I can't figure out how word this, so I'm not sure if it's gonna make any sense.
There's moments in linear games, the opening of Metro 2033 comes to mind, or the day-time segments of Alan Wake, where you're still fully in control of your character like normal, but the environment is non-hostile, and you can just take it all in.
What games have a lot of these sections, or that do them really well?
Walking simulators.
Nah not the entire game, I'm talking about games that break up the main gameplay with these quiet moments.
Whatever you do, don't flip up that box.
Unless you want to learn firsthand the basics of CQC.
This, really.
Dishonored has a home base you return to in between missions.
Hubs in games like Deus Ex are mostly non-hostile unless you make them that way.
HL2 has small parts like Black Mesa East.
For a serious answer, Call of Duty seems to really like that. There was also Max Payne 3 iirc. Can't remember the other games, but it's become pretty popular
Shadow of the Colossus, ICO, most JRPGs, Dark Souls I guess.
Thank you! I didn't realize Dishonored has a hide-out to return to, I'd love something like that.
Max Payne 2 has some great sections like that, as well.
Any RPG with towns, I guess. Although you have to be a bit careful because sometimes you'll still get attacked inside a town.
The Last of Us has a few peaceful moments like this throughout.
I'm moreso looking for games that are linear/action heavy, and use these sections to pace out the game.
Oooooh yeah this is a perfect example of it.
The giraffe scene in The Last of Us.
Hotline Miami is this to a T
Heavy action sequences broken up by really quiet sections of taking in an environment.
There's this one small pond next to a small waterfall and a lot of trees in Crysis 1 where I wasted time doing nothing and taking in the scenery.
I really wish Alan Wake had more daytime exploration. I just wanted to enjoy the view.
What Sup Forums calls cinematic experiences like Uncharted games.
Me too, user, me too.
Uncharted 4 when you're in the house at the beginning
Uncharted 2 did this really well when you get to the mountain village in Nepal.
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic (AKA Sir Kicksalot Deathboot in the land of Conveniently Places Spike Racks) has a few moments like this.
I'd seen that game before but didn't realize it had this element to it. I'll check it out, thanks!
And thank you everyone else for your suggestions. I have a few new games to play now.
The Last of Us has a lot of those, and they're feels heavy, too.