Open-world games are highly sought after by players and studios alike because they offer more immersive experiences to everyone. Soccer and other sports-based titles are great, but they can get repetitive after a while. Some of the best open-world franchises keep players on their toes at all times, offering experiences that always strive to redefine the title’s essence.

At the same time, immersion goes beyond free open-world video games; a good example is HitnSpin’s revolutionary casino gaming algorithm. Let’s learn more about the differences and similarities between structured and “free” open-world franchises.

Understanding Free Open-World Entertainment

A great example of this concept is Grand Theft Auto (GTA) San Andreas. San Andreas is one of the best-made and immersive renditions of this franchise. Millions of players remained on San Andreas after completing it, and it became a virtual world for many because the things you could do without engaging in missions were crazy and overwhelming at times. San Andreas was built with a US State in mind, while Vice City was built after a city.

You can drive for hours within the map, discovering new places and interacting with new experiences. It became a form of therapy for many and a reliable way to escape the realities and pressures of life as a teenager in the 2010s.

A major “free” open-world feature is most of the map being available to you from the beginning or in-game tips, tricks, and cheat codes to access restricted areas before unlocking them. There’s no denying that these types of titles are unbeatable and undeniably great. Sometimes, it is a factor of player preference.

Structured Open-World Franchises

Some studios prefer structured maps in their new games because they help streamline players to do what the makers prefer, leading to more microtransactions. Completely free experiences like San Andreas are also more time-intensive, expensive, and tedious to make. Studios used to brag about how extensive their maps were, but that has become less of a selling point in recent years.

Similar to the example above, a great iteration of “structured” open-world titles is Grand Theft Auto (Vice City). Vice City is essentially a fictional representation of Miami, Florida, but the map is considerably narrower than what is available on San Andreas.

During the early versions of Vice City on PC, players could go around and complete tasks in some neighborhoods. More areas and neighborhoods were opened as players progressed through the game. Ultimately, some loopholes made it possible to “sneak” into restricted areas of the map before unlocking them.

The original and expanded areas of Vice City failed to cover a fraction of the San Andreas map. Recently released franchises are more strict about where players can go before unlocking other areas.

It’s also the norm for some studios to release certain titles without the entire map being ready. The team can create more experiences and test further in the background, and sending updates is easier when franchises are online.

Free vs Structured Open-World Experiences

The divide between gamers who love free concepts and those who prefer structured titles continues to widen. It might be almost impossible to find a consensus but people who favor the free mode remember a time when games weren’t riddled with microtransactions and obnoxious streamers.

There’s something about being free to go almost anywhere and do whatever you wish without worrying about what the creators intended for players to do.

Alternatively, structured titles give players a sense of purpose and direction. It’s easy to get excited and distracted by the next shiny object as a gamer; a bit of structure and restriction can be the difference between enjoying a game and going through the motions.

What can gamers expect from titles in 2025 and beyond?

  • Less Open-World Concepts. Studios are releasing fewer titles than they can because many are unwilling to take the financial risk of investing in developing a new franchise without the requisite demand from players. The biggest studios also rake in considerable revenue from existing products.
  • Shift to Structured Open-World Titles. It’s often easier and cheaper to work on a structured product. Additionally, studios can make more money through microtransactions, so it’s in their best interests to force as many players as possible to do the same things and yearn for similar outcomes.
  • Online Forever. If you’re old enough, you can remember returning from school or work, powering your gaming console or PC, and enjoying a peaceful experience for hours. That’s almost impossible to do these days because almost every franchise is connected to the internet.

Enjoy While You Can

Open-world gaming is a gift to humanity, and if you’re lucky enough to come across a title that works for you and ticks all your boxes, ensure you enjoy it as much as possible before the studios rip out all the features you love to maximize profit and increase in-play transactions.

Richard is an experienced tech journalist and blogger who is passionate about new and emerging technologies. He provides insightful and engaging content for Connection Cafe and is committed to staying up-to-date on the latest trends and developments.