Nintendo is a company that always proves itself an industry leader in hardware and software innovation. From the motion controls of the Wii to the Switch's hybrid functionality, the company is always looking to recapture the magic of past successes while trying new things. Usually it's other developers that learn from the Kyoto-based outfit, but as plenty of franchises on other platforms have shown that open-world game design is the flavor of the future, Nintendo has followed suit with a handful of its releases.

Open worlds have become increasingly popular over the last decade, as they tend to offer plenty of content and activities while also doing well to ensure a story can be told in a way that is engaging and well paced. Franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Forza, and The Witcher have all adapted to a more open-ended format and have found success, so it's unsurprising that Nintendo has done the same. Nintendo may not be as synonymous with open-worlds as Ubisoft, but that's not to say it hasn't ever made or published a good one.

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Xenoblade Chronicles

xenoblade chronicles definitive edition shulk

While its sequel improved upon the formula, Xenoblade Chronicles must be given credit for the strides it made. Monolith developed the project, and it released in 2012 where it was met with critical acclaim. Unfortunately, it arrived just a few months before the Wii U hit shelves and players didn't give it the shot it deserves. Thankfully, a definitive edition released on the Nintendo Switch in May 2020 that allowed the game to have more of a chance to resonate with fans.

A significant selling point of Xenoblade Chronicles is its seamless open world, as Shulk's adventure takes place within a huge landscape that's packed with monsters to battle and quests to undertake. It takes dozens of hours to finish and over twice that to complete everything, but the way it's crafted makes the grind constantly feel rewarding. Shulk is a fantastic character, the music is delightful, and the story is entertaining throughout.

Lego City Undercover

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While it's now on other platforms, Lego City Undercover was once a Wii U-only game published by Nintendo in 2013. Exclusivity is rare for the Lego franchise, and it was based on real-world locations and is entirely self-contained featuring no film tie-ins. Because of this, it's accessible to people of all ages, and the open world of Lego City feels fresh and exciting, as its level design is almost as praised as the game's charming writing.

Lego City Undercover is similar in many ways to Grand Theft Auto, but is obviously more suitable for everyone. The open world is of paramount importance to the experience. The vehicles on offer, story missions available, and the freedom that players have make it a game that Nintendo players should revisit.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Oran Berry tree.

Fans of the Pokemon license have been pining for an open-world game for what feels like decades, and Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a significant step in the right direction. It may not be as open as games like Horizon Forbidden West, but much of its game design relies on exploration to capture a vast range of diverse pocket monsters. It's been compared to the Monster Hunter series, but feels more open in its approach.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have the opportunity to learn from Pokemon Legends, and so the future of the genre should be moving in a positive direction. For now, though Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a great game, and a sign of things to come. It shows that Nintendo is willing to invest more time and resources into the open-world format for its best-selling franchises.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Exploring the world in The Legend Of Zelda Breath Of The Wild

In 2017, Nintendo forged an experience that was truly unforgettable. Bringing players back to the land of Hyrule, Breath of the Wild is a game that has its core mechanics rely on the open-ended nature of its overall design, as the physics-based exploration is rewarded by slowly becoming more familiar with the land. Surviving the wild is hard work, but when the rain stops and the storm has passed, finding fun in Hyrule is as easy as carving through a Bokoblin with a Royal Claymore.

Link starts with nothing, emerging from a 100-year slumber and tasked with assisting Princess Zelda in the effort to resist the dark forces of Calamity Ganon. The only way to progress is to learn how the world works and adapt to get the most out of it. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild excellently justifies its setting and structure, as it's so closely connected to the game's progression system. It's diverse in aesthetics, unforgiving in combat encounters, and unmatched in the open-world genre, especially in the Nintendo ecosystem.

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