I've got something of an odd itch that's almost hard to describe because it seems so underused in games.You know how so many rpgs give you a central goal or motivation to pursue, often with a set party of established characters but not always, and on the way you're taken across a variety of regions and locations friendly and unfriendly alike. Sometimes it gives you wriggle room to explore around and check out places that don't directly relate to the main goal but overall the tide drags you towards that main goal and big bad and that ending.I want to know if there's any RPGs that are nothing but the world exploration and dungeon delving.Basically that there is absolutely no plot or goal, and your adventuring band is just venturing out to discover things and get rich. The world just exists, perhaps with some random shifting factors to keep it fresh but no actual end goal or ending, and the motivation to find locations and dungeons and such is just to see what's there and what's to be found there.More meat to it and it's world then a roguelike, even less goals and direction then an Elder Scrolls (although I've heard Daggerfall has elements that support what I'm thinking of), perhaps more emphasis on needing to prepare and gather supplies for particular ventures.Does this actually exist in any form? Is it an untouched niche that someone should jump on? Or is it something that sounds better in my head but wouldn't actually be fun or keep attention if manifest?
I haven't played much of it but it kinda sounds like Kenshi.
As far as the west goes I guess there's Kenshi?But some people don't really consider it an RPG.I suppose something like Wartales also qualifies, Mechajammer is also sorta relevant in that your only objective is to find a way out of a city you're stranded in and you are free to do it however you want with no bottlenecks or caveats outside of the game itself being buggy as hell.There's of course a rather large variety of roguelike games like ADOM, Omega, and what have you but I don't think that's what you're looking for.As for the east, the first Metal Max/Metal Max Returns is the closest thing to what you're asking, but it's rather old and might not be up to your standards in terms of mechanics and the amount of content.Of course there's also a large variety of dungeon crawlers with no real story that are all about dungeon crawling and "numbers go up" until you decide to go to the last dungeon and beat the shit of whatever the last boss is, but to be fair I don't that's what you're asking for.Alternatively there's the Lunatic Dawn games which are wholly open and rather directionless but like Kenshi some people consider them sim/management games rather than true RPGs.
>>3951090Ultima 4
Just play Elin and be done with it.
>>3951101Seems like Metal Max is pretty close to what I'm thinking, even if it does have an ending and intro.>>3951129I'm too scared of that and it's fans.
>>3951383The intro is just your father kicking you out of home because you want to go on adventures and the ending is completely optional, you have to actively go back to your home and talk to your father to even see the "ending", the game's content can be completed in nearly any order and the game does not end after beating the "big bad" either.
>>3951090It's the rpg I've always wanted to make.Basically you'd play a smuggler or itenerant of some sort. You might have some special gift, passed down from your family or something. Like an ability to sense rare power crystals or something. So you'd have a ship of some sort, powered by these crystals, and you'd sell the rest for profits. You'd be able to roam and adventure all over the world or galaxy, getting rich and powerful. No grand narrative, though ideally there'd be lots of interesting lore to discover and characters to meet.
>>3951090Outward is pretty close to what you're describing. There is an initial "quest" with a timed element to it but it has multiple, easy ways to complete it. Or you can fail and still be able to continue. IIRC you just get locked out of the first home base, which I rarely used anyway. From there, you can basically just adventure around as much as you want, ignoring the shitty skeleton of the main story if you want.
>>3951090Darklands?
>>3951090you want an RPG with literally no story or plot?>Or is it something that sounds better in my head but wouldn't actually be fun or keep attention if manifest?probably yeah
>>3951090Horizon's Gate might scratch that itch for you. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1224290/Horizons_Gate/Tactical RPG party kinda like FFT. You get a boat, you explore the world on boat. You buy low sell high, explore a few dungeons, maybe go full-pirate and steal other ships. hire crew, train crew, etc. Basically zero story beyond the tutorial opening & the ending. the naval battles are fun once you find the better attachments. you can board enemy ships, kill the crew & steal it. bery fun.
>>3953403Really great game, true hidden gem. I wish the developer would make a sequel rather than the other mid games he makes.
>>3953403 (me)to add to this i'd recommend downloading a bunch of stuff from the workshop before your first playthrough if you're like me and get peeved by knowing something's modded content. the world can be pretty bare leaving you with the feeling of "i built up my party but there's not enough to throw it against" in endgame. but it's usually a good sign when someone's biggest complaint is that there wasn't enough of something.
>>3951090OutwardCrystal PajeetSable - It's pure exploration bliss once you get past the lack of combat.
>>3951090
>>3951725>>3953411i bought outward in the spring sale and i didn't really get itat least the combat that isdoes it get any better when/if you unlock spells or abilities?
>>3955919>does it get any better when/if you unlock spells or abilities?It's a game about exploration and discovery. There are no spells or abilities to speak of.
