The open world genre has seen a lot of progress in recent years. With new technologies and development tools like Unreal Engine 5, open world game development is more accessible than ever. However, despite these advances, there are a handful of open-world titles that have remained virtually untouched over time, proving time and time again that overcoming them is no easy feat.
All open-world games that come after them use them as a benchmark of excellence, taking note of how life was breathed into those open worlds and trying to recapture that same magic.
Red Dead Redemption 2
A master class in transforming life into an open world
Rockstar has a long history of creating era-defining games over the years, and perhaps the best example of that is this Red Dead Redemption 2the highly anticipated sequel to Beloved GDR which exceeded even the most optimistic predictions about the game. The game offers an unmatched level of detail and realism with a living, breathing world that responds to player decisions in a way that somehow doesn't feel scripted.
Immersion is Red Dead Redemption 2main focus. The characters feel real, not just because they have great dialogue or react organically to the player, but because of their behavior. From the smallest rodent caught underfoot to random NPCs on the street, everything moves naturally. The attention to detail for these small mannerisms makes the game world feel alive in a way that few other games have managed to achieve.
Cyberpunk 2077
The benchmark for sci-fi world building in games
Night City's World Building is Cyberpunk 2077A crowning achievement and something that elevates it from a good game to a great one. The sci-fi setting is quite unusual in the open world genre, meaning that for gamers looking for something to scratch that very itch, nothing else comes close.
It's a visually stunning game full of characters, full of believable NPCs that feel like they're alive and don't just exist for the player's benefit. The game has depth and variety, allowing players to choose different play styles according to their preferences. In combination, these elements not only do Cyberpunk 2077 the complete package, but the gold standard in the open-world sci-fi genre.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The gold standard for open world storytelling
Based on the books by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt tells the story of Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf, who roams the land as a monster-slayer-for-hire, going from town to town and making contracts to kill monsters. The open world is a dense, lovingly handcrafted map full of secrets, treasures and surprises. The combat is addictive and action-packed, with deep customization, build variety, and plenty of weapon choices for Geralt.
Surprisingly, the most interesting about The Witcher 3The story is not griffins flying overhead, vampires hunting the living, or even a magical system, but the ugliness of human nature presented in all its grotesque glory. Geralt's adventure is dark, gritty and often tragic, and all the more impressive. As for the narrative telling that players will remember years after they put the game down for good, The Witcher 3 has few equals.
Grand Theft Auto 5
A decade-defining open world that refuses to fade away
Released in 2013, Grand Theft Auto 5 is still considered one of the most impressive open-world games ever made. The sprawling satirical recreation of Los Angeles feels as authentic as if it had been created to scale. Characters walk and talk like real people, not just the ones the player controls or interacts with heavily, but even the random NPCs on the street feel like they live in a big city.
As if that wasn't enough, the introduction GTA Online added an unprecedented layer of realism to Los Santos. Now multiple real players can inhabit the same city, work as taxi or burger drivers, join bank heists or patrol the streets as policemen. Cultural impact and longevity GTA 5 not something that has been seen before, even among previous games in the franchise.
The most influential fantasy realm ever created
There are few open world games more influential than Bethesda The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimwhich many consider to be the most successful game of the whole The Elder Scrolls franchise. what does he do Skyrim difficult to live up to, however, not only the game itself, but also the highly active modding community devoted to it.
While the base Skyrim the game is certainly impressive for a 2011 title, the vast majority of players would have long since forgotten it if not for the hundreds of thousands Skyrim mods that allow players to constantly reinvent the single player experience in an endless variety of ways.
Elden Ring
An open world that redefined challenge and discovery
Elden Ring is FromSoftware's very first fully open-world Soulsborne game, and despite being released in 2022, the game has basically no competitors in the space that even come close. A combination of slow and punishing combat from Dark souls and an absolutely massive world full of secrets is something that has not been replicated with any success Elden Ringand that could very well remain true for years to come.
Many were skeptical Elden Ring's concept before its release, as open-world and Soulslike seemed like contradictory genres to be combined in one game, but FromSoftware proved that it could be done, and done well. Cryptic, confusing and often frustrating, Elden Ring it set a new gold standard for open-world exploration and combat with its release, and future titles have a high bar to overcome in order to surpass it.
The outer wilderness
A universe of secrets waiting to be discovered
The outer wilderness is an indie game that redefines what “open world” means. Players explore the compact solar system in a spaceship, discovering secrets, solving puzzles, and uncovering mysteries. The game primarily rewards curiosity and critical thinking and does not hold the player's hand, especially when solving puzzles.
It's hard to describe The outer wilderness without spoiling the experience for someone who hasn't played it, but suffice it to say that it makes ingenious use of time loops to deliver a story with immense emotional impact. There's nothing like it in the gaming industry, and it's not a statement gamers hear every day.
Subnautica
An underwater world full of wonder and horror
Open world games live and die by the quality of their exploration, and few game worlds come close to the majesty and wonder Subnauticaunderwater area. Exploring the ocean for the first time is like discovering a whole new world, and the sense of awe and wonder only grows as players dive deeper.
There are no NPCs Subnautica; it's just the player, the ocean, and the creatures that call the sea home. The solitude experience is sobering and cathartic in equal measure, and as the survival mechanics force the player to slow down and enter the game world one section at a time, exploration is mandatory. Few open world games deal with underwater exploration Subnautica it mostly stands alone in its subgenre. The only title that can come closest to it is Breathoften called “Subnautica in space” from fans, but even that doesn't beat the original.
