Summary
Fast travel has become a staple of theopen-worldgenre, as there haven’t been many released in the modern era without it. Players have come to value convenience over the grind of traversing a big map organically and exploring every inch of a game world. While it is understandable, there’s an art to slow travel that is missing from the modern gaming scene.
With that in mind, here are the best games with both anopen-worldmap and either extremely limited fast travel or no fast travel at all, for players who like to take the slow route, and those who don’t want to be tooreliant on the fast travel mechanic.
9Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals
Metascore: 73
Oxenfree 2is a linear game with an open world thatrequires players to complete puzzlesto finish the game. Still, players can go anywhere on the map to see what the island has to offer, but there is no fast travel.
The paths are marked with signs to allow players to explore and there are a lot of conversations along the paths with their companions, making it a cozy and companionable experience.Oxenfree 2is an eerie puzzle game with vast opportunities for exploration.
Grand Theft Auto 5is one of the most well-loved and iconic open-world games of the past decade. The world is packed with things to do, and it’s not a small map. The most interesting thing about it is the lack of a fast travel system. Players can get places by calling a cab or driving, but they can’t teleport around the map as in other RPGs.
WhileGrand Theft Auto 5technically has a fast travel function with the taxi service, it keeps the player immersed and is not the teleport function that players are used to, as they have to go out of their way to call a cab and skip the journey to their destination.
Morrowindmay be showing its age, but it still holds up as a great RPG with a unique and interesting setting. Players get to explore the island of Vvanderfell through the main story and must do this naturally as there is no fast travel functionality.
There are boats and other non-magical transport options, but all of these will take in-game hours to complete and don’t go to all the map locations.The unwritten rules ofMorrowindencourage players to explore the map without resorting to the typical quick travel options.
Death Strandingopens with no fast travel option. Players can’t unlock the extremely limited function until chapter 3, and even then it’s nearly useless for travel. The ‘fast travel’ option in this game is for players who need to reposition themselves on the map, rather than for players who want to teleport. Players can travel between safe rooms, and when they do, they lose everything they were carrying.
Death Strandingis a game forplayers who want to take time, meaning it is the perfect game for those who don’t enjoy fast travel, as the roads are long, and can be dangerous depending on when players head out for the long walk.
Subnauticais a game that hinges on player exploration, so it should be no surprise that there is no option for fast travel in the game. Players have to learn the underwater world and find their way around, which takes time but is worth the effort.
That’s not to say movement is slow; players can unlock suits that allow them to move faster so they will be able to have a more enjoyable experience the more they play.Subnauticais truly a breathtaking world ripe for slow and organic exploration.
State Of Decayis a zombie apocalypse game that puts emphasis on leadership and survival skills for success. Players will have to scavenge supplies to keep the group fed and happy, which can be difficult without a fast travel function. When the undead arrive, players have to leave the area fast or risk permadeath.
It makes the game more challenging than the average zombie survival game, as players need to escape quickly.State Of Decayis a gritty survival game with no fast travel option.
The Forestis a horrifying experience, opening with a plane crashing into a forest. Obviously, the player survives and must continue to do so in a forest full of cannibals. Everything in the forest can be used for survival, as trees can be cut down and plants can be eaten.
One part of that is the fact that players can’t fast travel around the map, and must get to places organically: a difficult task when being hunted.The Forestis a fantastic survival horror experience with an emphasis on exploring the world.
Don’t Starveis one of the most iconic survival games of its era, due to its simple yet effective art style and addicting gameplay. Players must travel across a procedurally generated world to find resources and food to survive, whileeverything else in the world is actively trying to kill them.
It’s dark at times, funny at others, and enjoyable all the time, despite the many deaths each player will rack up.Don’t Starveis one of the most enjoyable survival games available with no fast travel.
The Long Darkis a game about trying to avoid death in the bitterly cold world of Bear Island. It’s areal struggle to survive, as frostbite can kill the player just as easily as the wildlife can, and when energy begins to deplete in an awkward location, there is no way to fast travel to a better one.
The game requires forethought and planning for survival. It’s an intense gaming experience that is completely worth the struggle.The Long Darkis the best open-world game available to players without fast travel.
