>>730629647im not sure if it counts as "semi-open" but Mario 64 levels. a sort of "playground" like "area".
Thats my favorite, but i also like linear mixed in.
(and something linear, that appears like a playground area. the best example would be Zelda OoT. Semi open area, hyrule field (but hyrule feild is trash, nothing like a Mario64 level) linear sections that connect to "linear dungeons, that "feel" like open playgrounds.)
RPGs kind of do this on rare occasions. semi open areas; towns, overworld, some dungeons. then some linear sections, hallways/corridors between dungeons and other maps, and some dungeons.
but newer RPGs tend to either be nearly fully "empty open world" or "hallway simulator", with almost nothing inbetween. (and the few "inbetween, have some terrible level design/mix, such as e33. world map is meh, acceptable, better than most modern games, but dungeons are a slog, tedious, and boring as fuck)
