20 Best Open World Video Games

You’ll find many animals to hunt, monsters to kill, and many mysterious areas to explore. You’ll have to explore the wilderness around you to uncover secrets and scavenge for tools, weapons, clothing, and more. And you’ll have to monitor your health, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and cold while you do so. The Long Dark is a first-person survival game that takes place in the open world environment of the Canadian wilderness. Titles like Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption 2, Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, Fallout 4, No Man’s Sky, etc., are some of the best singleplayer open world games. These games excel at creating unforgettable experiences, where every corner hides a new quest, mystery, more breathtaking sight, all while letting you carve your own path.

Partially procedural animations make traversal and combat feel fluid and kinetic. When the Joker’s TITAN-mutated blood starts to slowly kill him, he infects Batman and Gotham’s hospitals with his disease. Arkham City’s open world is a maze of skyscrapers, steel, and neon, glinting in the dark and fully accessible with Batman’s ability to fly. Kicks and punches straight from the comic books send criminals crying home – hearing thugs react in fear and surprise when the Batman has appeared never gets less satisfying. Arkham City’s story is a truly gripping tragedy, and much of the game’s narrative is told in-game without the use of cutscenes, keeping you immersed the whole time.

A Sci-Fi Open World RPG: Cyberpunk 2077

It’s one for Potter fans, but is a solid modern RPG, having launched in 2023, so worth it even if you don’t love the franchise. Gearbox’s 2012 FPS RPG would be higher on any other list, but with a semi-open world that features a string of massive areas separated by loading screens, it only just counts. With billions of guns and a great story, anyone who likes shooting things will love this, but it’s not a true open world.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Red Dead Redemption 2 is an absolute masterpiece of an open world experience. Rockstar spectacularly reimagined the 1899 United States, and in doing so, they created a game that will reign supreme over its genre for years to come. Arthur Morgan is also one of the most iconic protagonists to ever exist in the industry. In the process, you’ll have to deal with merchants, blacksmiths, swordsmiths, and more. You’ll have to loot and scavenge, craft, and cook food, potions, equipment, and weapons, all crucial to your journey and the quests that it holds.

#12 Rebel Galaxy

With its endless landscapes of forests, deserts, mountains, and oceans, every step is an adventure waiting to happen. By day, gather resources, craft tools, and create anything you can dream of. By night, fend off creepers, skeletons, and zombies in a fight to survive. Whether you’re exploring caverns, farming, or just hanging out with friends in multiplayer, Minecraft transforms the open world into a canvas for creativity and adventure.

Open World, Closed Door: Exploring Vast Universes Alone

A sequel that improves on its predecessor in every way, Horizon Forbidden West continues Aloy’s journey through a lush, post-apocalyptic world. The stunning visuals and diverse environments make the exploration even more thrilling, and the combat against robotic creatures is as engaging as ever. It’s one of those games where the world feels alive, and every corner of it holds a new adventure. The custom ships and probes are deep, and as you travel across the stars, you have a real sense of splendor.

There was a time when No Man’s Sky would’ve been touted as one of the biggest open-world titles ever created. Mainly, while there was a universe with millions upon millions of planets to explore, there was never a reason to really explore them. Open world games offer unmatched freedom to take things in unexpected directions, which makes them very satisfying.

When I first piloted my ship, it felt like stepping into Han Solo’s boots minus the Wookiee co-pilot. Compared to other sandbox games like No Man’s Sky, Minecraft excels in its creativity. There’s no goal until you make one for yourself, and that’s the beauty of it. This is a true example of a world limited only by your imagination. What I love about Far Cry 6 is how it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Unlike Red Dead Redemption 2, which is heavy on reality, this game lets you go wild.

Another Ubisoft game, the RPG style Assassin’s Creed titles were all great, but it’s the ancient Greek Odyssey that’s ffx the best of the bunch. Run around as an assassin, doing assassin things, in this epic open world that is truly massive. This is as much about having a fun playground to cause chaos in than the story.

First and foremost, we considered world design because it’s the heart and soul of any sandbox game. A game can have mind-boggling mechanics or an epic story, but if the world doesn’t feel alive and worth exploring, it’s a dealbreaker. From towering cities to lush forests, it’s how the game’s world is built that matters. Everspace 2 throws players into a cloned pilot setting off on his own adventure to establish where he belongs in this universe.

The game’s sprawling world is stuffed with sidequests, and allows you to totally customize your character’s class, encouraging you to play the game however you want. Combat is up-close and personal, and the game pits you against equals, so each fight feels like a real risk. One of the game’s more untraditional mechanics is a needs system, requiring you to eat and sleep to stay in good shape.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 immerses you in an epic fantasy world where you play as the Arisen, a hero chosen by fate. Explore varied landscapes filled with formidable monsters and complete heroic quests. With AI companions called Pawns, engage in strategic and spectacular combat. Your adventure focuses on exploration, decision-making, and skill development.

