Open world games are so good you'll play them twice

Open world games they usually offer plenty of reasons to keep playing, whether it's a lengthy story, a beautiful world, engaging exploration, exciting combat, or memorable characters to meet and spend time with. It's not uncommon for open-world RPGs to provide over a hundred hours of playtime, yet some games are so good that even that isn't enough to fully enjoy them.

Even without considering other reasons for a second playbacksuch as story branches or multiple unlockable endings, the open world games below are worth revisiting. Players probably won't be disappointed, and they probably will appreciate these titles the second time around or the third time around even more.

NieR: Automata

Built with replay value in mind

An open world game with legendary replay value, NieR: Automata it is designed for multiple runs, improving each time and enriching the overall experience. The game is also just plain fun to play on its own, offering equally strong exploration, combat, and a stunning world full of interesting stories.

Once the players beat NieR: Automata they realize for the first time that they have only scratched the surface of his complex and emotional narrative. Two other playable characters provide their own perspectives on the game's events, along with a number of endings (26 in total) that can be unlocked and discovered. It's a truly unique journey within the open world genre.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Once you start, it's too hard to put down

Even after ten years, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains strong, with perfect atmosphere and engaging gameplay. Over the years, the game hasn't lost any of its charm and even received several content updates for an even richer adventure. Anyone playing it in 2025 would be instantly drawn back into its gritty world and incredibly hard to put down.

With a cast of familiar and memorable characters, multiple solutions for nearly every main and side quest, far-reaching consequences, and two massive expansions, The Witcher 3 it deserves a replay – and there's a good chance players will enjoy the second playthrough even more.

Red Dead Redemption 2

The perfect blend of storytelling and freedom

Red Dead Redemption 2 legacy is undisputed in 2025, with almost everyone agreeing that it remains Rockstar's best work to date. Combining an ambitious story with a reactive open world like no other, and NPCs that truly feel alive, RDR 2 adds even more nuance to its story and complex characters through its subsequent run.

Experiencing the story a second time is like peeking behind the curtain, as players gain a deeper understanding of the slow build-up to significant events and early-game moments that have far-reaching consequences. In addition Red Dead Redemption 2 The Wild West setting is so vivid and full of surprises that players are still discovering new details and events more than seven years after launch.

Fallout: New Vegas

No new run is like the last

Fallout: New Vegas stands as a true gem in both the iconic series and Obsidian's extensive RPG catalog, offering a deeply branching story and unparalleled role-playing freedom. With its complex faction and companion systems and quests that can be approached in myriad ways that encourage creativity and uncomplicated thinking, New Vegas remains the epitome of old-school RPG design philosophy. A proper remaster, or even a complete remake, has been long overdue.

No matter what wild characters players create, Fallout: New Vegas he fully supports them and allows complete freedom to embody whatever hero (or anti-hero) they choose to be. It's one of the few open-world RPGs that really delivers on the promise that each new playthrough will have a completely different feel.

Cyberpunk 2077

A fascinating environment worth returning to

Players who have experienced Cyberpunk 2077 it would barely recognize its current state at launch, given the stream of patches and content updates CD Projekt Red has released over the years. Still, even newcomers to the final edition of the game can find it difficult to leave Night City after just one playthrough.

And it's easy to see why. Cyberpunk 2077 it's built like a true RPG with a robust character creator, gender and story options that affect certain quests or even unlock new ones, and the developer's signature branching story with multiple endings and the ability to shape the fate of nearly every key NPC. Plus, the flexible character building system keeps each run fresh and offers completely new ways to approach combat, stealth, and dialogue.

Elden Ring

There is always something to discover

Unlike traditional RPGs such as Fallout: New Vegas or The Witcher 3, Elden Ring it has a different approach, with fewer NPCs and side quests lurking around every corner. Although it offers several endings, some of which may be difficult to obtain, Elden Ring it may not be significantly different on the second playthrough, but it still provides plenty of reasons to keep playing.

Elden Ring the secret lies in its unique variety, from enemies and bosses to weapons, spells and abilities. That's why players keep coming back to it years later, experimenting with different builds, picking up gear that previously eluded them, and uncovering hidden areas and entire quest lines that are easy to miss on first run.

Replaying it is always a good idea

Skyrim is a game that RPG fans have been playing continuously for years, often starting a new game right after finishing the previous one – or simply passing the time in its unique, familiar and beloved world. for many Skyrim it represents the epitome of a second gaming life, facilitated by its availability on almost every platform.

on PC, Skyrim can be customized to anyone's liking thanks to a thriving mod community and thousands of mods that change every aspect of the game and ensure that every playthrough looks different. Even for those who stick with the vanilla version, Skyrim delivers everything expected of an epic fantasy adventure built on freedom.

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