welcome.
Superluminal Vagrant Twin, by C.E.J. Pacian 4 votes "You can travel back and forth a lot" [+]"You can travel back and forth a lot" --mousetail... "There's some..." [+]"There's some sense of "openness" at the later stages of the game." ( ![]() | |
City of Secrets, by Emily Short 4 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) --Robert Patten... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
The Windhall Chronicles, Volume 1: The Path to Fortune, by Jeff Cassidy and C. E. Forman 2 votes "I just finished this. Open game world, natural borders, great geography." [+]"I just finished this. Open game world, natural borders, great geography." ( ![]() | |
Blue Lacuna, by Aaron A. Reed 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) --Robert Patten... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
1893: A World's Fair Mystery, by Peter Nepstad 1 vote "Spent a good portion of time exploring the fair before I even considered solving a puzzle." [+]"Spent a good portion of time exploring the fair before I even considered solving a puzzle." --Lance Campbell... ![]() | |
Transparent, by Hanon Ondricek 1 vote "An exploration of..." [+]"An exploration of a haunted house, built around picture-taking for a score, rather than a linear plot" --P. B. Parjeter... ![]() | |
A Mind Forever Voyaging, by Steve Meretzky 1 vote "First "open-world" IF?" [+]"First "open-world" IF?: The PC is an artificial intelligence whose task is to explore a simulation of a city at various points in the projected future" ( ![]() | |
The High Mountains, by Paul Braithwaite 1 vote "Exploring and fighting" [+]"Exploring and fighting: The game is simple, even for an old-school game, but nevertheless gives you a feeling of great open areas (in reality no more than maybe 30 rooms)." ( ![]() | |
Mystery House Possessed, by Emily Short 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Treasures of a Slaver's Kingdom, by S. John Ross 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Counterfeit Monkey, by Emily Short 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Wumpus 2000, by Muffy St. Bernard 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Runestone, by Alan Davis 1 vote "Large, open space" [+]"Large, open space: This game really gives opportunity to explore. Great use of the limited memory of 8-bit computers." ( ![]() | |
Gotomomi, by Arno von Borries 1 vote "Wander a night..." [+]"Wander a night city setting while you search for ways to make money that will allow you to leave. Explore, explore, explore. " ( ![]() | |
Anchorhead, by Michael Gentry 1 vote "Very..." [+]"Very plot-focused, but it has a large, dynamic open world (especially once you get past the prologue section), and there's plenty to discover just wandering around." ( ![]() | |
Dangerous Curves, by Irene Callaci 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) --DAB... ![]() | |
Sorcery! 3, by Steve Jackson and inkle 1 vote "Described by one..." [+]"Described by one of the authors as "a full, actual open world"." ( ![]() | |
Onaar, by Robert DeFord 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) --Wade Clarke... ![]() | |
Poll created on October 3, 2016