I struggle with ADHD and have a short attention span, so I need open world games that don’t start off slow or force me to redo the same stuff repeatedly. I like procedurally generated games and dislike managing huge inventories or worrying about weight limits. Games like Atomfall and Avowed hit this balance well, with minimal dialogue and cutscenes, and simple inventory management. I’ve played a lot and currently find Assassin’s Creed Shadows kinda meh because of too many cutscenes, long dialogue, and annoying mandatory mini-games that disrupt the pace. Far Cry 5 and Just Cause 4 were good examples of what I like. I also like Mass Effect Andromeda but too much dialog. I want open worlds without constant loading screens or backtracking, and dialogues that don’t drag. I play on PC, Xbox, Quest 3, and Switch. Any recommendations for open world games that keep the pace lively, focus on gameplay, and aren’t filled with annoying inventory or slow storytelling?
4 Answers
You mentioned Dead by Daylight — it’s an interesting one! Not the typical open world, but it’s pretty light on story and dialogue and focuses on action and strategy. Plus, there’s some crafting and survival mechanics without the inventory overload. Just depends if you want PvP or co-op; it’s mostly PvP, though.
I get what you mean about games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring not being your thing — the punishing combat and repeated boss attempts can get really frustrating. Since you want minimal dialog and cutscenes, Elden Ring isn’t great, even though it’s gameplay focused and light on story interruptions. Totally understood to skip that one if it feels slow or clunky to you.
If you have a Switch, definitely check out Xenoblade Chronicles X. It’s a huge open world packed with action but doesn’t drown you in endless dialogue or cutscenes. It keeps the gameplay flowing nicely and has a variety of quests without making you grind or backtrack too much. Plus, it’s pretty friendly on inventory management compared to other RPGs.
Have you tried Mad Max? It’s an open world action game with not too much dialogue or cutscenes, and it has decent vehicle combat. It can get a bit repetitive after a while, but it’s pretty straightforward and doesn’t bombard you with item management headaches. You might also want to look at Rage 2 if you’re into FPS style open worlds — Rage 1 was heavier on cutscenes, but Rage 2 is more fast-paced and action-focused.
Yeah, I played Mad Max briefly. It was fun but eventually felt repetitive since it’s mostly the same type of missions. Co-op would make it better but that’s not available. I might give Rage 2 a try considering what you said.
Thanks! I do own a Switch but never gave Xenoblade a try. I tried some newer Pokemon games but got bored fast since they felt repetitive. Maybe I’ll give Xenoblade a shot.