Games that use an open-world setting often give players the kind of freedom in a sandbox environment that linear titles can’t provide. The open-world sandbox started appearing in titles likeUltima,a 1981 computer RPG, and even the classic JRPG seriesDragon Questgave players the freedom to explore towns and dungeons in any order.
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However, the open-world genre was popularized by Rockstar’sGrand Theft Auto IIIin 2001 which put players in an open 3D-city based on New York. It was a massive hit, and it wasn’t long before other genres followed suit by giving players 3D worlds to explore in RPGs, racing games, and horror games. The last decade saw a major step up for open-world games in terms of technology. Let’s take a look at ten of the best according to Metacritic.
10The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt (Metascore 92)
The Witcher 3: The Wild Huntwas first released in 2015 for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and the PC it was later ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2019.the witcher 3is a dark fantasy open-world action RPG based on the book series of the same name by the Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.
The game remains one of the finest and most influential RPGs of the generation. The world feels alive and every decision and conversation inThe Witcher 3feels like it has some sort of consequence and impact on the world surrounding the protagonist Geralt. The game was so good that in addition to the books,The Wild Huntheavily influencedThe WitcherNetflix seriestoo.
9Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Metascore 93)
Released in 2015 for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and the PC,Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Painis an open-world stealth action game and a prequel to the originalMetal Geargame released all the way back in 1987 for the NES.
Even though there is some controversy surrounding the fact that its lead developer Hideo Kojima left Konami before the game was properly completed,Metal Gear Solid Vis still an excellent game. The gameplay mechanics inMGSV’s world allowed a seemingly unending amount of freedom and creativity for players when taking down bases and building their own.
8Divinity: Original Sin II (Metascore 94)
Divinity Original Sin IIwas developed by Larian Studios and released the PC and consoles in 2017 and 2019 respectively. It’s an open-world RPG inspired by classic computer RPGs likeBaldur’s Gate, Planescape,andIcewind Dale.
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Just like those gamesOriginal Sin IIoffers the player an endless amount of freedom in a fully dynamic and open world that builds and develops in such a realistic way that the player genuinely feels a part of its world. Interestingly, Larian Studios are currently developingBaldur’s Gate IIIfor the PC, Google Stadia, and next-generation consoles.
7Batman: Arkham City (Metascore 94)
Released in 2011,Batman: Arkham Cityis the direct sequel toBatman: Arkham Asylumbut instead of opting for the Metroidvania style level designArkham Cityoffered players an open-world city for Batman to stalk his enemies in.
Batman: Arkham Cityis a last-gen game but was remastered for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One in 2016 and remains a stunning looking game with very detailed character models. The stealth combat combined with its free-flowing fighting system made players really feel like they were the Batman in the perfect open-world environment.
6God Of War (Metascore 94)
Released exclusively for the PlayStation 4 in 2018,God of Waris both a reboot and sequel theGod of Wartrilogy and its prequel on the PlayStation 3. Where its predecessors were action-adventure hack and slash games like theDevil May Cryseries, the newGod of Waris a far more open-world game with interconnected areas that players could explore very early on.
In addition to its incredible world design,God of Warhas an excellent combat system, a great story and some of the visuals of the generation.
Developed by Rockstar, the same studio that brought gamers the genre-defining open-world action seriesGrand Theft Auto, expectations for the open-world WesternRed Dead Redemptionwere very high. Thankfully,Red Dead Redemptionmore than lived up to its hype with an incredibly detailed world, excellent world-building, atmospheric music, and some of the best character development in regard to the game’s protagonist John Marston.
Red Dead Redemptionwas released for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 in 2010 and it’s a game that’s still worth playing. In addition, the game was made backward compatible with the Xbox One X taking it up to native 4K and improved performance.
4The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Metascore 96)
The Elder Scrolls V:Skyrimwas first released in 2011 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and the PC. It was remastered and released again in 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and again in 2017 for the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation VR.
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Despite being re-released more times than the originalStar Warstrilogy,Skyrimis still as good now as it was upon release. The open-world first-person RPG is one of the most influential games of all time and has some of the best world-building, side-content, and lore in the genre thanks to the game’s design which set a precedent for rewarding exploration.
3Grand Theft Auto V (Metascore 97)
Grand Theft Auto Vwas first released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was remastered and released again in 2015 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC becoming one of the most successful games of all time.
The game is still a regular in top ten bestseller lists in the gaming charts seven years on thanks to its online features. However, the single-player campaign which puts players in the shoes of three protagonists remains one of the most entertaining titles in the genre. The city of Los Santos which is based on the real-life city of Los Angeles is huge and remains an incredible achievement.
Released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, and 2019 for the PC and Stadia,Red Dead Redemption 2is one of the most stunning achievements in open-world design and character models of the generation.
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Red Dead Redemption 2is a prequel to its 2010 predecessor that puts players in the shoes of Arthur Morgan and eventually John Marston, the protagonist of the first game in the epilogue. Once again, Rockstar set the benchmark for open-world design and technical achievement. It’s also a fantastic looking game that performs well on all systems.
1The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild (Metascore 97)
Released in 2017 for the Nintendo Wii U and the Nintendo Switch,The Legend of Zelda:Breath of the Wildis an open-world action-adventure game in the long-running fantasy series. Players are given complete freedom from very early on and it set the bar for the open-world genre on all systems.
Despite being game that was initially designed for the Nintendo Wii U,Breath of the Wildis a stunning achievement. It’s a huge game that runs flawlessly on both systems and shows off some of the most incredible art-design in gaming. Even with the advances in technology, gamers will be looking back atThe Legend of Zelda:Breath of the Wildas a timeless masterpiece for years to come.
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