For better or worst, fast travel has become a staple in gaming these days. It’s convenient, it saves time, and it gets you straight to the action… But sometimes taking the slower path brings a much more immersive sense of adventure and a deep connection to the world around you—something fast travel just unfortunately can’t ever deliver. With that said, some games have resisted the trend, choosing instead to make every journey matter and every mile feel earned. These games are meticulously crafted for players who want the full experience: the sights, sounds, and sometimes the struggles of crossing a vast and intricate world.

If you’re up for an adventure where the journey itself becomes part of the story, here are some games that either limit or entirely skip fast travel (in no particular order) that we love:

1. Death Stranding

*Image Credit: KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, Death Stranding Directors Cut*

In Death Stranding the journey is everything. Directed by the legendary Hideo Kojima, this game is set in a desolate, rain-soaked America, where you, as Sam Porter Bridges, are tasked with reconnecting isolated communities. As you trek through this incredibly eerie landscape, every step holds a purpose. With most fast-travel options locked out, each delivery becomes a mission of survival, strategy, and resilience. You’ll have to plan carefully—balancing cargo, avoiding supernatural threats, and watching the skies for rain that can wear down your gear. This isn’t just a game of delivering packages; it’s about finding connection, purpose, and meaning along the way.

2. Red Dead Redemption 2

*Image Credit: Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption 2*

The wild, untamed West of Red Dead Redemption 2 is made to be explored on horseback, not with a flick of a fast-travel button. While stagecoaches and trains can take you between towns, most of the world remains yours to ride through and discover. Rockstar crafted a world so richly detailed that riding through it really feels like stepping back in time. You’ll stumble across bandit ambushes, mysterious strangers, and breathtaking scenery that makes every journey worth savoring. By the time you’ve bonded with your horse, found new shortcuts, and encountered chance meetings along the road, you’ll realize that traveling here is half the fun.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

*Image Credit: Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild*

In Breath of the Wild, fast travel does exist, but it’s limited to towers and shrines you’ve already discovered, which nudges you to explore every inch of Hyrule on foot or horseback. The kingdom is filled with mysteries—Korok seeds hiding in plain sight, powerful enemies lurking around bends, and breathtaking vistas that invite you to climb mountains just to see what’s on the other side. Breath of the Wild encourages you to savor the journey, letting curiosity be your guide. Each trek across Hyrule feels like an adventure, where even small discoveries make the effort worth it.

4. Dark Souls Series

*Image Credit: QLOC, FromSoftware, Inc., Dark Souls Remastered*

If you’ve played any Dark Souls game, you know that exploration is a journey of skill, persistence, and courage. In the original game, fast travel only becomes available late in your adventure, and by that point, you’ve earned the right to it. As you wander through this dark, interconnected world, shortcuts and hidden paths become your lifeline. Each step forward means braving deadly foes and memorizing every corner, which makes uncovering new areas all the more rewarding. The thrill of Dark Souls comes from that sense of mastery, of intimately knowing a world that has tested you at every turn.

5. The Long Dark

*Image Credit: Hinterland Studio Inc., The Long Dark*

In The Long Dark, the wilderness of northern Canada becomes both your playground and your enemy. Here, there’s no fast travel—just the endless, snow-covered landscape stretching before you. As you struggle to stay warm, find shelter, and scavenge for food, every trek feels dangerous, each footstep crucial. With no way to skip past the elements or hostile wildlife, you’ll have to learn the land, keep track of safe havens, and brace yourself for the bitter cold. The Long Dark turns survival into a test of patience, resilience, and awareness, where the journey itself becomes the challenge.

6. Green Hell

For a survival experience as intense as the Amazon itself, Green Hell takes you into the heart of the jungle without a safety net. Fast travel isn’t an option here; every path you take through the dense foliage could mean life or death. You’ll be forced to learn the layout of the jungle, watch out for poisonous plants, and carefully avoid jaguars and hostile tribes. The environment is as hostile as it is beautiful, and every journey becomes a test of endurance and adaptability. By the time you’ve learned to navigate the terrain and survive its threats you’ll feel a deep respect for the untamed jungle around you.

7. Outward

*Image Credit: Nine Dots Studio, Outward*

Outward does away with the hero’s journey and places you in the role of a simple traveler in a rugged fantasy world. Here, you’re not the chosen one—you’re just someone trying to survive in a place where every journey requires careful planning. With no fast travel, you’ll need to carry supplies, prepare for the weather, and watch out for dangers along the way. You’ll come across bandits, wild animals, and even natural hazards like extreme cold. In Outward, you learn the hard way that every step you take has consequences, and every trek could be your last.

Games that ditch fast travel invite us to slow down and savor the journey, unlike a lot of games nowadays that seem to rush us towards the end. They remind us that exploration isn’t just about reaching the destination but also about experiencing everything in between—the trials, the unexpected surprises, and the moments that can’t be skipped over. When you’re forced to travel through every inch of a world, you develop a stronger connection to it, learning its rhythms and discovering its secrets.

So… With that said, if you’re ready to lose yourself in a world one step at a time, these games are each a distinct journey like no other. Embrace the challenge, find your own path, and let the journey become part of the adventure.