I’d argue Skyrim etc have an “open world” above ground in addition to many “linear worlds” , i.e. the caves and houses behind loading screens. Open world games let you choose where to go and how to get there, as opposed to linear “corridor” games like Half Life or Halo where you literally follow a single path from A to B as you progress from one level to the next.
Then there’s games like original Fable which blurs the line, because technically you choose where to go and how to get there, but each loading area is so small, it doesn’t feel like an open world at all. And also you can’t go off the path.
Btw if you don’t like loading screens, have you tried Space Engineers? You can literally travel from one full sized planet (~40km diameter) to another full sized without a single loading screen. While flying you can walk around the inside or outside of your spaceship, no loading screens.
Toes@ani.social 5 days ago
I can’t say I’ve ever heard your use of the term open world before. As I’ve known it, it’s always meant a game world where you can practically go anywhere with minimal to no barriers. Such as GTA3 and that bloody bridge.