Explore expansive realms where you can freely discover new areas.
Explore expansive realms where you can freely discover new areas.
Spore is fine, though it might have been improved. It focuses on evolution and features from 2009 with a playful style. If you enjoy inventing strange beings and discovering worlds generated randomly, it could suit you. Personally, I found the space area a bit dull, but the rest was entertaining.
Elder Scrolls Arena or Daggerfall could be useful references. These might help with your planning. Spoiler Borderlands 1/2, World of Warcraft random free online MMO games, Skyrim Fallout 3 offers extensive exploration compared to its predecessors, and Fallout 2 provides more locations than Fallout 1. Shadow of Mordor Stalker delivers a rich exploratory experience as a nomad in the game. Minecraft and Terraria may offer unexpected adventures. Lastly, text-based adventure games remain a solid option. Edit: In World of Warcraft you can rapidly level up and obtain mounts at the highest free tier, making map traversal effortless. Previously, navigating was tough and often fatal, but now it's much smoother.
I agree with what @Jrock mentioned: Minecraft delivers exactly what you're looking for when you adjust it slightly (thanks to its extensive modding community). If you prefer a more basic feel, try setting your game mode to Easy or Peaceful and play in Creative. There are plenty of choices available!