The biggest is the ability to explore areas and, if you want, go in totally the opposite direction to where the story directs you. The bigger and better sibling of BotW, TotK saw Nintendo expand the ideas from the previous game and just make everything bigger. This 2023 title is the Switch’s best game and easily one of the all-time greats, as you run around on an epic quest in an iconic world.
With war-torn systems, mercenaries, pirates, and more out in the open, you never know who or what might come along your path. Players interested in fast-paced gameplay experiences might find this game a blast to play. Jump into your ship and equip it with weapons and shields as you dogfight your way through opponents. We’re experts at bringing ambitious ideas to life, whether it’s creating seamless gameplay, building dynamic ecosystems, or delivering stories that adapt to player choices. The game is a seamless blend of exploration, survival, and creation.
Far Cry 6 is an absolute violence factory, and I love it for that. Discovered in rural Montana, you find yourself getting into a fight with the doomsday cult. The world is huge, filled with vehicles to commandeer, guns to shoot, and places to explore. The missions and the true open world approach give you the freedom to play however you want. The lightsaber and Force combat in the game is top-notch, and as you explore multiple worlds, you’ll see the many ways they’re open to you.
I’ve spent countless hours lost in these massive landscapes; whether climbing mountains, battling fierce enemies, or just wandering around to see what I can discover. It’s this mix of adventure, freedom, and excitement that makes open world games so special. Dark Souls is an unforgettable journey through a dark, interconnected world of danger, mystery, and triumph.
Just don’t forget to save often; nothing’s worse than losing progress because you got too brave in a danger zone (Ask me how it feels). So, whether you’re chasing epic quests or just enjoying the landscape, make it your journey. The sense of isolation and quiet wonder is something you don’t often see in survival games. While other titles may focus on action, Below Zero lets you chill in the eerie silence of the depths. It’s one of those games that will make you feel small in the most mesmerizing way.
But The Witcher 3 will always be – in a sense – the game that convinced many players to take this genre seriously for the first time. Valheim is a procedurally generated survival game where you explore a fantasy world inspired by Norse Mythology. GTA V is one of the most time-proof open world games that ever graced the industry.
You’re expected to take down certain Orcish officers, but how you go about it is up to you, from massacring their whole fleet to turning their own men against them. The wraith that possesses you can bring you back when you die, but dying still has a haughty consequence. Every single enemy has a name and a rank, and by the time you respawn, the ones you failed to kill just might remember your face. If being a smuggler in a galaxy far, far away sounds like a dream, Star Wars Outlaws delivers with style. The freedom to choose stealth or action lets you play it your way, and the open-world planets are packed with Star Wars nostalgia.
Crafting Immersive Worlds: The Role of Story and Exploration
Ride through forests, mountains, and abandoned towns on your motorcycle, scavenge for resources, and battle hordes of creatures. Between open-world exploration, resource management, and intense combat, your survival depends on anticipating danger. In Mad Max, plunge into a post-apocalyptic desert where only the strongest survive. Play as Max Rockatansky, a lone warrior, and traverse a ravaged world filled with hostile gangs. Customize your vehicle, the Magnum Opus, for explosive combat and explore desolate ruins.
Perhaps the best example is Mojang’s Minecraft, which literally drops you in an infinite open world and tasks you with surviving as long as possible. Mojang’s ultimate sandbox from 2011, Minecraft is theoretically an infinite open world that is never the same, so quite possibly the best and worst of all the open worlds. You mine, craft and basically do whatever you want here, be it building impossible structures or just surviving off the land. The ultimate cowboy game from Rockstar redefined what open worlds could be in 2018. The final Bethesda game on the list, and the oldest releasing in 2011.
Play as Geralt of Rivia, a monster-hunting witcher, in The Witcher 3. Explore a vast medieval world filled with cities and mysterious forests. Between captivating main quests, monster contracts, and free exploration, your choices shape the world’s fate. Acclaimed for its storytelling and immersive universe, this game is a genre-defining masterpiece and one of the best open-world games of all time. Unturned drops you in the heat of a zombie apocalypse, leaving you to fend for yourself. A crafting system allows you to salvage unwanted items for their base components, then craft them into healing items or armor.
#15 Kerbal Space Program
Scavenge wreckage, craft better tools, and build in this humorous, exploration-centric game. Set in the age when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, Ark’s island overworld is teeming with prehistoric predators and ancient mysteries. Dinosaurs can be killed for materials, ridden as mounts, or tamed as pets.
How to Scale Your Game from MVP to Full Potential?
Grab some friends and plan an elaborate heist, or go solo and ride off a bridge on a motorcycle with guns blazing. The possibilities are endless, and not one of them is morally sound. Kojima clearly focused on ensuring that the lingering “what if” question in your head in regard to a mission or how you can execute it does not remain unanswered. If you are a fan of true sandbox games, MGSV is a must-play, especially because we probably won’t be seeing a sequel for it anytime soon. While games like Subnautica or No Man’s Sky also offer some survival features, The Planet Crafter focuses more on the quiet enjoyment of building from everything. Its unified approach makes it perfect for casual gamers looking to relax with friends while creating a whole new world.
Avorion is a procedurally generated sci-fi sandbox game set several hundred years after a cataclysmic event nearly ripped the galaxy apart. In your path to becoming the apex predator in Far Cry Primal, you will have to forage, scavenge craft, build, and upgrade your village in order to survive. Sea of Thieves is an open-world adventure where the vast, uncharted seas are your playground, and the pirate’s life is game quiz yours to live! Grab your crew—or brave the waters solo—and set sail on a customizable ship in search of buried treasure, ancient ruins, and epic tales of plunder. The game has earned high praise for its rich world, compelling story, and ambitious scope. It racked up awards, including multiple “Best Game” nods and recognition for its stunning visuals and innovative gameplay.