How Do Game Developers Get Inspiration For Open-World Games?

2026-04-07 04:02:58
104
Share
ABO Personality Quiz
Take a quick quiz to find out whether you‘re Alpha, Beta, or Omega.
Start Test
Write Answer
Ask Question

2 Answers

Una
Una
Favorite read: Shadows of Solitude
Careful Explainer Lawyer
Inspiration for open-world games? It’s everywhere. I once talked to a dev who said their entire game concept started with a childhood memory of getting lost in a flea market—the chaos, the odd treasures, the sense of infinite possibility. That became the foundation for a bustling in-game bazaar. Other times, it’s about solving a frustration: someone plays a game and thinks, 'Ugh, why can’t I climb that wall?' Next thing you know, they’re building a world where you can scale every surface. Music, architecture, even bad weather can spark ideas. 'Death Stranding' basically turned a rainy day into a whole aesthetic. The best open worlds don’t just copy reality—they remix it into something stranger and more exciting.
2026-04-09 09:50:48
7
Uma
Uma
Favorite read: The Lost World
Active Reader Sales
Open-world games feel like they’ve been stitched together from a hundred different dreams, and honestly, I love piecing together how those inspirations take shape. One thing that fascinates me is how much real-world exploration feeds into these games. Take 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'—the team literally hiked through forests and mountains to capture that sense of discovery. It’s not just about landscapes, though. Folklore, history, and even urban myths get woven in. 'Red Dead Redemption 2' borrowed heavily from cowboy ballads and frontier diaries to make its world feel lived-in. And then there’s the weird stuff: indie devs might pull from abstract art or personal memories to create something surreal, like 'Kentucky Route Zero.'

But it’s not all highbrow research. Sometimes, it’s as simple as binge-watching a TV show or playing another game and thinking, 'What if this, but with dragons?' Or 'What if this city had a thousand hidden alleyways?' Developers mix high and low culture like DJs sampling tracks—throw in a dash of 'Blade Runner,' a pinch of their favorite hiking trip, and a sprinkle of that one weird dream about flying whales. The magic happens when those pieces collide in unexpected ways, creating worlds that feel both familiar and utterly new. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve wandered through a game and thought, 'This feels like it was made just for me.'
2026-04-13 19:48:58
5
View All Answers
Scan code to download App

Related Books

Related Questions

How do video games craft enthralling open-world experiences?

3 Answers2026-04-23 03:36:18
Open-world games hook me because they feel like living, breathing universes where every corner holds a secret. Take 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'—what blew my mind wasn’t just the scale, but how organic everything felt. Climb any mountain, and you’ll stumble upon a hidden shrine or a quirky NPC with their own story. The magic lies in 'player-driven discovery.' No checklist markers screaming 'GO HERE!'—just curiosity rewarded. And then there’s environmental storytelling. In 'Red Dead Redemption 2,' abandoned cabins or animal carcasses tell grim tales without a single cutscene. It’s not about filling space with quests; it’s about making the world react to you. When I accidentally set a forest on fire with a careless arrow in 'Elden Ring,' and the deer fled in panic, I realized: the best open worlds don’t feel designed. They feel discovered.
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status