How Retro Games Inspired Modern Open-World Titles

The open-world genre, now a staple in modern gaming, has roots that trace back to the innovative game design found in retro classics. While today’s open-world games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Grand Theft Auto V are known for their vast landscapes and non-linear exploration, the fundamental concepts of freedom, exploration, and emergent gameplay were born decades earlier in more primitive forms.

Early Open-World Innovators

Retro games such as The Legend of Zelda (1986) on the NES laid the groundwork for open-world design by allowing players to explore its vast world freely, rather than following a strictly linear path. Players were given the freedom to decide where to go next, solve puzzles in multiple ways, and uncover hidden secrets—a concept that’s at the heart of many modern open-world titles.

Another early pioneer was Metroid (1986), which introduced the concept of backtracking through large, interconnected worlds. As players gained new abilities, previously inaccessible areas became available for exploration, a mechanic that continues to influence both open-world and Metroidvania-style games.

Expanding the World in the 16-Bit Era

As technology improved, so did the ability to create larger, more detailed game worlds. Super Metroid (1994) expanded on its predecessor’s exploration formula, offering even more freedom and introducing a deeper level of immersion. Around the same time, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991) for the SNES refined the original Zelda’s design with a much larger world, richer environments, and more dynamic interactions.

Even games like EarthBound (1994) introduced quirky, open-world elements with its suburban RPG setting, allowing players to interact with townsfolk and explore the fictional world at their own pace.

The Transition to 3D: Opening New Doors

With the arrival of 3D gaming in the late 1990s, titles like Super Mario 64 (1996) revolutionized not only platforming but also how players navigated expansive worlds. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) brought true open-world gameplay to 3D, allowing players to freely explore the vast kingdom of Hyrule, setting the stage for future 3D open-world games.

At the same time, franchises like Grand Theft Auto began to evolve, with GTA III (2001) making waves for its fully-realized open city, offering unprecedented freedom to engage in side missions, exploration, and emergent gameplay that has since become synonymous with the genre.

Influence on Modern Open-World Games

Today’s open-world titles owe much of their success to these early retro innovations. Games like Breath of the Wild harken back to the original Legend of Zelda by offering complete freedom of exploration and minimal hand-holding. Meanwhile, open-world RPGs like The Witcher 3 and Elden Ring draw on concepts of interconnected environments, player agency, and non-linear storytelling that have their origins in retro classics.

Even indie games, such as Hollow Knight and Axiom Verge, pay homage to retro open-world and Metroidvania designs, showing that these principles are timeless.

The DNA of modern open-world gaming is deeply rooted in retro classics. From the early days of The Legend of Zelda and Metroid to the 3D innovations of Ocarina of Time and GTA III, these foundational titles have shaped the sprawling, dynamic game worlds we enjoy today. As technology continues to advance, the influence of these pioneering retro games will undoubtedly continue to inspire future open-world adventures.