Open world RPG with the best exploration

Exploration is fun, especially when you have an entire vast map shrouded in mystery, remote areas held by who knows what, and hard-to-reach places that look so enticing from afar. Open-world games are, with few exceptions, driven by player exploration, combining immediate rewards and discovery with the overarching goal of traveling far into the unknown, into unexplored corners of the virtual world.

For an open world RPG, perfecting free exploration is no easy feat. Since progression in such games is often driven by increasing stats and increasingly powerful equipment and upgrades, developers need to ensure that players don't get too powerful too soon. This means that exploration rewards will always be relevant to fuel curiosity and the temptation to be even stronger once we reach the next area. Today we take a look at open-world RPGs that have perfected exploration through exciting discoveries and powerful rewards to keep them engaging for a long time.

Different RPG elements are important for this list, so I like games with a more linear progression Red Dead Redemption 2, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild & Tears of the Kingdom, Ghost of Yoteior similar action-adventure titles are excluded.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A legendary plan

A game that almost established the classic open world map design as known to modern players, with questions and points of interest that attract attention every minute, even ten years later, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt still looks and plays great. It's a truly remarkable achievement that the world is so large and diverse, yet dense and hand-crafted, with every inch brimming with detail and care. From White Orchard to Skellige, Kaer Morhen, Velen and of course bustling Novigrad, the continent of The Witcher 3 is a treat to explore as everything players can find has been carefully placed in exactly the right places.

The most curious players who go to the farthest corners The Witcher 3 the world would certainly discover Places of Power to gain extra ability points; each cave or abandoned village can have a treasure chest with new powerful equipment; now and then, players can even start a new interesting quest by coming across a broken cart or lost property; and the hardest to reach areas would definitely reward the rarest blueprints or materials.

A legacy that cannot be denied

Another long-running open-world RPG staple with a near-perfect exploration aspect, Skyrim simply cannot be missed on such a list. Fifth entry in Beloved The Elder Scrolls The fantasy franchise delivers a perfect world scale with compelling density and an excellent balance of untamed wilderness and settlements, complete with nine explorable cities. Traveling through this world always feels like a proper journey across a believable world, rather than just wandering from one point of interest to another.

Players can discover almost anything while exploring the province of Skyrim, even outside of the countless ruins, caves, and bandit lairs common in every other open-world title. Navigation on the map in Skyrim is as fascinating as it is rewarding, with well-hidden treasure chests or maps, mines with resources like ore or valuables like gems, and even precious skill books. It's also worth noting how natural the world and every minor location within it feels, which likely contributes to the game's enduring popularity.

Elden Ring

Defying the formula

a few years ago Elden Ring go exploring and thousands of players have fallen in love with the open world genre all over again. There is much to admire and discover in the world Elden Ringbut most notably, the game deliberately ignores almost every modern staple of the genre to instead forge its own path, true to FromSoftware's unique strengths. With little to no hand-holding, minimal map markers or guidance, players are left to their own devices to navigate this beautiful yet constantly dangerous environment. Some even advise playing the journal and pencil game by hand.

However, every step in Lands Between bears fruit. Players collect runes and loot from enemies to power up and improve their stats, but it's the sheer bounty of rewards in these lands that can surpass almost anything that's come before. Hundreds of unique weapons, abilities or spells are waiting to be discovered and used. Sometimes, Elden Ring players can even discover an entirely new world by venturing deep underground, or suddenly teleport to an entirely new area and must adapt to new challenges along the way.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Catching Tailwind

Assassin's Creed Odyssey was the first in the series to fully embrace RPG mechanics such as branching dialogue, more robust character progression, and distinctive battle formations bolstered by classic level-based loot. Even if AC Odyssey may not be as deep in its RPG aspects as Elden Ring or Skyrimrepresents a bold step forward for the series, coupled with one of the best worlds to be explored in the franchise to date.

Ancient Greece is the perfect backdrop for this vast and vibrant open world Assassin's Creed Odyssey fully utilizes. With the game's loose structure where players are free to walk, ride or sail wherever they want, it's up to each player to decide what's next for them. A dynamic quest system and mercenary pursuits ensure that players always have new challenges and rewards, while traveling to the most dangerous corners of this world is guaranteed to yield the most valuable rewards and the most powerful items with legendary properties. Live up to your name, AC Odyssey is one of the most enjoyable and stress-free adventures that prioritize fun.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Absorbing and organic

Unlike many other open-world RPGs set in the Middle Ages, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 it's all about authenticity. This can prove to be a double-edged sword for some players who have become accustomed to powerful gear and game-changing artifacts and abilities as exploration rewards. Naturally, there is no such thing Liberation 2but that doesn't mean exploring the breathtakingly detailed and realistic landscapes, forests, swamps and settlements isn't fun or rewarding.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 it takes a different approach and shifts the focus to realism, making sure that even the smallest upgrades or tweaks make sense in its world. Finding something truly powerful is as rare as it is valuable, as it provides an ephemeral feeling rarely available elsewhere, where players are constantly bombarded with an endless stream of ever-improving rewards. With its immersive and organic exploration and engaging random encounters, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a special open world RPG that is deep and unmistakably unique.

Dragon's Dogma 2

Certainly His Own Thing

Another open-world RPG that isn't afraid to do things its own way, Dragon's Dogma 2 feels and plays completely different from others. For starters, the game offers almost no teleport-style fast travel mechanics, doubling down on how exploration and travel are a major part of the experience. Players can only use carts, ferries, or ropeways for fixed routes, and it's not uncommon to face challenges with such travel, especially at night, which is black and harsh. Dragon's Dogma 2. There are also almost no signs or convenient guidance, so the world remains mysterious for a long time.

The overall challenging nature of the game, with ferocious enemies and colossal bosses, makes for even more exciting exploration, as the rewards discovered in its world are often well worth the effort. While some of the novelties can be washed away in the later stages of the game, e.g Dragon's Dogma 2 the big world is a bit short on biomes or regions that feel really different, fans of open-world RPGs would certainly enjoy the journey – if they can live with the unique sequel rules.

Fallout 4

For beginners, there is no better place to start

Reinforced Fallout Season 2, the franchise is relevant again, attracting veterans and newcomers alike. There is probably no better place to start than today Fallout 4 (sorry New Vegasbut you really need a remake or at least a re-release). The epitome of everything that makes Bethesda's open world RPGs so popular, Fallout 4 it simply throws the player into its large, hand-crafted world with a simple goal – to go and see what's there.

Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, players should be prepared to find and collect all sorts of junk, but Fallout 4 offers its own twist with robust crafting and building mechanics. Not only can almost everything players find and take be of some use, but dedicated players can also reshape the world to their liking. The game is also literally bursting with exciting, layered locations to explore, many of which require significant effort to get to or access, and it's not about finding better items there and leaving stronger, but about learning the deepest secrets buried in places such as Fallout the lore is really fascinating.