Key to a good sandbox game?

[DaHeckIzDat]

I'm not a big fan of open world sandbox games. I've never understood the appeal of having a gigantic world that takes forever to get from one place to another, and nothing to do in between but collect crafting items. However, I can think of two that managed to hook me: Breath of the Wild and Just Cause 3. So, in your opinion, what do you think is the key to making a good sandbox game?

[BlasteroidAli]

Fallout 3, have a huge environment and let players do what the want in it. Not just what the developer wants them to do.

[JWK]

My biggest requirement is *excellent combat.* It also helps if there’s a lot of variety in the combat, letting you choose how you approach enemies and situations. It’s why I’m so high on Horizon: Zero Dawn. Breath of the Wild is obviously an incredible game, but the combat in Horizon is 10x better, in my opinion.

I was also a big fan of Far Cry 3 last generation because stealth was a strong option for capturing outposts. It’s also an ADHD gamers dream... or nightmare. I guess all these open world games can make the same claim, huh?

[LoganRuckman]

Actually make the world worth exploring. Don't just make a huge, yet barren open world. Fill your world with stuff to do (tons of enemies, minigames, plentiful sidequests, etc.)