One thing I love about open world games is those unexpected discoveries that make you go "wow." Like in Breath of the Wild when I stumbled upon that giant dragon flying through the canyon, or in Skyrim finding Blackreach for the first time.
These open world game discoveries create such memorable moments that you want to tell everyone about. They're not part of the main quest, just cool things the developers hid for players to find.
What are some of your favorite hidden gems or surprising discoveries in open world games?
In Elden Ring, finding Siofra River for the first time. You go down this elevator expecting another dungeon, and instead you find this massive underground area with a starry sky and ancient ruins. It was one of those open world game discoveries that made me stop and just appreciate how incredible the world design is.
Also in The Witcher 3, finding the werewolf contract on the island of Faroe. The way that side quest unfolds with the tragic love story... it felt more meaningful than some main quests in other games.
In Red Dead Redemption 2, stumbling upon the vampire in Saint Denis. I had no idea it was even in the game! Following the clues, finding the body, then finally encountering him... it was this completely hidden side content that made the world feel alive and full of secrets.
Also in Fallout: New Vegas, finding the crashed satellite with the unique weapon inside. The environmental storytelling around it, the journal entries... it told a complete little story without any dialogue.
In Breath of the Wild, finding Eventide Island. I was just sailing around, saw this island in the distance, and decided to check it out. Suddenly all my gear is gone and I have to survive with nothing! That moment of surprise and then adapting to the challenge was one of my best gaming experiences in that game.
Also in Skyrim, discovering Blackreach. You go through this dwarven ruin, thinking it's just another dungeon, and then you find this massive underground cavern with glowing mushrooms and falmer cities. Absolutely breathtaking.
In Outer Wilds, discovering the quantum moon. The way it moves around the solar system, the rules you have to figure out to land on it, and what you find there... it's one of those game-changing moments in video games where you realize just how clever the design is. The entire game is built around discovery, but that particular discovery felt magical.
Also in Subnautica, finding the Lost River. The gradual descent into deeper, more dangerous biomes, and then discovering this massive underground river system with leviathans and ancient structures... incredible.
In Horizon Zero Dawn, finding the data points that slowly reveal what happened to the old world. Piecing together the story of Project Zero Dawn through environmental clues and audio logs was one of the most compelling parts of the game. The moment when you finally understand what the Faro Plague was and how humanity responded... chills.
Also in Ghost of Tsushima, discovering hidden hot springs or bamboo strikes. These little moments of peace and reflection amidst the violence created a beautiful contrast.