Virtual adventures that allow us to explore entire worlds are a major trend in the gaming industry. However, these kinds of games are far from new; they’ve been around for decades. Over the years, so many compelling titles have been released that choosing which one to play can be a daunting task. To help you navigate this vast landscape, we’ve gathered some of the most successful projects where you can truly lose yourself in captivating open worlds.
Here are 10 of the best that stand out:
1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Even today, San Andreas remains staggering in its scope. Three massive cities, deserts, forests, mountains, small settlements, and military bases – fully exploring the map could take days of real time. What’s more, the world is packed with diverse activities: hitting the gym, learning martial arts, visiting fast-food joints, casinos, barber shops, and countless other pursuits. In other words, there’s never a dull moment.
2. Fallout: New Vegas
Like many other Obsidian projects, New Vegas can feel a bit rough around the edges. Nevertheless, it compensates for any imperfections with its absolutely stunning quests. The various locations across the Mojave Wasteland are filled with eccentric characters offering intriguing assignments, which can usually be completed in multiple ways, offering unparalleled player choice.
3. Red Dead Redemption
Even after the release of its sequel, the first Red Dead Redemption is still well worth your time, if only for its compelling story. Furthermore, it differs significantly from the second game in atmosphere, focusing more on the stereotypical desert landscapes iconic to Westerns, creating a classic Wild West feel.
4. Batman: Arkham City
Gotham City in Arkham City is one of the most memorable gaming settings ever created. With its gothic skyscrapers and moonlit, dangerous streets, the dark city feels like another character in the game – and one no less important than Batman or the Joker. If Rocksteady hadn’t succeeded in bringing Gotham to life so effectively, the entire game undoubtedly would have suffered.
5. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
So many years have passed, yet Skyrim remains relevant. While interest is certainly maintained by its massive modding community, many gamers return to the harsh land of the Nords for more than just mods. Often, they come back simply to be immersed once again in the enchanting virtual world created by Bethesda. Skyrim is a surprisingly atmospheric and cozy place, despite the numerous dangers like aggressive dragons.
6. Grand Theft Auto V
GTA V broke every imaginable sales record, and for good reason. Rockstar crafted a perfect modern adventure: with a gripping story about desperate, charismatic criminals, a meticulously detailed world, and sharp humor. Plus, let’s not forget GTA Online, which brings thousands of players back to the game every single day for endless online antics.
7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The creators of the third Witcher game dedicated as much attention to crafting secondary content as they did to the main storyline. Before the release of Wild Hunt, few other studios focused on the quality of side quests to the same extent as CD Projekt RED. However, after the project’s immense success, more and more developers began to recognize the importance of compelling side content in open-world games.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
A game that frequently tops lists of the greatest virtual experiences of all time. Breath of the Wild continues to be praised for its realistic physics and a believable world that dynamically reacts to the player’s every action. BOTW is a powerful generator of engaging, unscripted situations, which is precisely why its giant map remains compelling to explore even after 100 hours.
9. Red Dead Redemption 2
An epic game in every sense, featuring arguably the most believable virtual world created to date. Red Dead Redemption 2 boasts an incredibly powerful sense of immersion, achieved through an almost unthinkable attention to detail. This is a remarkably realistic game where animal carcasses decompose in real-time, and food vanishes piece by piece from an NPC’s plate as they eat. You won’t find anything quite like it anywhere else.
10. Elden Ring
FromSoftware’s first and highly successful attempt to adapt its signature souls-like formula to a true open world game. Elden Ring is challenging, yet incredibly engaging, a game of monumental scale with so much content it could fill three new Dark Souls titles. Its vast Lands Between are filled with secrets, challenging encounters, and a constant sense of discovery.
That concludes our list for now. What are your favorite open world games? Share your thoughts and tell us which titles you think should be added to the discussion in the comments below!
