Society is very result and achievement-focused, and that same thing can be found in a lot of games. You must win to progress to the next level, to get the ending you want, or the rewards you're after. A lot of the time, that can feel like the most important aspect, so much so that the rest of the game becomes almost irrelevant.
There are, however, some games that fight against this mentality. Either they force you to slow down by punishing attempts at speeding things up, or they masterfully distract players with surprise-filled open-world environments, deep and fun side activities, or simply the appeal of making your own adventure. Here's which games will make you appreciate the journey over the destination.
Subnautica
Getting Off The Planet Is Secondary With A Whole Ocean To Explore
As the survivor of a crash landing on an aquatic planet, it might feel easy to hyperfocus on finding a way to escape in Subnautica. However, playing like this doesn't do justice to the sheer depth (pun intended) this game has as an open-world survival craft.
It's so easy to get sucked into just crafting these incredible underwater bases and upgrading your suit and your gear that escaping ironically becomes somewhat secondary. The exploration alone is exciting enough to find new (and absolutely terrifying) life forms, and let's just say anyone with thalassophobia will be having the worst time of their life diving into the darkest depths of Subnautica.
Elden Ring
Only A Few Bosses Are Necessary, But Why Not Slay Them All?
Elden Ring and its DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, are yet another perfect example of a game that can be completed relatively fast or incredibly slow. Rushing through the mandatory bosses is possible, but that also means players will miss out on a ton of side locations and optional bosses, as well as loot.
This is a game that really encourages you to look around, to see what's right around the next corner. With no dedicated quest screen, it's also best to take your time with it if you'd like to experience some of the game's obscure and twisted lore. It's easy to miss NPCs and their changing locations when rushing about.
No Man's Sky
Artemis Path? More Like Your Path
No Man's Sky delivers a whole, vast galaxy ready for exploration to your doorstep, so it's pretty easy to get sidetracked in this game. Yes, there's some story and quest content to explore, for example, in the form of the Artemis Path, but those moments are far from being the highlights of the game.
The focus is on you and what you want to become and do in this world. Build a space base, upgrade your ship, discover new planets, species, biomes, or just become an evil looter and pirate if you so choose. There's no race to an "end" here; it's about the player's journey and their mark on the galaxy.
Death Stranding
Slow And Steady Wins The Delivery Race
If there's one game that shouldn't be rushed through to the end, it's Death Stranding. A lot of the gameplay is built around purposefully slowing the player down, forcing them to be strategic about how they prepare for the road and how they traverse the gorgeous environment.
While there's a solid and deep story peppered in, a lot of the game is focused on delivering cargo safely while avoiding danger (at least at first) in the wild. It's one title that will make you appreciate the slowness of things and the journey instead of the final outcome. Move too quickly or sloppily, and the cargo will suffer.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Plot Isn't The Main Event, Hyrule Is
A game greatly praised for its exploration and adventuring, Breath of the Wild is a game where the plot often ends up taking a backseat as players get utterly sucked into the open-world environment. Part of its charm is the variety when it comes to traversal: by foot, on horseback, climbing, or flying with a glider.
All this, and you can go anywhere freely, at any point in the game, with no imposed restrictions or order. Complete side quests, or get creative while solving puzzles, run around to see what surprises are hiding behind the next corner, from towers to villages to enemies—Hyrule is your oyster, and it's easy to forget that yes, there's an actual main quest to follow, too.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
