Open-world gamesare renowned for their vastness,providing players the freedom to explore incredible settingsand determine the next steps their characters will take in the narrative. These universes are often filled with optional content, primarily side quests or other minor systems that help expand the story.
Another popular type of additional content in open-world games is minigames, which, although often ignored, can be extremely entertaining. Some games, however, manage to turn these moments into experiences as engaging as the main campaign, leading players to invest hours in them. While card games are a popular choice for optional activities, some developers get even more creative when designing these great minigames.
Inhabitants of distant galaxies also seek ways to entertain themselves, especially to forget about the constant wars occurring in the universe.In the filmA New Hope, fans were introduced to Holochess, and a similar minigame was introduced inJedi: Survivor, called Holotactics.
The objective is to remove the opponent’s pieces from the board using one’s own units. While the concept isn’t very complex, it fits perfectly within theStar Warsuniverse. Players place their units on the board and watch the action unfold automatically. Winning a round earns new points to summon even more powerful pieces.
CD Projekt Red’s journey through theCyberpunkuniverse was complicated. After a tumultuous and bug-filled launch, the developer spent a long time fixing the game through updates.One such update gave purpose to the arcadesand pachinko machines scattered across the map.
This allowed V to have additional activities in Night City beyond car races, shooting competitions, and boxing, such as playingRoach Race, Trauma Drama,orArasaka Tower 3D. Besides featuring several references to CD Projekt Red’s games, these minigames were also fun, withArasaka Tower 3Dclosely resembling the boomer shooters of the early ’90s.
Kingdom Come: Deliveranceoffers a unique proposition,providing players with a deeply immersive medieval experience. The protagonist, Henry, can engage in various activities that reflect medieval life, such as hunting, participating in archery competitions, or melee combat tournaments.
One of the most interesting minigames isFarkle, a popular dice game of the time. Henry can challenge other characters to Farkle matches and even cheat to gain an advantage over opponents, using perks that facilitate good rolls or even using loaded dice. This adds new layers to the game, making the experience more enjoyable.
Despite not having a very large map,Stardew Valleystill gives players the freedom to explore Pelican Town and its surroundings freely. The region features several minigames that characters can enjoy. Activities like fishing are the most common, and during Autumn, the Stardew Valley Fair also offers more content.
Additionally,Stardew Valleyincludes a selection of other equally entertaining minigames, such as Journey of the Prairie King and Junimo Kart, which can be played at the Stardrop Saloon. For players who enjoy gambling, the Calico Desert also features some activities for this purpose.
Rockstar is known for filling its games with various optional activitiesthat players can do alongside the main mission.Grand Theft Auto 5,Red Dead Redemption 2, and evenBullyare examples of this freedom, but the fourth game in theGTAseries features the most entertaining minigames.
InGTA 4, the depth of Liberty City stands out, replacing the vast expanse of San Andreas with a vibrant city full of activities. Players can engage in arcades, darts, bowling, and pool, as well as attend cabaret and stand-up shows. Interactions with friends and girlfriends, who have their own preferences for places to visit, add an extra layer of immersion to the game.
Although the first game in theWatch Dogsfranchise wasn’t what Ubisoft promised,the open-world Chicago came came with some extra activities besides the main campaign. One of the most innovative minigames is the Digital Trip, which provides surreal and diverse experiences for the player, as if they were in Virtual Reality.
There are various modes, such as Alone, where Aiden must avoid drones in a deserted city, and Spider Tank, which puts the player in control of a devastating spider tank, causing chaos in the city. These Digital Trips temporarily transform the game’s reality, providing a unique break filled with distinct challenges and rewards, making them an excellent addition to the main campaign.
Sleeping Dogsis an action-adventure game developed by United Front Games and published by Square Enix. Released in 2012, it takes players to the vibrant streets of Hong Kong, putting them in the role of Wei Shen, an undercover cop who must balance his mission to dismantle local gangs with his own loyalties and moralities.
There are different activities that Wei Shen can do in the districts of Hong Kong. These range from Mahjong, a traditional Chinese game in which players match tiles on the board, to Karaoke, where players can sing up to eight different classic songs. Besides these options, there are other minigames aligned with the game’s mechanics, such as hacking and lockpicking.
The classicFinal Fantasy 7, at a certain point, took players to the Gold Saucer, a huge amusement park filled with activities. The second game of the remake trilogy,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, takes players back to the same place, now packed with new minigames like Chocobo Racing, 3D Brawler, and the card game Queen’s Blood.
In fact, Cloud’s entire journey through the second game of the saga isfilled with extra activities that can be performed during the different chapters. Square Enix ensured that the minigames were diverse, ranging from Tower Defenses, as in Fort Condor, to the ability to play pianos with the characters.
The Witcher 3was the game responsible for establishing CD Projekt Redas one of the most respected companies in the video game industry. In the third chapter of Geralt’s saga, the developers introduced the card game Gwent. Various characters scattered across the map are willing to play against the protagonist, each with their own deck and strategy.
Gwent quickly became a popular minigame thanks to its well-developed rules and fun nature. Many players spent more time enjoying Gwent’s mechanics than following the main story. Various cards could be found by exploring the maps, defeating enemies, or completing quests. The game’s popularity was so great that CD Projekt Red released a spin-off,Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, focused exclusively on the card game.
TheYakuzafranchise is synonymous with open-world games filled with numerous minigames for players to enjoy, featuring various extra activities that can distract the protagonists from their main objectives for hours. The game’s karaoke, for example, has immortalized some songs like “Baka Mitai,” but there are many other options to enjoy.
One of the most fun minigames appears inYakuza 0: the Cabaret Club Management. In this minigame, players take on the role of a club manager, recruiting andtraining hostesses to serve customers. The gameplay mechanics involve managing finances, selecting the best employees for each customer, and solving problems that arise during the nights. Additionally, it is possible to customize the appearance and skills of the hostesses to maximize profits and visitor satisfaction.
