Summary
Open-world gameshave often been characterized by gameplay mechanics such ashuntingand combat. While these games are currently at the forefront of popular consciousness with the release of upcoming titles such asAssassins Creed: ShadowsandGTA 6, they are not usually known for their often game-definingtime manipulation mechanics.Hence, its name; this element involves manipulating time within the confines of a game’s story and gameplay, adding considerable depth and nuance.
Beloved games such asSuperHot, Deathloop,andDishonouredhave all delved into this specific mechanic with great success, but it is much less exploredin open-world titles. However, despite slim pickings, numerous titles successfully use theirtime manipulation mechanics inopen-world sandboxes.
While technically not a core mechanic ofStarfield’s open world, players can manipulate time and space to journey to new universes in New Game+ mode to start a fresh story featuring new versions of the original narrative and different interpretations of characters encountered in the original campaign. After every story completion, players are reincarnated into a new universe as a Starborn.
With unique and original gameplaymechanics and features,Starfieldallows players to manipulate time and space to get different outcomes for their characters in a never-ending time loop of universe-changing consequences.
Outer Wildsis an open-world adventure puzzle game developed by Mobius Digital and released in 2019. The game is set in an ever-changing solar system stuck in a time loop that players must explore in exactly 22 minutes, after which pointthe sun will explode,resetting the time loop.
The game features diverse, physics-based environments that effectively capture the vastness of an explorable solar system.Outer Wildsis a great open-world experience that uses the power of time manipulation as a central point of the game’s story, allowing players to use the time loop to their advantage in both puzzle-solving and exploration.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis one of the greatest open-world games ever. The first game in the series to introduce a fully immersive open world,Breath of the Wildallowed players to explore the lands of Hyrule in all their glory.
One of the game’s core mechanics was its Stasis rune ability, allowing Link to stop time in its tracks, easily freezing objects and enemies. Although the power only briefly freezes objects, the mechanic quickly becomes an effective tool in the players' arsenal when tackling some of the game’s most demanding open-world challenges.The mechanic is essential toBreath of the Wild,allowing for extensive and surprising player creativity.
The most recent game on this list, and the sequel toBreath of Wild, isTears of the Kingdom.While not predominantly known for its time-bending features, one core mechanic leans heavily on time manipulation — that being Recall.
Recall is a time manipulation ability that gives Link the power to reverse time on objects, acting as the opposite of Stasis inBreath of the Wild. This mechanic enables Link to reverse time around him, using it to his advantage when fighting enemies and tacklingpuzzles.
Released in 2000,Majora’s Maskwas a special game that moved away from the recurring tropes of otherZeldagames, such as featuring antagonist Ganondorf and the usual quest that sees Link travel the lands of Hyrule to defeat evil of his own free will. InMajora’s Mask, Link must save the world from a post-apocalyptic being trapped in Majora’s Mask, and from the moon’s impending collision with the Earth, all within three days. The game has a time mechanic that tracks Link’s progress, with the game’s clock counting down to doomsday. Besides its unique setting and gameplay, Link can also manipulate and influence time through a song called “Inverted Song of Time,” a distinctive melody that lets Link slow time extensively, making it easier to complete the game.
Majora’s Mask has the most interesting and dynamic time manipulation mechanics on this list, with the very alteration of time impacting the game’s entire story and outcome.
