How to Find Joy in the Small Details of Open World Games

7 August 2025

Let’s be real for a second—open world games are massive. We’re talking hundreds of hours of gameplay, sprawling maps, overflowing quest logs, and systems upon systems that could make your head spin. But here’s the kicker: the deepest joy? The real magic? It’s not always in the main story or flashy boss fights. It’s in the little things—those small, often-overlooked moments that make you stop, smile, and say, “Damn… this is why I play.”

So, how do you actually tap into that kind of joy? How do you break away from the overwhelming checklist of objectives and actually take a deep breath and appreciate the world these game devs poured their hearts into?

Well, buckle up. We're diving into how to truly find joy in the small details of open world games.

The Curse of the Main Quest Tunnel Vision

Let’s talk about the big elephant in the room—main quest tunnel vision. We’ve all been there. Boot up the game, check out the map, and BAM—there’s a giant marker telling you where to go next. And because we’re conditioned to progress, we chase it like a dog with a bone.

But here’s the truth: when you ONLY follow that main quest line, you're missing half the game.

Games like The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, or Breath of the Wild weren’t just made for you to rush to the final cutscene. They were crafted with love, filled with scatterings of beauty, mystery, and soul in every nook and cranny. The developers didn’t pour hundreds of hours into animating squirrels or designing ambient forest sounds just for you to fast-travel past them.

You want the good stuff? It’s off the beaten path.

Treat the World Like a Playground, Not a Race Track

Think back to when you were a kid. Playgrounds weren’t about reaching a destination—they were about messing around. You weren’t trying to "win." You were exploring, discovering, laughing, and just vibing.

Open world games? Same thing. Turn off your “must complete all objectives” brain, and just wander.

See a weird rock formation? Climb it.
Hear a strange sound in the woods? Investigate it.
Find a random item with no obvious use? Pick it up.

Trust me, the more you treat the world like a living, breathing space rather than a checklist, the more those small details will hit different.

Slow Down and Smell the Pixels

Let’s be honest. We rush too much. We’re in such a hurry to unlock everything that we rarely just… slow down.

Next time you play, literally stop for a second.
• Look at the sun setting behind the mountains.
• Listen to the shift in music as you change biomes.
• Watch NPCs go about their day with lives you’ve never interacted with.
• Read those books on shelves. You’d be surprised the lore gems you’ll find.

Games like Elden Ring or Skyrim are dripping with environmental storytelling. Letters, bloodstains, graffiti, architecture—the world speaks if you’re patient enough to listen.

Start Journaling Your Adventures

Okay, this might sound a little nerdy, but hear me out.

Keeping a digital journal (or even a real one!) of your in-game discoveries, thoughts, or funny encounters can completely shift your mindset. Suddenly, the game feels more like a personal journey and less like a grind.

Write down:
- That time you accidentally fell off a cliff and landed on a hidden cave.
- The moment you helped a random villager and it turned into a whole saga.
- The weird, possibly haunted shack you found with eerie music and no explanation.

You’ll find yourself playing differently—paying more attention and engaging with the world in a way that feels truly immersive.

Interact With Everything (Yes, Even That Chicken)

Here’s the deal: Developers are cheeky. They hide little easter eggs, jokes, and secrets in the weirdest places. Sometimes, that random item or background animal isn’t just window dressing—it’s a trigger for something wild.

Hit the chicken in Zelda, anyone?

Whether it’s a hidden dialogue line, a surprise ambush, or an unexpected reward, taking time to poke the world in all the wrong places often leads to some of the most memorable moments.

So yeah—interact with the chicken. Always.

Crank Up That Photo Mode

Most of us take more screenshots in open world games than we do on vacation—and for good reason.

Photo mode isn’t just for flexing your gear on social media. It’s a way to see the world from a new angle (literally). When you're framing the perfect shot, you start noticing the little things—lighting, color, expressions, tiny background elements you’d otherwise ignore.

It’s like suddenly becoming both the tourist and the photographer. And you don’t need a reason. Snap that pic of your horse standing majestically on a cliff at sunrise. Capture that eerie fog rolling over a battlefield. They’re YOUR memories, after all.

And let’s face it, every good adventurer needs a photo album.

Let Yourself Get Lost

One of the greatest features of a solid open world game isn't the fast travel—but how easily you can get lost.

Like, really lost.

Let the map fade into the background. Ignore the waypoints. Just pick a direction and walk. If you stumble into something cool—great! If not, no big deal. The act of wandering for the sake of wandering is peaceful, meditative, and often brings you into contact with the details that make a game world feel real.

You might find:
- A hidden shrine with cryptic messages
- An abandoned home with a tragic backstory
- A musical change that gives you chills

When was the last time you intentionally got lost in a game?

Watch the World React to You

Ever notice how the world subtly changes based on what you do? Maybe you save a village and suddenly NPCs greet you differently. Maybe you cause a ruckus in a city and guards start keeping an eye on you.

These aren’t major plot twists. They’re microreactions that reflect your presence. And they’re hugely satisfying.

It’s the game saying, “Hey, I see you. You matter here.”

Next time you play, look out for those reactions. They’re not always loud, but they’re always rewarding.

Embrace Roleplaying — Even If You’re Just Being a Goof

Roleplaying isn’t just for hardcore D&D nerds or YouTubers. It can be as simple as:
- Only using a bow because you’ve “sworn off violence.”
- Refusing to wear armor because it “blocks your connection to nature.”
- Giving your character a silly backstory and acting it out in decisions.

When you lean into a role—no matter how ridiculous—it suddenly turns every small interaction into a new layer of fun. That tiny side quest? Now it’s a moral dilemma. That shopkeeper? Your arch nemesis.

It’s the kind of joyful play that makes open world games a sandbox for creativity—not just combat.

Listen to the Music, Not Just the Dialogue

Sound design in open world games is criminally underrated. That melancholy tune when you cross a war-torn valley? That subtle hum in a spooky dungeon? It’s all part of the atmosphere.

Just stop running for a second and listen.

Better yet, turn off the HUD and UI altogether for a while. Let yourself exist in the world without distractions. You’ll start to notice the rhythm, the heartbeat of the digital landscape. And trust me—it hits deep.

Campfires, Sunsets and Other Vibe Checks

Sometimes, the perfect moment in a game isn’t about what you do—it’s about what you feel.

Sitting by a fire in Ghost of Tsushima. Watching the sun rise over a mountain in Far Cry. Listening to the rain in Death Stranding.

These are the vibe checks. The moments that ground you in a game and make it feel… real. Like you’re not just playing a game, but living a story.

Take time for those. Celebrate them. Screenshot the hell out of them.

Final Thoughts: The Beauty is in the Details

At the end of the day, open world games are more than quests and combat. They’re digital worlds designed to feel alive, immersive, and deeply human. And the true joy? It’s hiding in plain sight.

It’s in every weather change. Every scribbled note. Every distant tower on the horizon. You just have to be willing to look. Not for loot or XP—but for moments.

So next time you boot up your favorite open world game, don’t rush. Don’t grind. Don’t “complete.”

Wander.
Watch.
Listen.
Play.

And most importantly, feel.

Because in the world of open world gaming, it’s the smallest details that often leave the biggest impact.