A key aspect of any open world is travel. Players must traverse the massive sandbox to take on missions and complete side activities. While they spend most of their time on foot, the heroes occasionally gain a horse or car. These are well-worn clichés at this point. Some developers, however, have more imagination.
Certain titles craft new and exciting means of traversal. These often involve taking to the air. Luckily, many characters and franchises lend themselves well to that variation. The result is a game where players get their money's worth by just traveling the world.
5 Spider-Man (2018)
One of the superheroes with the most exciting traversal is Spider-Man. The Friendly Neighborhood arachnid has swung around New York in numerous games with varying levels of success. Despite its combat shortcomings, the 2018 Insomniac title presents the best rendition.
Simple travel is such a rush. Players can pinpoint a spot to shoot a web, choose which type of swing to execute, and adjust their velocity accordingly. The game maps these actions to the buttons in an intuitive way that never bogs fans down. What's more is that the speed and physics are just right, allowing the lightweight hero to maintain momentum during every moment. Spider-Man also has a Fast Travel option, but players won't want to use it. As big as this city is and as many times as fans have traversed it, that's saying a lot.
4 Hogwarts Legacy
Several Harry Potter games let fans fly around the iconic wizarding school. Some give them their own brooms while others opt for the bird-like hippogriff. Well, Hogwarts Legacy settles for both. Players have free rein of both the castle and the vast highlands surrounding it, and nowhere is the scope more astounding than the air. They get a selection of brooms and their very own hippogriff to ride. These mounts control the same: smoothly and efficiently. They have a slight learning curve with the X and Y axis, but it's not a steep one. At the same time, their speed is palpable yet never overpowering. The same goes for the castle itself.
Hogwarts has no flying in its interior, but that's not an issue. The school is a complex network of corridors, yet fans never feel trapped. They can go from one end to the other in no time. Of course, it helps that no two areas look the same, with detail lurking in every inch. As such, Hogwarts Legacy feels less like travel and more like an extended tour of a storybook wonderland.
3 Jak 3
Though different, each Jak & Daxter entry builds on the previous one in every way. Fans see that progression in how they travel. The first game features precise jumping and climbing, becoming one of the best examples of 3D platforming. In addition, it introduces zoomers (flying cars and bikes) and the flut flut (gliding bird mount).
The former sees mass production in the second game as players drive around the massive Haven City. They can choose which zoomer to steal and whether to fly at high or low altitudes. Though these vehicles all have the appropriate weight and are just fast enough to make travel convenient, they somewhat overstay their welcome. Luckily, the third game improves these aspects while adding new ones.
Jak 3 has the best of everything. It brings back Haven City with its zoomers, which are engaging thanks to a smaller area with more activity. Then, players get an additional sandbox (literally) with the Wasteland and its offroad battle cars akin to Mad Max. These all handle differently, but they're never a chore to drive. Instead, their speed and power equip players well to tackle the desert's challenges, both natural and man-made.
That desert houses its own city, which brings back the flut flut movement in the form of leaper lizards. These dexterous reptiles can climb all over buildings and glide off the rooftops, all without losing their lightning step. Variety is truly the spice of life. That rings especially true when each element is this polished and purposeful.
2 Batman: Arkham Knight
Right behind Spider-Man in fun travel is Batman. Arkham City already perfected the Dark Knight's gliding mechanic. It's always a thrill to leap off buildings and ride the wind. That sensation doubles with the grapnel boost. This handy tool lets the hero zip toward a precipice and use the momentum to soar into the air. He can get across the whole city without ever having to land. Arkham Knight tightens this gameplay to a tee, ensuring it's snappy and satisfying.
However, the sequel also adds the Batmobile. While the tank combat grows monotonous, the driving definitely doesn't. The Caped Crusader's car shoots forward at Mach speed, plowing over everything in its path. That supersonic feeling never gets old. For the cherry on top, players can smoothly transition from this to sky-high gliding, and vice versa. Arkham Knight combines all these elements into the most seamless rendition of Batman to grace the gaming sphere.
1 Just Cause 4
Similar to other entries on the list, Just Cause 4 uses its predecessors as a starting point and expands exponentially. This romp has a vehicle for every occasion. The heroes can commandeer cars, motorcycles, jet skis, and tanks. Each of these comes in various makes and models, encouraging experimentation as fans find their favorites. That's just on the ground, though.
Just Cause 4 also has a plethora of tools for airborne stunts. The parachute is the most famous, but there are also the grapnel gun and wingsuit. These let players zip toward enemies and objects before instantly going into a glide. Before they know it, they're weaving in and around the bad guys with more locomotion than humanly possible. All of these elements come from previous Just Cause entries, and their refinement has led to the best versions here. Fans can enjoy the thrill of the most daring adrenaline junkie with none of the danger.