I see a lot of people posting, confusing the two mediums in games and felt it was a good idea to clarify. I see the cliche gta vs CP compatiuons all over but I find them unfair, to both games. CP is a open world themepark, and gta a open world sandbox. They both are open worlds but striving for something very different.
Sandbox - a game world where the story, characters are obviously present they are in fact secondary. Your ability to 'make your own stories' is the main focus. Engage the police then have a high speed chase thought the city, buying business and running them, playing pool or darts with NPCs, romancing and hooking up with as many NPCs as you can, building forts or settlements against attacks, etc GTA, FO4, Skyrim all mostly fall into sandbox. The story and characters can be fun, and enjoyable but because of the sandbox is so open and free form it generally isn't as deep or gripping as the much stronger narrative theme park setting.
Theme park - A much more structured story based narrative game. while can still be a open world is has far less 'fluff' and side actives (founding settlements or playing darts) but the side missions and events it does have are usually far more engrossing and directed. Think of a literal theme park, you are within a gated environment, you can't leave but all the rides and activities are all tailored to one theme or aesthetic. You can't go to the water park across town but if you follow the various paths they all lead so something very engaging and specific. This is why games like CP and those from Telltale Games the story hits the feels so hard as they used the theme park approach. Yes you can't go 'make your own stories' as freely as a sandbox but the strong narrative it lays before you is totally engrossing and strong.
You have to have one or the other not both. GTA, Skyrim, FO4 sandbox open worlds. CP, Balders Gate, Neverwinter Nights 2 and New Vegas theme park open worlds. You either have a strong narrative (and a bit more linear because of that because the focus is story telling) and deeper characters in a themepark or you have a sandbox with a lot more freedom, side activities but far less immersion or depth in the story. As the story in a sandbox is secondary.
If you prefer sandbox you are certainly entitled, to each their own. But complaining about how a theme park isn't a sandbox (or vise versa) is akin to crying about Italian food isn't like Asian food. They are both catering to 2 different tastes and nether are going to be like the other anytime soon even if they happen to both be types of food (or open worlds in this case).
My 2 coppers
Sandbox - a game world where the story, characters are obviously present they are in fact secondary. Your ability to 'make your own stories' is the main focus. Engage the police then have a high speed chase thought the city, buying business and running them, playing pool or darts with NPCs, romancing and hooking up with as many NPCs as you can, building forts or settlements against attacks, etc GTA, FO4, Skyrim all mostly fall into sandbox. The story and characters can be fun, and enjoyable but because of the sandbox is so open and free form it generally isn't as deep or gripping as the much stronger narrative theme park setting.
Theme park - A much more structured story based narrative game. while can still be a open world is has far less 'fluff' and side actives (founding settlements or playing darts) but the side missions and events it does have are usually far more engrossing and directed. Think of a literal theme park, you are within a gated environment, you can't leave but all the rides and activities are all tailored to one theme or aesthetic. You can't go to the water park across town but if you follow the various paths they all lead so something very engaging and specific. This is why games like CP and those from Telltale Games the story hits the feels so hard as they used the theme park approach. Yes you can't go 'make your own stories' as freely as a sandbox but the strong narrative it lays before you is totally engrossing and strong.
You have to have one or the other not both. GTA, Skyrim, FO4 sandbox open worlds. CP, Balders Gate, Neverwinter Nights 2 and New Vegas theme park open worlds. You either have a strong narrative (and a bit more linear because of that because the focus is story telling) and deeper characters in a themepark or you have a sandbox with a lot more freedom, side activities but far less immersion or depth in the story. As the story in a sandbox is secondary.
If you prefer sandbox you are certainly entitled, to each their own. But complaining about how a theme park isn't a sandbox (or vise versa) is akin to crying about Italian food isn't like Asian food. They are both catering to 2 different tastes and nether are going to be like the other anytime soon even if they happen to both be types of food (or open worlds in this case).
My 2 coppers
