In video games, it’s very easy to get lulled into the mindset that if the game gets the big moments right, then the rest will fall into place.
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However, it’s often the opposite, because if you don’t get the basics right, no one will stick around to see the big set pieces and showstoppers later down the line.
Take traversal, for example. The medium of getting from A to B in video games is a very important aspect of gameplay, and if it sucks to get around, chances are players are going to have a pretty bad time.
Thankfully though, a lot of video games absolutely nail traversal mechanics and make simply running around vast worlds a blessing in and of itself.
To prove my point, here are ten outstanding examples of awesome traversal mechanics in video games.
10Forspoken
We kick things off with a game that most people will be surprised to see in a best-of list of any variety, but I assure you,Forspokendid one thing right, and it was traversal.
If you set aside the plodding opening, the barren world, the obnoxious protagonist, and, well, pretty much everything else, you will find that the parkour-inspired movement is a blast to experience.
The world, while lacking in landmarks, is eye-catching if nothing else, meaning just free-roaming is very easy on the eye. Not to mention, the assortment of powers you gain throughout the adventure only adds to the fluidity of the movement mechanics as the game progresses.
Sure, you will have to endure some pretty by-the-numbers open-world design and some awful writing, but if you just want a world that feels like a parkour playground, Forspoken surprisingly has a lot to offer.
Not Quite Journey, But Close
Walking simulatorsand puzzle platformers aren’t always known for their tight movement mechanics, as they tend to focus on the world around you much more to compensate.
However, some games like to offer satisfaction through smooth movement, andOmnois very much one of those titles.
This indie puzzler is a casual affair that allows you to explore large open spaces in various biomes and complete platforming sequences, puzzles and much more. But in truth, many will stick around for the wealth of excellent ways to get around the world thatOmnooffers.
Whether it’s a hoverboard to traverse down sand dunes, a staff that can teleport you across wide chasms, or floating weightlessly through the air.
Omnomakes each action feel good, and perhaps that’s why this simplistic indie is referred to as a spiritual successor to Journey in many ways. High praise indeed.
Big Katamari Vibes
Before the days of the Wii motion controls and thenewfangled invention of VR, developers had to get pretty creative to make traversal feel involved and exciting.
It wasn’t easy with primitive tech, but through the trigger buttons on the PSP,LocoRocomanaged to offer a format that would rock the world, quite literally.
Through tilting the screen left and right, the player is able to shift the world on its axis to guide their cute little blob buddies, and split them into tiny particles, making the whole process of A to B feel like putting a coin in one of those elaborate coin drop machines.
It’s a simple premise that is milked for all it’s worth to great effect and still serves as one of the most joyful, whimsical, and colorful titles to ever grace our screens. So, give it a try, and I assure you, you’ll be as loco forLocoRocoas I am in no time.
7Death Stranding
Help Bridges Build Bridges
Death Stranding
This may feel like something out of left field, and, in a lot of ways, it is. But just because a traversal mechanic isn’t fun or satisfying doesn’t mean it isn’t good.
You see,Death Strandingsets out to offer a traversal system where it’s challenging to do menial tasks and cover minuscule distances and offers a setup where small mistakes have catastrophic consequences.
But that’s the typical Kojima charm that makes this game so great. As every small hurdle cleared is a dopamine rush like no other. Not to mention the inherent feeling of risk and reward is exhilarating.
It’s a Marmite game for sure, and some will find little joy in stacking boxes high andmoving at a snail’s pace.Which, don’t get me wrong, it’s perfectly understandable.
But for those who understand what Death Stranding is trying to do and like what they see, it can be a relaxing, rewarding, and surprisingly entertaining experience.
6Gravity Rush 2
What Goes Up Must Come Down
Gravity Rush 2
The concept of low gravity and zero gravity are hardly unique ideas within the gaming industry. I personally remember many long online sessions playingUnreal Tournament 2004on low-gravity maps and having a ball.
However, it’s not the concept of gravity that’s creative; it’s what you do with it that makes a game stand out, and boy,Gravity Rushdoes that and then some.
Getting around inGravity Rushis cathartic bliss as you leap, soar, and free-fall with a sense of complete weightlessness, all the while welding the power to turn gravity on its axis and send yourself careening in another direction entirely.
This leads to some of the most intriguing world design, platforming and gameplay you’ll likely ever witness, and while the initialGravity Rushhad its teething problems, the sequel fixes a lot of these problems, providing the definitive experience worth playing today.
