The year 2026 has given us so far Crimson desert and Gothicto name two open world RPGs. Although they may not stick in the mind to the same degree as legendary masterpieces The Witcher 3it is safe to predict that these titles will not be forgotten in ten years. Sadly, a lot of open-world RPGs don't escape this fate, condemning them to a present and a future that mostly consists of appearances in “forgotten games” discussions.
One of my favorite things to do is revisit games from the 2000s and 2010s that have almost no digital footprint, just to see what they have to offer, if they hold up, and if they should be better known. To be honest, there aren't that many open world RPGs out there, but there are some great titles that fans of both genres should really check out. While far from perfect, they are fantastic in their own right.
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Drakan: The Ancients' Gates
An open world PS2 RPG that lets you ride a dragon
Drakan: The Ancients' Gates
- Released
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January 29, 2002
- ESRB
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M For adults 17+ // Blood and gore, violence
- Developers
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Surreal software
The deepest cut in this article, Drakan: The Ancients' Gates, is a PS2 cult classic that almost qualifies for the “cult” part since most people seem to barely remember it. The definition of a flawed masterpiece, Surreal Software's project was arguably ahead of its time and featured a sense of scale that even modern AAA developers still struggle to integrate.
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The gameplay loop is divided into ground and air sections, with the latter involving taking to the skies on the back of a fire-breathing dragon. Both halves are well developed for their era, with ground combat with skill trees, weapon types, magic and puzzles. DragonAerial combat is its main selling point, and raining down fire on camps across hub areas still looks pretty impressive.
the “wrong” part comes from the many bugs that plagued it Drakan: The Ancients' Gatesa side effect of an ambitious project that failed to make everything run smoothly. I wish the game was ported to PC because modders can really do wonders.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13
The Forgotten Final Chapter (And the best FF13 game)
I know what you're thinking: “No Final Fantasy the game is forgotten.” I would generally agree but The flash returns definitely has the closest thing to an exception. We're talking about the third entry in a polarizing trilogy that had long since lost its breath by 2013; just stubbornly FF13 fans would notice The flash returns came out.
Unlike the linear corridors of the original game, The flash returns is an open world game with four regions that can be explored in any order. While Schemata's game system lacks traditional parties, it provides one of the most satisfying active combat loops in the JRPG genre, with Lightning effectively acting as multiple classes by changing her customizable outfits. Battles are fast, tactical and visually impressive; FF13 it would have been much better received if played closer The flash returns.
How I love this bizarre final chapter, The flash returns it can be downright alienating. The messy space story reads almost like fan fiction, presenting Lightning as a pseudo-goddess and forcing players to rush the countdown clock (which isn't too strict once you learn the mechanics, but still feels pointless).
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
An ambitious RPG that gives you complete freedom
Three Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura it exists in that weird bubble of being highly regarded among enthusiasts and completely irrelevant to everyone else. When it comes to pure roleplaying freedom, Arcanum set the standard in the early 2000s and still puts many modern titles to shame. Although not built as GTAhowever, the game features an open world that mostly lets you go where you want, with a level of reactivity that very few RPGs attempt.
As the name suggests, Arcanum takes place in a society divided by science and magic, and you decide whether to favor technology or play the mage. Quests encourage you to take different approaches, be it brute force, diplomacy, stealth or even engineering. Be prepared for the consequences.
Given his age and overall grip, Arcanum can be hard to appreciate these days, especially since the fights aren't particularly great by any stretch of the imagination.
Yo-kai watch 2
Yo-kai Watch made their way through the open world ahead of Pokemon
Hard to believe in hindsight, but for a brief moment, Yo-kai watch he seemed ready to join Pokemon as Nintendo's new big creature collection franchise. The original game did incredibly well, leading to an avalanche of spin-offs, sequels, and other media. Maybe it was oversaturation or the fact that its international release took over 2 years to materialize, but Yo-kai watch 2 did not attract nearly as much attention as its predecessor.
15 years later, this forgotten PS3 fantasy masterpiece has aged like fine wine
Rayman Origins, Child of Eden and other overlooked PS3 gems have held up remarkably well 15 years later, offering timeless gaming experiences.
Naturally, fans of the first entry should 100% play all of the sequels, all of which feature new ideas that allow them to stand on their own two feet. However, people who have never heard of the franchise should specifically check out the second entry, as it ranks among the best and most atmospheric 3DS open-world games. Mixing monster collecting with slice-of-life elements, Yo-kai watch 2 it brings rural and suburban Japan to life incredibly well, while using time travel to change the shape of the world.
The combat system is a little too passive for its own good, so I wouldn't specifically recommend the game as a turn-based JRPG.
Kenshi
The biggest open world RPG that most people will never play
Kenshi
- Released
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December 6, 2018
right at this moment Kenshi has over 4K players on Steam, which should automatically disqualify it from receiving the “forgotten” label. While I understand Kenshi is probably the most underrated open world RPG of all time, loved by a select group but completely ignored by everyone else. He fell into a massive Mad Max-esque sandbox, you are a nobody and must decide how to live, survive and thrive.
Your actions determine your place in the world, and you can be anything from a nomad to a military leader or a merchant. Progress is incredible because it is earned by real struggle; for example, if you lose an arm in a fight, you have to make do and not just wait for it to grow back. Kenshi excels in emergent storytelling.
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As the years go by, these open-world RPGs remain the undisputed pinnacle of the genre – and they're definitely worth playing today.
Just look at a single screenshot for its shortcomings. Kenshi it looks like an absolute killer and drives like one too.
