Open-world games that invite you to stay forever

Open-world games are full of content to explore, and there are titles that immerse their players so deeply in their lore and world-building that they may be reluctant to leave. And, so, these games are also ready to host their players for a long time, without forcing the plot to advance. Some may offer a massive post-game or new game + modes to explore even more and enjoy endless hours in a single universe.

These titles take the joyride part of adventure to the extreme. Games that reward you for staying, instead of forcing players to leave: what could be better? This list spotlights five of these open-world games in a variety of genres, from RPG to adventure, and even survival. Beware, dear readers, you may lose yourself in these incredible worlds.

1

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt (& DLCs)

A great game, which has yet another story

The vastness of The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt Comparable to games like Skyrim or Red Dead Redemption 2. Having said that, it is also true that DLCs bring a lot of extra content, in particular Blood and wineWith Toussaint's Wonderful Fields opening for the first time in the series. Little is said about how The Witcher 3 forces players to stay in its world, but here are a few examples: the incredible lore, the sheer amount of secondary quests and encounters, and, well, how about some Gwent?

Needless to say, with the news of another expansion, which will probably send players to explore the remote region of Jericania (for fans of the book series, this is the place where Borch Three Jackdaws, also known as Villentretenmerth), reinforces the idea of ​​this ever-expanding world. But the game, in its current state (even if you mod it), offers hours of fun and monster-slaying adventures. Just don't get too caught up in it, because it can be quite addictive.

2

Walheim

Never cease to amaze players who lose themselves in their world

Walheim Something is magical; There is no denying it. Its massiveness is due to its procedurally generated worlds, based on seeds, that players can constantly renew to add an extra layer of replay value to the title. But these are all in the world A huge land to exploreThe biomes are so different from each other that every step of the journey seems like the beginning of a new adventure. Since the main goal of the game is to hunt down one boss per biome, players may feel pressured to move forward, but the reality is that there's no need to rush. In fact, players are invited by the game to move around as much as possible.

Some may take dozens of hours Move between ownersAnd that's absolutely fine. The distribution of resources between biomes (especially in meadows and marshes) is also one of the key factors. Walheim uses Long game experience. Getting a lay of the land before settling, and the many ways to build a base (or reclaim existing buildings), is another key point in the world asking players to stay, explore, survive and thrive.

3

Red Dead Redemption 2

After and behind this game, there's no point in denying it

They say a good trip is one filled with a sense of discovery to the brim, and within Red Dead Redemption 2, This fact makes it abundantly clear that wherever players go, there is always something new to see. Be it its lush environment, or its beautifully designed landscapes, or the random encounters, evil hunter AI, and hundreds of activities to complete, RDR2 It's the best title in the series (so far) even its staunchest critics have to admit that the game looks incredible. Imagine how cool it would be if you could live inside it forever.

In fact, there's a chance to go around and forget about the main story entirely, especially for those aiming to platinum the game before they get too tired. It's a daunting endeavor, and fans may shudder at the thought of getting all the unlockables (such as the former Legend of the East outfit), though it may require players to finish the main story. since epilogue and The main story There are also two separate (yet interconnected) experiences, some players will be reluctant to play that final mission (Our best selves) and say goodbye to Arthur for good. Thankfully, there's no rush, no timer pressing on our heads, no need to finish the journey before players are satisfied with the experience. And the rewards, of course, are being able to see everything this world has to offer before the curtain closes on one of the biggest games of the last 20 years.

4

Subnautica

There is no end to this game (if you want it that way).

Subnautica One of the best underwater exploration games players can find these days, and a challenging experience that will test their willpower, patience and tendency to suffer from thalassophobia. If players are looking for a game that grabs them and never lets them go, this is it: it doesn't get any better than Subnautica. Besides countless hours of deep diving and exploration, discovering new species (some may not be all that friendly), upgrading gear, and surviving in this exotic ocean world, there is one more important thing to do: escape or stay?

Sure, abandoning their 'trapped on an alien world' status might seem like the logical last step, but players are invited to keep exploring this incredibly beautiful world, and, just in case, get eaten by a Leviathan (or two). in SubnauticaThe deeper you go, the harder it is to let go.

5

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

This world goes beyond the open world

in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Nintendo did a wonderful job of showcasing the potential this franchise could have as an open-world adventure. Not only does this massive world have a lot of content to enjoy, but it also has some of the most challenging side-objectives in all of the Zelda games. One of the three players BOTW Never defeated all the sub-bosses in the game, and definitely never completed the 76 side quests in the game.

Needless to say, BOTW There's a core gameplay loop that keeps players glued to the screen for hours, and most of them never let go until there's something pressing them forward. If not for this fact Tears of the Kingdom exists, Breath of the Wild Fewer players could reach the final game and beat the last boss in the franchise's history for one of the titles. Its world is just perfect, and there's no way to get tired of exploring it. No wonder it is one of the best Zelda games ever made.