The open-world genre has seen a lot of progress over the past few years. New technologies and developer tools like Unreal Engine 5 have made open-world game development more accessible than ever. Despite these advances, however, there are a handful of open-world titles that have remained virtually untouched by time, proving time and time again that surpassing them is not uncommon.
All open-world games that come after them use them as a benchmark for excellence, noting how life was breathed into those open worlds, and trying to recapture that same magic.
Red Dead Redemption 2
A masterclass in crafting life in an open world
Rockstar has a long track record of making era-defining games over the years, and is perhaps the best example of this. Red Dead Redemption 2The highly anticipated sequel to Lovers RDR Which surpassed even the most optimistic predictions about the game. The game offers an unparalleled level of detail and realism with a living, breathing world that responds to player choices without feeling scripted in any way.
There is immersion Red Dead Redemption 2The main focus of The characters feel real, not because they have great dialogue or react organically to the player, but because of their behavior. From small mice caught underfoot to random NPCs on the road, everything moves naturally. The attention to detail for these minute behaviors makes the game world feel alive in a way that few other games have managed to achieve.
Cyberpunk 2077
The benchmark for Sci-Fi world-building in games
Night City is world-building Cyberpunk 2077's crowning achievement, and something that elevates it from a good game to a great one. The sci-fi setting is quite unusual in the open-world genre, which means that for players looking for something to scratch that particular itch, nothing else comes close.
It's a visually stunning game that's full of character, full of believable NPCs that look like they're alive and don't just exist for the player's benefit. The gameplay has depth and variety, allowing players to pick and choose different playstyles based on their preferences. Combined, these elements don't just make up Cyberpunk 2077 The complete package, but the gold standard in the open-world sci-fi genre.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The gold standard of open world storytelling
Based on the books by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Geralt of Rivia tells the story of the White Wolf, as he roams the land as a demon-slayer-for-hire, going from town to town, taking contracts to kill monsters. The open world is a dense, lovingly hand-crafted map full of secrets, treasures and surprises. Combat is addictive and action-packed, with deep customization, build variety, and tons of weapon options for Geralt.
Surprisingly, the most interesting thing The Witcher 3The story isn't of flying griffins, vampires hunting the living, or even a magical system, but the ugliness of human nature presented in all its grotesque glory. Geralt's adventure is grim, terrifying, and often tragic, and it's all the more compelling for it. In terms of storytelling that players will remember years after putting the game down for good, The Witcher 3 Few are equal.
Grand Theft Auto 5
A decade-defining open world that refuses to fade
Released in 2013 Grand Theft Auto 5 It is still considered one of the most influential open-world games ever made. The sprawling, satirical recreation of Los Angeles feels authentic, as if scaled. Characters walk and talk like real people, and not just the ones the player controls or interacts with a lot, but also the random NPCs on the street feel like they're going about their lives in the big city.
If that wasn't enough, the introduction GTA Online Added an unprecedented layer of realism to Los Santos. Now, many real players can live in the same city, take jobs as cab drivers or burger flippers, join bank robberies, or patrol the streets as police officers. Cultural influence and longevity GTA 5 Not something seen before in previous games in the franchise either.
The most impressive fantasy realm ever created
There are more impressive open world games than Bethesda The Elder Scrolls 5: SkyrimConsidered by many to be the most successful game in the whole The Elder Scrolls suffrage what makes Skyrim Hard to Live, however, is not just the game, but the highly active modding community that has dedicated itself to it.
While the base Skyrim While the game is certainly impressive for a 2011 title, it has long been forgotten by a vast majority of gamers if not hundreds of thousands. Skyrim Modes that allow players to keep reinventing the single-player experience in endlessly varied ways.
Alden Ring
An open world that redefines challenge and exploration
Alden Ring FromSoftware's first fully open-world Soulsborne game, and despite being released in 2022, there are essentially no competitors in the gaming space that even come close to it. A combination of slow-paced and punishing combat from Dark spirits And a very vast world full of mystery is something that has not been replicated with any kind of success. Alden RingAnd that may very well remain true for years to come.
Many were skeptical Alden RingBefore its release, Open World and Soulslike seemed like contradictory genres to pair into a single game, but FromSoftware proved that it could be done, and done well. Mysterious, confusing, and often frustrating, Alden Ring Set a new gold standard for open-world exploration and combat with its release, and future titles have a long bar to clear to surpass it.
Wild outdoors
A universe of mysteries is waiting to be discovered
Wild outdoors is an indie game that redefines the meaning of the word “open-world”. Players explore a compact solar system in a spaceship, uncovering mysteries, solving puzzles, and uncovering mysteries along the way. The game rewards curiosity and critical thinking above all else, and doesn't hold the player's hand, especially when solving puzzles.
It's hard to describe Wild outdoors Without spoiling the experience for anyone who hasn't played it, but suffice it to say that it makes clever use of time loops to deliver a story with great emotional impact. There's nothing else like it in the gaming industry, and that's not a statement players hear every day.
Subnautica
An underwater world full of wonder and terror
Open-world games live and die by the quality of their exploration, and few game worlds come close to grandeur and wonder. Subnauticaspread under water. Exploring the ocean for the first time feels like discovering a whole new world, and the sense of wonder and awe grows as players dive deeper.
There are no NPCs Subnautica; It's just the players, the ocean, and the creatures that call the ocean home. The solitary experience is calming and cathartic in equal measure, and as survival mechanics force players to slow down and take in the game world one section at a time, exploration is imperative. Few open-world games deal with underwater exploration, meaning Subnautica Often stands alone in its sub-genre. The only title that manages to come close to it to breatheoften called “Subnautica In Space” by fans, but even that is not at the top of the original.
