When incredible world-building and a deep sense of adventure come together, great titles are born. Some games are destined to become timeless classics from the start, and the people who work tirelessly to deliver these amazing experiences are masters of storytelling and game design.
Check out this list of games you should play at least once to discover them the true essence of Worldbuilding and adventure blending into a smooth and exciting experience. Perfect titles to add to your list.
The best open world games that are hard to put down
A well-designed open world can keep players engaged for countless hours, drawing them into an immersive world they won't want to leave.
1
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath of The Wild
Worldbuilding achieved perfection with this one
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
10/10
- Released
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March 3, 2017
- ESRB
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E for Everyone: Fantasy violence, alcohol use, mild themes
- Developers
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Nintendo EPD
- Publishers
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Nintendo
From the moment you wake up, this game conveys an eerie and melancholy sense of loneliness: It's present every step of the way, with every enemy defeated and every shrine, temple and dungeon visited. World building in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the best ever created. No matter what you play after this title, you'll know the difference between a masterpiece and an average title.
2
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
One of the best classics, and for good reason
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Released
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November 21, 1998
- ESRB
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E10+ for everyone aged 10+: Animated blood, Fantasy violence, Sexual themes
- Developers
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Nintendo
- Publishers
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Nintendo
- Engine
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Zelda 64 engine
The beginning of Link's story could have happened way before the Nintendo 64 was released, but it is The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time when Adventure and Worldbuilding were perfectly merged to create one of the most incredible games of all time. Any true Zelda fan will return to this entry in the franchise and feel like they're playing it for the first time.
3
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Incredible world building, worth playing for the story alone
Horizon: Zero Dawn
9/10
- Released
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February 28, 2017
- ESRB
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T for Teens: Blood, Drug References, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Violence
Horizon: Zero Dawn is one of those titles that you have to play at least once and feel the story as you go. Regardless of the rampaging giant robots or the amount of twists and turns the story has, the most important thing is the message beneath the surface of a devastated world, hidden in the remains of those long gone. This game invites you to explore and understand the distant past to find out what is really going on in this dystopian future ruled by gigantic mechanical beasts. A true masterpiece.
4
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Top notch, even though the first game was excellent
Zelda games have this interesting and wonderful way of ensnaring you in their story, even when the story itself isn't directly revealed, it's spread out in little crumbs. WITH Tears of the Kingdomthere is an incredible and heart-wrenching story to explore and the world building is excellent, although not as much as the first game. One thing is certain: The Gameplay in TOTK is much better than v BOTW.
5
Fable: The Lost Chapters
An underrated gem of world building and classic adventure
Fable: The Lost Chapters is the definitive Hero's Journey game, a clear representation of Worldbuilding done well, and one of the best adventure RPGs ever made. With all that said, it's true that it's a game that doesn't get better the more you play it, and it's a bit dated for modern tastes. Nevertheless, every lover of classic RPGs and adventure games should play it at least once and pay attention to how the world develops around them. Albion's story is as fascinating as it gets full of dark twistsand beings that are extremely difficult to understand if you listen to whispers hidden behind Demonic Doors and well-placed lore entries.
The 8 best open world games where free exploration is more rewarding than the main story
While these open-world games offer a main story campaign to complete, their settings are so immersive that exploration almost always takes priority.
6
Middle-earth: Shadow Of War
The best Lord of the Rings game
Of all of them lord of the rings when the games were created Middle-earth: Shadow of War dared to risk it all and created something truly amazing by slightly twisting the tradition created by a giant like Tolkien. The game has not only incredible and incomparable The Nemesis Systembut it also has extremely polished worldbuilding that puts it right at the top of the charts when it comes to storytelling and immersion.
The best open world games that will make you think
Far from mindless entertainment, these video games force players to think about everything from strategy to philosophical concepts.
7
Red Dead Redemption
The worldbuilding in this game is extremely good
Red Dead Redemption
8/10
- Released
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May 18, 2010
- ESRB
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M For Adults 17+ due to blood, intense violence, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, drug use
- Developers
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Rockstar San Diego
Red Dead Redemption it's insanely good at world-building and uses it to its fullest, completely immersing players in a story of revenge and redemption that they'll never experience in any other western adventure game. Of course, its sequel is better in terms of gameplay, scenario design and graphics, but GDR is the best of the franchise (so far).
8
Assassin's Creed Black Flag
No other game depicted the life of a pirate like this title
Assassin's Creed Black Flag has seen a resurgence in popularity since Resynced was announced, but it has always been and will be one of the best Pirate games ever made. With a mixture of naval adventures, incredible battles, exploration and classic AC gameplay, this is one of the best titles to enjoy and relax for hours. The worldbuilding behind his story is a massive, artistic work that takes tons of real historical events into account and seamlessly blends them into Edward Kenway's action-packed story.
9
Red Dead Redemption 2
Ride to the Horizon, top of the shelf in terms of adventure and world building
Red Dead Redemption 2
10/10
- Released
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October 26, 2018
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, sexual content, strong language, drug and alcohol use
In terms of world building and adventure, Red Dead Redemption 2 is spectacular: It manages to capture the essence of the wild west and translate it into a vivid, immersive and engaging game that can keep you hooked for hours. Whether you're playing a vengeful outlaw or doing an honorable run, the game offers hours of fun.
10
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
The best of the franchise
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
- Released
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April 23, 2013
- ESRB
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M For adults 17+ due to blood and gore, partial nudity, obscene themes, violence
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a massive game that delves even deeper into the lore-rich world that CAPCOM has created for this incredible title. In this immediate sequel to the first game (which is actually the original game + extensive post-game), the story becomes even clearer. We learn more about the Dragon Cycle and the Arisen, how the two are linked by fate and tragedy, and the consequences of the Arisen's past choices. It's one of the best adventure RPGs to try if you enjoy immersing yourself in meticulously crafted world-building.
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There are so many ways to approach adventure in the open world genre, and these titles do it differently, but just as well.
