Open-World Games With The Best Hunting Mechanics
Although open-world games come in many settings, sizes, and gameplay styles, hunting is probably one of the most common mechanics in the genre. Putting aside the many ways this concept can be approached, many games opt to give players the chance to hunt wildlife, with their gains often being linked to trophies, upgrades, armor, and just plain old survival. Even when presented as a side option that can be readily ignored, hunting can still be the most time-consuming and addictive part of a game.
Whether aiming for realism or something a touch more fantastical, the following open-world games all feature great hunting mechanics, and they are fairly different from each other. If you are looking to capture some prey, these titles will satisfy that thirst.
We are leaving out Monster Hunter World or Wilds as they are open-zone rather than open-world. Obviously, if you want the greatest hunting franchise, go with Capcom’s games.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
7
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
Exotic Creatures And Thrilling Hunts
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is not a hunting game at its heart, but its implementation is really fun. Following the journey of a pirate turned assassin, Edward Kenway, in his quest to become the king of the oceans, Kenway travels the seas of the West Indies in a swashbuckling adventure worthy of legend.
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Black Flag has a range of animals and creatures to hunt, from the biggest whales (using harpoons) to the smallest Howler Monkey. Unlike other games on this list, Black Flag features the most exotic animals to pursue, such as Iguanas and the Bull Shark. A standout open-world hunting game and one of the best for exotic catches, Black Flag might not have the deepest mechanics, but harpooning is relatively unique and delivers a few moments of great spectacle.
6
Horizon Zero Dawn
Hunt Mechanical Animals And Strip Them For Parts
For the most part, this article focuses on open-world games with either realistic settings or hunting; however, a few fantasy games also feature the mechanic, allowing players to hunt larger-than-life creatures. Horizon Zero Dawn serves as a prime example, especially since Aloy is specifically a hunter. While you will engage in the occasional battle for survival against a mechanical behemoth, most hunts are fueled by a desire to collect parts that can be used for upgrades or ammo, so there is an incentive to engage in this side of the game.
The mechanics themselves are not extremely deep, but they are fairly wide. Players are given plenty of tools that they can adapt to different machines, and hunters need to be careful not to destroy the parts they need while attacking their prey. The machines also act like herds, giving them an element of realism.
5
The Long Dark
Hunt To Survive
Plenty of survival games incorporate hunting as a core mechanic, and they tend to have a different flavor than other open-world projects that also feature the concept. Often, hunting for survival is depicted as acts of desperation rather than cases of humanity overcoming nature. The Long Dark serves as a prime example of a game that seamlessly fuses hunting into its core survival loop, where a failed hunt could mean death rather than just an inability to craft a new weapon or better upgrades.
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Set in a version of Canada that is even colder than usual, you are at the mercy of the elements, and hunting wildlife is one of the only reliable means to obtain food and avoid starvation. The Long Dark demands careful planning and calculated risk, as heading out to hunt also means dangerous weather, scarce ammunition, and the ever-present threat of predators. Yeah, you are not the only hunter here, and you are arguably not even the deadliest. Hunting is also slow and skill-based, and animals take a long time to bleed out.
4
Far Cry Primal
Hunting Prehistoric Beasts
Far Cry Primal is an open-world action-adventure game that puts players in the shoes of a primitive hunter named Takkar, who must fight to survive in a dangerous world full of massive creatures such as Woolly Mammoths and Sabretooth Tigers. Hunting is the core gameplay mechanic of its open world, with players able to hunt various animals, from the cute but angry honey badger to a cave lion and even a demon fish.
Players can also hunt legendary creatures such as Bloodfang Sabretooth and Great Scar Bear. In hunting these creatures, players can wield spears, clubs, bows, and even craft traps to capture beasts. Hunting is at the heart of Primal‘s DNA — portraying one of the best open-world hunting experiences currently in gaming — making it the game for you if you’ve always wanted to hunt ancient creatures in a prehistoric world.
3
Way of the Hunter
Realistic Hunts, Detailed Simulations
Way of the Hunter is a hunting simulator through and through. Featuring beautiful environments, in-depth mechanics, and an open-world experience, this game goes one step further than the other games in this article by providing arguably the most realistic hunting simulation. This goes beyond just weapons and tracking, as the behavior of herds mimics real life. Way of the Hunter encourages players to strive for ethical practices, too.
Way of the Hunter features in-depth shot review options that let players analyze their success in hunting creatures, with anatomy examination, allowing hunters to see how and where a creature was shot. Way of the Hunter is, as a result, the most in-depth hunting game, with realistic hunting simulation mechanics best suited to the most hardcore hunters.
2
Red Dead Redemption 2
Immersive and Breathtaking Hunting
Arguably the most immersive, diverse, and prettiest game on this list, Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) is known for its vast, in-depth hunting gameplay mechanics. Featuring 200 different animals and legendary creatures, such as the Panther, RDR2 does not treat this aspect as a side distraction but rather as a major part of the experience, and that goes beyond just well-defined gameplay mechanics. However, on just that front, players need to plan and use the correct weapons, such as bows and guns with explosive cartridges, to hunt animals, and prolonging a kill or wasting parts is frowned upon.
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RDR2 added hunting mechanics, such as collecting pelts, that require limited shots for preservation, and master hunter challenges that have players hunt some of the most powerful creatures in the game. RDR2 depicts hunting as a necessary part of Western life, one that is required to survive but is not remotely glamorous or easy.
1
The Hunter: Call of the Wild
Best All-Round Hunting Game
The Hunter: Call of the Wild is built from the ground up to simulate an authentic hunting experience for players. Set across 15 idyllic nature reserves worldwide, such as the New England Mountains and Silver Ridge Peaks, the game enables players to explore vast open spaces to hunt animals such as deer and bears. The sheer number of huntable creatures is extensive, with dozens of varieties across species.
For example, there are multiple types of bears to hunt. In the hunt for these animals, players must track, stalk, and kill, using numerous weapons, lures, and consumables. The game is also multiplayer, enabling cooperative play with a friend as you explore the wilds for a prized hunt. The Hunter: Call of the Wild is easily the most extensive and in-depth open-world hunting game due to having the best all-around mechanics, blending the best parts of the other games mentioned on this list.
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