8 Great Open-World Games That Have Surprisingly Short Main Stories

Key Takeaways

• Short open-world games offer immersive experiences in 10-15 hours or less, leaving players craving more.
• Options for base-building, exploration, and co-op make titles like State of Decay 2 unique and replayable.
• The variety of endings, personalization, and consequences in short stories like The Outer Worlds keep gameplay fresh & engaging.

This list details some of the shorter open-world games that don’t fail to pack a punch when it comes to detailed, thoughtful world-building, exciting side-quests and, of course, short but sweet main stories that bring everything together. Perhaps the best part of these shorter stories is that they leave the player craving more, maintaining momentum until the very end, encouraging further gameplay beyond the main narrative.

After all, the magic of open-world games is that they don’t have to be long to be deeply immersive, thrilling experiences. Players can log hundreds of hours in these worlds through exploration, or indeed stick with the quick fix of the main story.

Some semi-open worlds like Journey to the Savage Plane will also be considered.

8 State of Decay 2

A Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Survival Simulator

• Main Story Length: 10–15 hours

Survivors of a zombie apocalypse must forge a community and defend themselves in State of Decay 2. While the central story isn’t the longest, the game offers several different campaign modes and a sandbox environment, making it perfectly replayable. Players are also responsible for base-building and resource management, adding to its immersive post-apocalyptic feel.

There’s plenty of choice throughout State of Decay 2, with building and upgrading options to develop suitable living quarters within bases, there’s plenty of items to scavenge, and the ability to play co-op with up to three players means it can be enjoyed alone or with friends.

7 The Outer Worlds

Space Exploration Driven By Player Choices

• Main Story Length: 10–15 hours

In The Outer Worlds, players must grapple with a conspiracy that threatens to wipe out a space colony. Fans of the game praise it for its well-written, witty dialogue, its choice-based gameplay, and the engaging central story. The Outer Worlds also plays with the idea of flaws, tracking gameplay to tailor the experience to player skills and foibles, making it perfectly personalizable.

Despite the shortness of the primary story, the variety of possible endings makes this a great game for replay. With each different choice comes a different consequence, keeping the story fresh and exciting for players.

6 The Forest

A Mysterious Horror-Survival Experience

• Main Story Length: 10–15 hours

The sole survivor of a plane crash must fight to stay alive on a strange island with cannibalistic creatures. The Forest combines terrifying horror elements into a classic survival-style game, with its first-person perspective gameplay highlighting the isolation and vulnerability of its vast open-world setting.

Short though it may be, the central story is compelling and works perfectly when accompanied by the interactive forest environment, where every tree can be used for building a camp or starting a fire. This game is packed with options for lovers of different play styles, including crafting, dynamic combat, base building, and exploration of a variety of environments within its deep forest setting.

5 Rage 2

Chaotic Combat In A Post-Apocalyptic World

• Main Story Length: 8–12 hours

Rage 2 is a dystopian first-person shooter with exciting combat mechanics, focusing on a ranger fighting for justice in the wasteland. Fans of the game describe the gameplay experience as satisfying and exhilarating, with a plethora of ready-to-use vehicles and collectible weapons enhancing the far-from-ordinary open world.

The open world is a perfect backdrop to the gameplay. It’s colorful, varies in terrain types, and is littered with fascinating abandoned structures. Rage 2 is perfect for quick, explosive fun without a complex, long-winded narrative.

4 Journey To The Savage Planet

An Offbeat Space Exploration Story In A Semi-Open World

• Main Story Length: 6–10 hours

This unusual story follows a corporate explorer journeying to a mysterious planet, ARY-26, with the aim of human colonization. The semi-open world is designed for deep exploration, with psychedelic backdrops and unusual creatures throughout. The writing in Journey To The Savage Planet is also a particular standout, with plenty of silly happenings punctuating the central narrative.

While this game’s main story is particularly short, players are welcome to explore the world as much as they like, with a vast survey to complete and the option to craft from scavenged items. Short but sweet, there’s lots of enjoyment to be had on ARY-26.

3 The Pathless

A Mystical Action-Adventure Tale

• Main Story Length: 6–10 hours

This game follows a hunter and her companion, an eagle, through attempting to lift a curse from the world. Players love the vivid open-world setting, which holds several gorgeous environments within, including mountains, forests, meadows, and snowy landscapes. The Pathless also offers two rather unusual skills to hone during gameplay: archery and falconry. With dynamic systems for flight and shooting, there are some unique perspectives to be gained while exploring this world.

While The Pathless is a relatively short story, fans of the game love it for its exploration, following the plot at a gentler speed so they can savor the emotional bond forged between the player and the eagle, and take the time to enjoy the landscapes.

2 Sable

A Uniquely Artistic Journey

• Main Story Length: 6–10 hours

Sable is a coming-of-age story that follows its nomadic protagonist through vast desert landscapes, searching for her place in the world. A relaxing and exploration-focused game, the unique art style stands out and makes Sable a particularly memorable experience, with its brief story combining adventure and introspection beautifully.

Complementing the stunning visuals is a complete soundtrack by Japanese Breakfast. This cements the truly immersive quality of Sable, which can be explored gradually, at the player’s pace, allowing for every aspect to be enjoyed in its own time.

1 Firewatch

An Exploration-Focused Wilderness Story

• Main Story Length: 4–6 hours

In the Wyoming Wilderness of the 1980s, a fire lookout explores mysterious happenings in the forest he works in. The vast open-world map that ties this game together allows for plenty of exploration, with a story that can be taken at the player’s own pace.

While the central narrative of this game is very short, it leaves a lasting impression. With its introspective, emotional outlook and stunning graphics, exploring the wilderness and trying to understand the strange goings-on is thoughtful, immersive, and a little bit spooky.