Summary
Moreso than other games, open-world titles need to have an incredible amount of detail added to their setting. Every aspect of a setting’s geography, culture, and unique elements - if it’s in the playable area - needs to be thought of and considered. This kind of attention to detail - if done properly - can make for some trulyimpressive and immersivetitles.
Open-world games that focus on schools - such as academies or universities - are in short supply. Plenty of titles that do have this pseudo-academic focus, either in high schools or fantasy academies, aren’t quite open-world games. However, for those who want to hit the books inan open-world environment, there are still a handful of games that can scratch that particular itch.
With speculation buzzing about the second installment in this series, it’s clear to see thatHogwarts Legacyis set to be a longstanding collection of games, focusing on the intricacies of the wizarding world and its many practitioners.
Players looking to escape into the fantastical academy that has become beloved across the world fromHarry Potterbooks and movies will find lots to love here, but while the school aspects are incredible, the open world tends to lose steam as the game goes on.
Standing out evenamong otherFinal Fantasytitlesas one of the best JRPGs on the PlayStation,Final Fantasy 8features a cast from the prestigious and intimidating Balamb Garden Academy, where students train to become SeeDs, elite mercenary units.
Balamb Garden is the backdrop for a good portion of this game, and the intricacies of its coursework and content are part of what makes this one of the standout titles in theFinal Fantasyseries. The open-world aspects are a little more restrictive when compared to modern understandings of the genre, but for those looking for an in-depth roleplaying experience that also features schools, this is a great way to go.
Much ofthe Mages Guild questlineinOblivioncenters around guild activities, rather than explicitly academic endeavors. The Arcane University actually holds an incredibly important place inOblivion’s lore and the Imperial City.
Much like older universities in the time period that high fantasy settings emulate, the Arcane University is more a place for scholars to pursue their own studies, as opposed to a place for students to enroll in. There are still various seminars that players can listen to when on University grounds.
Among some of thebetter faction questlinesinSkyrimand, according to some fans, one of the better faction questlines in the series overall, the College of Winterhold is a unique arcane institution that differs from the Mages Guild of previous titles in various ways - most notably in the far more lax views on magical regulation.
The College of Winterhold is a more standard academic institution where the player arrives as a student - not a scholar - and in between both the main story quests and radiant quests, players can attend magical seminars based around the various schools of magic. The College of Winterhold is also the perfect place for spellcasters to seek out higher-level spells, including the legendary master-level spells that can turn a mage character into a potent force of power on the battlefield.
Altogether a more obscure title in Rockstar’s catalog, though not so much that it didn’treceive a next-gen facelift,Bullybrings the crudeness and subversiveness ofGTAgames to an entirely different setting. Set inside a pompous prep school, the remarkably relatable protagonist doesn’t actually have to be much of a ‘bully’ - and is more painted as a loner trying to roll with the punches of a school that wants to break him down.
A great title for fans of olderGTAgames likeGTA 4orSan Andreas,Bullyholds up despite its age as a game that lets players indulge in academic life and - when that gets tiresome - break all the rules with satisfying, chaotic results.
The latest iterations of classicPokemongameplay,Scarlet and Violetbrought several truly game-changing features to the series that had a lasting impact on fans. Besides being truly open world, and bringing non-linear gameplay to the series, another major change to the game’s formula was the introduction of Uva Academy.
A proper trainer school has been something that many fans have clamored for across many games, and while some aspects ofScarlet and Violetneed some tweaking, the overall premise of Uva Academy has some great execution.