So, if you want to tell Issac Newton where to stick his apple, then giveGravity Rush 2a try.
5Just Cause 4
Maximum Destruction
Just Cause 4
I am always wary of recommending theJust Causeseries to anyone, mainly because it is rather shallow in terms of story and substance.
However, if you’re just looking for a fun sandbox where you get to zip around the place causing as much destruction as humanly possible, then Just Cause is probably the first game I would recommend.
The explosive action and varied gunplay is great throughout the series, but Just Cause is mainly known for one thing, and that’s the parachute mechanics.
With the aid of a parachute and a grappling hook, you may defy the laws of physics to effectively fly endlessly around the vast map at your leisure.
It’s a blast to see just what sort of physics-bending antics you may get up to, and while you’re in the air, you might as well start shooting down soldiers and leading a revolution.
It’s a sandbox romp that doesn’t take itself too seriously and takes the laws of physics even less seriously. But in this case, it really works a treat.
4Yoku’s Island Express
Express Delivery
In most Metroidvanias, you can often guess the movement mechanics and upgrades before even starting your adventure. There will almost always be a dash, a wall jump, and a double jump, to name a few.
However, there’s only one game out there that I’ve ever seen make slapping a dungeon beetle around like a pinball the core traversal mechanic, and that’sYoku’s Island Express.
Yoku is a casual and colorful Metroidvania which has you explore the world through aseries of pinball mini-games, and only through bringing outyour inner arcade ratwill you be able to explore the island to the fullest.
It’s a surreal design choice that works surprisingly well, and with the addition of fun puzzles and a surprisingly interesting story, this title really is the full package.
So, to help a little dung beetle achieve his dream of becoming a mercurial mailman, dive into this one real soon.
A Tropical Paradise
I’ll be the first to say that,despite looking like a Pixar movieand showing a lot of initial promise,Tchiais a pretty hit-and-miss game. It has way too many mini-games, terrible combat, and a story that fails to match Pixar’s emotional resonance.
However, simply existing and getting around the tropical paradise of New Caledonia is a wonderful time.
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Tchiaborrows a lot of mechanics from a certainZeldagame we have yet to mention.But the coolest means of getting around isTchia’sSoul Jumping mechanic, which allows you to control all the creatures that call the archipelago home.
you’re able to soar like a bird, run like a gazelle, swim like a fish, and hop seamlessly from one to the next in a flash. It’s a game that does feature fast travel, but let me tell you, getting around is so enjoyable that I would wager you’ll never use it once.
So, if only to experience this Soul Jumping mechanic alone,Tchiais worth checking out.
2The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Look Out Below!
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
I told you we would be mentioningZelda, and rightfully so, asBreath of the Wild,and by extension,Tears of the Kingdom, have inspired so many games to borrow this influential traversal format.
BOTW introduced phenomenallyaccessible open-world exploration mechanics, allowing players to climb any cliff face the eye can see and glide through the air to far-off areas in the distance with ease.
But props have to go to TOTK for building upon this strong foundation, adding more verticality to the game, and offering loads of opportunities to skydive, which is a blast.
Plus, you have the building mechanics that only add to the means of getting around, as with those mechanics at your disposal, your only limitation is your imagination.
Games like Genshin Impact, Fenyx: Immortals Rising, Palworld, and so many other top-tier games have all used this setup as the blueprint for their respective games, and it’s easy to see why.
There’s a reason this game is considered one of the greatest of all time, so check it out for yourself and see what all the fuss is about.
1Marvel’s Spiderman 2
Does Whatever A Spider Can
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
You knew it was coming, and if you didn’t, you need to have your Spidey senses checked.
TheMarvel’s Spider-Manseries is a game that takes the fluid but antiquated web-swinging mechanics of the PS2 movie tie-in for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, and then revamps the system to offer a modern take which feels uber-satisfying to engage with and master.
Right from the moment the game drops you into an action-packed set-piece, your first string of swings feels fluid, intuitive, and satisfying, and the process of mastering this art over the course of the game is equally joyous.
It’s a title that focuses on giving you the authentic Spider-Man experience, with skyscrapers zooming past in your periphery and crime lurking around every corner.
Throw in a stellar original spidey story, a wealth of open-world activities, and slick combat, and you have a recipe for one of the finest open-world titles of this modern era.
So stock up on web canisters, put on the famous mask, and get out there in the city that never sleeps.
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