An open world game where quality is more important than quantity

Key Takeaways

• An open world with carefully crafted content elevates games beyond procedurally generated content into something special.
• Ghost of Tsushima, Elden Ring,
  and
  Red Dead Redemption 2
  Demonstrates the impact of immersive detail and storytelling.
• sable
  It offers a unique, non-combat open world experience with a focus on exploration and character interaction.

Open world genre It is one of the most striking in the modern gaming industry. The idea of ​​dealing with a vast fantasy landscape filled with secrets and surprises has captivated many fans. But as many players well know, an open world is only really as strong as the content within it.

Many open world games expand their maps with procedurally generated quests and small dungeons, recurring enemies, and even bosses to provide fans with more content. This approach can certainly result in a very fun game, but developers who take the extra step of putting thought and care into the characters and quests scattered throughout the open world can elevate the game into something truly special.

10 Ghost of Tsushima

living off the land

Developers Ghost of Tsushima A lot of thought was put into the open world, including visiting the actual island of Tsushima twice, to ensure that their depiction remained true to the real world while providing an engaging gameplay environment. The results are as follows: Ghost of TsushimaThe game world is full of different environments and settlements to explore.

most Ghost of Tsushima's appeal comes from Sucker Punch's minimalist approach to HUD elements. The main character, Jin Sakai, is guided in his quest by the wind itself, which blows unerringly toward his next goal. Jin can also follow creatures like foxes and birds to secret locations hidden throughout the island, providing a definitive sense of immersion and keeping you focused on the beautiful design of the world itself.

9 Elden Ring

majesty between the lands

world Elden Ring It's truly massive, with massive underground caverns and ruins expanding the already massive overworld. This expansive environment is dotted with dungeons and caves to lure the adventurous Tarnished, many of which feature recurring boss designs and enemies, but each is complex and purposefully designed to fit the game's vast lore.

This design is especially prominent in the game's DLC. Edtree's Shadowwhere Elden Ring's The captivating environmental storytelling really shines. The blackened ruins are haunted by dark spirits, remaining grim testament to the terrible atrocities that took place in the Shadow Realm. Every location and side quest is another piece of the puzzle that is our dark and bloody history. Elden Ring.

8 Red Dead Redemption 2

Taming the Wild West

The sequel to Rockstar's beloved Wild West is set in five fictional American states in the late 1800s and gives players plenty of wilderness to explore. Rockstar is notorious for putting a lot of effort into the immersion and detailing of their open worlds, from the historical accuracy of towns and buildings to the smallest details of mud splattering on clothes. This is through travel Red Dead Redemption 2 A real journey through the ages.

Amidst fantastic detail and elaborate set pieces, players are immersed in a deeply moving storyline that follows the slow decline of the Van Der Linde Gang. The game is a true modern tragedy set in a beautifully realized open world.

7 sable

coming of age

sable is a very unique open world game that defies the genre's most notable conventions. Most open world games offer large worlds and long play times, but sable Playtime is much more reasonable at around 15 hours. There's also no combat at all, so the focus is on exploration.

The game does not have a single set storyline, further encouraging exploration as players talk to various NPCs and make new discoveries. sable's unique sci-fi wasteland environment is rich with life, character, and detail, making it a very high-quality journey to begin with.

6 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Fantasy for the ages

The Witcher 3 It was one of CD Projekt Red's greatest successes, and to this day it is often considered one of the exemplars of the open world genre. There is so much inspiration in this game. The series of books that inspired it weaved a detailed tapestry of war, magic, and monsters that achieved considerable international success.

Vast open world The Witcher 3 It makes full use of the source material's rich mythology and Slavic folklore inspiration. The setting is brought to life through a variety of engaging side quests, fleshing out the world and history and providing numerous compelling storylines for players to become immersed in.

5 Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

super spinoff

insomnia Marvel's Spider-Man The title is one of the most striking superhero games on the market, providing a fantastic simulation of the title hero's web-throwing abilities and solid fighting style. Although the two main games in the series offer very real crime-fighting adventures, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Provides the best value for players in a hurry.

This spin-off game scales back the elaborate scope of the main series, focusing the action primarily on the Harlem neighborhood. So while it's a much smaller game than the others, it's still dense with plot, side content, and challenging encounters. The game's reduced scope allows the developers to focus on what's most important: Miles' quest to protect his new home, while avoiding the bloat that comes with most big-budget open-world games.

4 grand theft auto 3

change the world

that grand theft auto The franchise is a series that needs no introduction. Although the entire series has a very illustrious history, grand theft auto 3 Arguably the game that started it all. This legendary title laid the foundation of the open world genre, establishing most of the hallmarks that define gaming to this day.

By modern standards, GTA 3Although the map is relatively small, it is full of life and activities to do. Claude, the game's silent protagonist, is steeped in a twisted tale of crime and corruption that sets the standard for all future games in the series. It takes a very special game to make this much of an impact on the genre. GTA 3 It undoubtedly fits the bill.

Excellent stealth sandbox

long and complex history metal gear The franchise has arguably reached its peak. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. This open world adventure features the mysterious punished “Venom” Snake in a stealth-focused sandbox filled with targets to eliminate and objectives to conquer.

Diversity is key metal gear solid 5. The game provides fans with an incredible variety of tools for infiltration and attack, ensuring that no mission is played out the same way twice. Game design level considering each aspect metal gear solid 5The open world of is truly unparalleled.

2 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

building blocks of life

Tears of the KingdomJust like the previous work breath of the wildIt offers a vast Hyrule with few borders and few restrictions. The base map is largely identical to the first game, but has been greatly expanded with the presence of a massive underground area covering the entire map and various sky islands dotting Hyrule's airspace.

New buildings and item fusion mechanics allow players to The Legend of Zelda It has never been bigger. Players can build elaborate structures and fantastic vehicles to overcome all obstacles in their path. This incredible freedom of gameplay is complimented by some of the best side quests in the franchise, delivering emotional moments that are as cathartic as they are bringing incredible build ideas to life.

1 Fallout: New Vegas

raking in chips

Fallout: New Vegas It was once the pinnacle of a popular RPG franchise, and for good reason. The Mojave Wasteland, where the game is set, is mired in deep conflict, and this simmering war is engulfing every corner of the map. The game's major powers all exercise power in different ways, and traveling through the desert allows players to see first-hand how each government functions and who is best suited to rule the wasteland.

With the upcoming conflict at the center of the game's main story, Fallout: New Vegas Side quests abound, each helping bring the setting to life. The People of the Mojave is so well written that the entire setting feels truly alive, and even the most trivial errands feel personal and important to the NPCs involved. Fallout: New Vegas It's the gold standard for high-quality open world games and a game you can't miss.