What can we learn by playing games?

From building resilience to improving communication skills, here are 10 life lessons I’ve picked up through my many years of gaming (and yes, I’m a proud nerd!). Instead of giving up, players are encouraged to learn from their mistakes and try again. This mindset is crucial in real life, where setbacks can feel discouraging.

Productive Procrastination: Is It Good or Bad?

Here are the 15 stages that everyone ends up going through when they are sick at college. They are such a blessing every single day and deserve the praise, not only on Mother’s Day, but on every day of the year. There is a reason they are often referred to as supermoms. These sweet individuals are always trying to make our lives easier, and bless their souls for that.

Video games are for more than a way to unwind after a long day. Games, just like life, have a competitive component to them. But being obsessive, strict, and narrowly-focused on one thing to the exclusion of everything else is not the way to go if you want to be truly happy.

Whatever rewards await on the other side of the enemy or the locked gate aren’t worth the stress it takes to get there. Each failure teaches me another way to do things wrong, in hopes that the next time, I can get things right. This lesson is highly transferable to real-life situations, especially in the workplace or community activities.

But above all, playing requires following rules and respecting other players, so games can enhance solidarity and communication among people. Games with moral choices prompt deep reflection on values and ethics. For instance, games like “The Witcher” or “Mass Effect” present decisions that impact the game’s narrative and characters. Strengthening your decision-making prowess, you’ll make choices aligned with your principles. Making ethical decisions in real-life situations ensures that your actions align with your values and contribute positively to society. Story-driven games put you in others’ shoes, cultivating empathy and understanding.

The game encourages players to prepare thoroughly and believe in their abilities, highlighting the importance of resilience and risk management in real life. Rushing into situations unprepared often leads to failure. In real life, patience allows us to stay calm, make better decisions, and wait for opportunities rather than forcing them. When you start a new game, the first level or two typically features easier enemies, fewer obstacles, and requires fewer skills.

All the players are just the characters they represent. They have no caste, creed, sex, colour or religion. They’re known for the skills they have, which is ideally how it should be in the real world.

In the presence of your mom, you can always feel safe. Whether you mess up for the thousandth time or do something they don’t necessarily approve of, they will still love you. And when they tell you “I will always love you, no matter what”, you know they mean it and those are the most reassuring words you will ever hear. Some games will reward you heavily for exploring outside the beaten path and doing some exploration. Thinking for yourself and going outside your comfort zone might lead you to untold treasures. In a tabletop RPG like D&D, the open-world concept allows almost limitless options when dealing with an encounter.

How playing games teaches us about life?

What can games teach us? Life lessons from play.

We think having more choices must be better than having less, but it can make it impossible to move forward. As a result, your strategy falls apart and your progress halts. Getting past this paralysis involves narrowing down your options and keeping calm in the face of pressure. Take the road less traveled by, and it could make all the difference. Robert Frost knew his stuff, because it’s so easy to get stuck in a routine or to follow the bandwagon.

There are tons of little tricks you can learn that will make your life a whole lot easier. We may not go looking to join an adventuring party when facing a difficult situation in the real world. But working with others can make tackling projects or problem-solving easier. Finally, Dan thinks that Bioshock offers a darker, more contemporary lesson on the dangers of corporate and CEO worship. Bioshock serves as a reminder to critically evaluate leadership and not blindly follow those in power. Dress as a clown for that kid’s birthday party, wear medical scrubs when you interview for a hospital, come with your own knives for that new restaurant opening.

However, gaming teaches us that failure is temporary and that each mistake brings us closer to success. Games, especially those with a high level of difficulty, provide a safe environment where players can learn this lesson repeatedly. Gaming is often seen as an entertainment activity, a way to unwind, or a hobby for many. However, there’s more to gaming than just fun and competition.

You’ve finally got a place where your friends can hang and people can come over! You throw on clothes really quick, go to your classes (even though you’re late) and go to work anyway (still in denial). You stay up until 3 am doing the homework and finally get to go to sleep, you think “Oh I’ll be better in the morning” (clearly you’re in denial). A best friend can make you feel confident, even when you’re wrong. Sometimes all you need is someone to remind you to indulge in some of life’s finer things.

Essential Life Lessons Learned From Playing Games.

No piece of art is divorced from the environment in which it was ffx created, and that imparts some real-life wisdom, too. Always save your progress, protect your friends, that kind of stuff. Games teach you plenty of lessons, even if you’re not aware of it.