How to Explore Efficiently in Open-World Games
If you’ve spent hours wandering through an open-world game, you’ve probably had those moments where you find yourself completely lost, not just in the game world, but also in the sheer number of things you could be doing. Open-world games are huge, immersive, and have so much to explore. But they can also be overwhelming. There are quests, collectibles, NPCs, random events, and endless landscapes that can take you down a rabbit hole. And let’s be honest, sometimes you’re just chasing the next shiny thing without thinking much about how to make the most of your time.
I’ve been there. In fact, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes when it comes to exploring efficiently in open-world games. There’s something exciting about the idea of “just exploring,” but I’ve learned the hard way that without a little strategy, it can feel like you’re wasting time. So, in this post, I want to share some tips and insights that I’ve picked up along the way. Hopefully, this will save you from making the same mistakes I did and help you get more out of your open-world adventures.
1. Set Clear Goals (But Stay Flexible)
One of the first things I’ve learned is that it’s important to set some kind of goal or direction. I remember playing The Witcher 3 for the first time, and I was so excited about the open world that I immediately started running around, taking on side quests, exploring random towns, and collecting every little item I could find. What happened? Well, I got distracted and ended up nowhere near where I needed to be for the main quest. And when I finally tried to focus on the main mission, I felt under-leveled, and it was frustrating. It felt like I had wasted a lot of time.
Now, I try to set some mini-goals. For example, when playing Red Dead Redemption 2, I tell myself, “Okay, I’m going to focus on these two or three side quests, then check out this location, and after that, I’ll see how much of the main story I can knock out.” It gives me a sense of purpose while still allowing for exploration.
But here’s the thing: stay flexible. Sometimes you’re just gonna stumble on something way cooler than the quest you’re following. You might discover a hidden cave with loot, or a stranger that gives you an unexpected side mission. Let yourself get lost—just make sure you’re not too far off track for too long.
2. Take Advantage of the Map and Markers
If you’re like me, you might’ve been a bit too proud in the past to use the in-game map. “I don’t need it,” I thought, “I’ll just use my sense of direction and a little bit of trial and error.” Turns out, that doesn’t always work, and I wasted a lot of time running in circles.
Most open-world games give you a map and various ways to mark points of interest. In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, I didn’t take full advantage of these markers early on. But once I started using them, I realized how much more efficient it made my exploring. Instead of aimlessly wandering, I could easily jump from one interesting area to the next.
Take a second to set markers for things that catch your eye—whether it’s a specific building, a cave, or a hidden merchant you’ve heard about. Games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla let you mark all kinds of locations, from points of interest to enemy camps, and it makes exploration so much smoother.
3. Prioritize Resources and Materials
If you’re like me, you’re probably constantly picking up all sorts of stuff, even the items that seem useless at the time. But here’s the thing I learned the hard way—sometimes it’s easy to overlook resources, and then when you’re in the middle of a crafting session or trying to upgrade gear, you realize you don’t have enough materials.
When I first started playing Horizon Zero Dawn, I was hoarding everything, thinking it would all be useful eventually. But then I found myself with a backpack full of useless stuff. As I progressed, I realized that prioritizing the right materials made a huge difference. Instead of just grabbing everything, I focused on items that I knew would come in handy for upgrades or crafting.
A little tip here: Make sure to prioritize key resources like herbs, ores, or animal pelts that are essential for the crafting systems in most games. These are often the items that get you ahead in terms of progression or make a huge difference in combat situations.
| Essential Resources | What They’re Used For |
|---|---|
| Herbs/Plants | Healing, Crafting Items |
| Animal Pelts | Armor, Crafting Ammo |
| Ores and Minerals | Weapon/Armor Upgrades |
| Rare Artifacts | Special Quests, Crafting |
4. Embrace Fast Travel (But Don’t Overuse It)
Fast travel is a game-changer. Period. Especially when you’ve just spent 30 minutes walking across the map to reach a location and you realize that one of your objectives is five steps away from your camp. It’s so easy to forget that fast travel exists, but the moment you realize it, you’re hooked. In games like The Witcher 3 and Fallout 4, fast travel can save you so much time, but here’s the kicker: don’t overdo it.
When I was deep into The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, I got a little too comfortable with fast travel. It felt like a time-saver, but it took away from the joy of discovering new locations and hidden treasures. So, while fast travel is great for cutting down on unnecessary backtracking, make sure you’re still giving yourself the chance to experience the world. Walking, riding, or sailing around gives you the opportunity to find things that you wouldn’t have seen if you were just zipping around.
5. Stay Organized and Use Your Inventory Wisely
I don’t know about you, but keeping track of my inventory used to be a bit of a nightmare. I mean, there are always so many things to collect and manage in these games. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to pause the game, sift through a cluttered inventory, and then spend an hour figuring out what I even need.
My best advice is to stay organized. Some games have filters that let you sort items based on use, rarity, or type. Don’t wait until you’re in a panic to organize. In Monster Hunter: World, I learned to sort my inventory regularly, making sure I wasn’t carrying around things that I didn’t need. It sounds basic, but being able to easily find potions, arrows, or crafting materials makes a huge difference when you’re deep into an exploration session.
6. Take Breaks and Have Fun With It
At the end of the day, open-world games are about having fun. They’re designed to be immersive, and they give you the freedom to explore at your own pace. But after hours of endless running around, you can easily start to feel burnt out. Trust me, I’ve been there. After grinding through mission after mission, I got frustrated and lost all enjoyment in Fallout: New Vegas.
Taking breaks is essential. If you find yourself getting tired of one area or feeling like you’re grinding too much, switch it up. Go to a completely different region or start a random side quest. It’ll help you reset and get that excitement back.
Final Thoughts
Exploring efficiently in open-world games is all about balance. You don’t want to rush through everything, but you also don’t want to waste hours chasing every random event. Find your rhythm. Set goals but stay flexible. Use the map and fast travel, but don’t miss out on the little details by zipping around too much.
The more time you spend in these virtual worlds, the better you’ll get at navigating them. And, as with anything in gaming, a little trial and error can go a long way. So don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn as you go—after all, exploration is part of the fun.
Happy adventuring!