5 best open-world mobile games to play in 2024

Open-world mobile games have evolved dramatically over the past few months, offering expansive, immersive environments for players to traverse. They have seamless worlds where player freedom is at the forefront, allowing for exploration, dynamic events, and emergent gameplay. The typical core gameplay loop blends exploration and player-driven narrative, offering high replayability.

In this article, we have compiled a list of mobile games that offer the most unique engaging open-world design. They have vast worlds, complex systems, and addictive mechanics that have transcended the typical game design framework of open-world games.

Note: This list is based on the author's opinion and is in no particular order.

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List of 5 unique open-world mobile games to download today

1) Once Human

In Once Human, all humans are uniquely bonded with alien substances (Image via Exptional Global)

Once human successfully blends survival mobile game experience and open-world exploration in a post-apocalyptic cosmic setting. Players are pushed into a somber desolate world, overrun by otherworldly creatures and hostile environments. The core gameplay loop revolves around scavenging for supplies and establishing bases for survival.

It introduces factions and guilds that players can align with, each offering unique quests and narrative arcs. The dynamic weather systems alter the open-world landscape, forcing players to adapt. Also, the deep customization of characters and gear allows for varied playstyles. Players in the same guilds have to build defenses to protect the arsenal and make it into a fortress.

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2) Tarisland

There are nine unique classes in Tarisland (Image via Level Infinite)

Tarisland is a rich MMORPG mobile game with an open fantasy world design. It features multiple biomes, from desolate wastelands to lush forests, each populated with unique dungeons, creatures, and dark environmental secrets. The core gameplay loop involves exploring the game world, battling monsters, completing quests, and upgrading gear while leveling up the character.

The game distinguishes itself with its non-linear progression systems where players can select their paths for crafting in PvE or PvP combat. Tarisland also includes large-scale events where players can team up to defeat world bosses or conquer territories. It fosters a community-driven economy, allowing one to trade, craft, and build guilds to control regions.

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3) Wuthering Waves

Players must capture lingering phantoms of Tacet Discords to recharge the echo skill (Image via HK KURO GAMES LIMITED)

A narrative-driven open-world mobile game, Wuthering Waves introduces a dystopian world of Solaris-3 filled with ancient ruins, mysterious forces, and rich, atmospheric lore. The core gameplay loop focuses on exploration and combat with fluid action-based mechanics.

Wuthering Waves encourages players to traverse vertically, scaling massive structures and gliding through the air to add a new layer of exploration. Players can even grapple and wall dash to travel great distances, although they will lose stamina. In combat, one can use various rhythmic bases, QTE mechanics with dodges, counterattacks, and echo skills for fluid combat.

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4) Sunday City: Sim Life

Players' determination for luxury and ambition is the only key to success in Sunday City (Image via KEFIR)

Sunday City: Sim Life offers a vibrant open-world-city-building idle life simulation mobile game experience where players are tasked with designing and managing a bustling metropolis. The core gameplay loop revolves around balancing the needs of citizens, managing resources, and expanding the city by constructing new buildings, upgrading infrastructure, and expanding into new areas.

An interesting aspect of this city-builder mobile game is its adaptive economy that reacts to player decisions, whether it is setting taxes or where to place businesses. The open-world aspect allows players to control citizens, customizing their jobs, lives, and relationships. The robust social simulation system ensures every decision made by players impacts the city's growth in one way or the other.

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5) CarX Street

In CarX, players can buy houses to collect cars (Image via CarX Technologies, LLC)

CarX Street offers a fresh approach to the traditional open-world design by combining the thrill of racing and exploring the city at high speeds on mobile. The core gameplay focuses on street racing, where players can customize and upgrade their cars, participate in not-so-legal races, and explore hidden places in the urban environment.

The game allows players to select their routes and challenge rivals throughout the city. The dynamic systems of CarX Street, such as traffic patterns and law enforcement activities force players to strategize constantly. They can also tune and upgrade their vehicles for various races.

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