Kenshi - PC, 2018
Kenshi is a wonderful, bug filled, giant sandbox where the player is tasked with overcoming adversity to achieve their goals. Those goals are up to the player to decide. Players can overthrow theocracy, end slavery, be a slave trader, become a drug kingpin, acquire the rarest strongest weapons in the land, become a farmer and buy property in towns to set up shop counters for selling food, become a bounty hunter, lead a clan of cannibals, and more. What illuminates the game's greatness, is that the player will find themself naturally inspired to come up with goals and pursue them. While doing so, choices and events come together to create tales within tales special to each play through.
The world is as unforgiving as it is vast. New players with no knowledge of the land will often find themselves getting their food stolen, limbs hacked off, put into slavery, and eaten alive. Characters start out weak, but the world opens up as strength is gained. Dozens of NPCs can be recruited to help players achieve their ends, all under player control. Each NPC can be assigned jobs that can be prioritized, automated, and toggled on and off. Players can build self sustaining outposts with buildings and infrastructure. Outpost locations become a personal choice. There are no perfect locations. There are dangerous factions, beasts, lack of resources, dangerous climates, lack of fertility, regulations. But there are also nice views.
