Most games salivate at the prospect of going viral, and this is especially true for indie gaming. The lack of AAA constraints allows these games to reach new heights as they let players enjoy imaginative gameplay loops.
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However, in the case of open-world games, it's mostly the AAA hitters with massive budgets who have the marketing budget to make their games go viral... Sometimes even before the game releases! It's a genre full of so many titles and expectations that only the most groundbreaking and newsworthy games have a chance of going viral.
Grand Theft Auto 5
A Viral Sensation That Is Still Relevant Courtesy Of GTA Online
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Released
- September 17, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
Pretty much every Grand Theft Auto game can fit the bill of being a viral open-world game. Grand Theft Auto 5 is no exception, with its trio of protagonists and technical achievements ensuring that the latest GTA game would become a barnburner in no time.
On top of this, the addition of GTA Online ensured that Grand Theft Auto 5 would be played by gamers for more than a decade after its launch, which is no mean feat. It speaks volumes about how ahead of its time GTA 5 was that players can still have a great time with this title, and it helps that the next-gen patch will make this game look better than ever on modern systems.
Minecraft
Microsoft Paid The Big Bucks To Acquire This Indie Phenomenon
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
Minecraft is one of the greatest indie games ever made, establishing the modern template for future survival games to build upon. Even now, after all the years that have passed, Minecraft still has a dedicated fanbase that loves both the game's updates (barring a few recent exceptions) and the fan-made content for this title.
The game blew up and single-handedly turned its creator, Notch, into a billionaire. It's a viral phenomenon and the gift that keeps on giving, to the point where players with no gaming knowledge will still be familiar with Minecraft clips given how prominent they are on social media.
Cyberpunk 2077
Went Viral For Both Good And Bad Reasons
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the greatest video games ever made, but it took a while for the game to regain this reputation after a botched launch. CD Projekt Red's latest open-world RPG made the rounds with stellar marketing that hyped it to the moon and back, only for an underbaked and unfinished final product to leave a sour taste in the minds of fans.
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However, the company didn't give up on this title even after it became the punching bag of the video game industry for a while. They fixed the bugs, added more content, and revamped the gameplay systems, allowing Cyberpunk 2077 to enjoy the No Man's Sky treatment and become a lauded game, especially with the launch of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, ensuring that this game would be relevant in the realm of pop culture once again.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
The Cultural Impact Of This Game Can Be Felt To This Day
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
Skyrim is one of the greatest open-world RPGs ever made, with the sheer impact it had on the video game industry being clear as day. From the giants that sent the Dragonborn flying to the hilarious "arrow in the knee" memes, there's no shortage of ways Skyrim took over gaming pop culture.
People may laugh at Bethesda for re-releasing this game over and over again, but this approach has done a great job of helping Skyrim maintain its virality. This, coupled with a stellar modding community, ensures that players can boot up Skyrim and still have an amazing time with this title.
Elden Ring
Blew Up And Became The Most Popular FromSoftware Game
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
FromSoftware's Dark Souls helped this studio reach new heights and establish a whole new gaming genre. However, while the Chosen Undead's adventures may make for the greatest and most important game made by this studio, Elden Ring's virality and popularity ensured that it would be their most successful game by a country mile.
All of a sudden, George R.R. Martin's writing and the stellar open-world design ensured that Elden Ring would reach greater audiences than anyone could've expected. The excellent response to Shadow of the Erdtree and the experimental Elden Ring Nightreign makes it clear that FromSoftware will try to capture lightning in a bottle the same way they did with this genre-defining open-world RPG.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Arthur Morgan's Emotional Adventure Is A Tale For The Ages
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Red Dead Redemption 2 boasts one of Rockstar's best narratives by a country mile. Despite a slow beginning (which also became a viral discussion point), players love this title once it opens up and lets them gaze upon one of the most beautiful gaming worlds they've ever seen.
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Arthur Morgan's adventures made for a fascinating time as players embarked on a journey for the ages with a group of outlaws in an age where they were getting left behind. The emotional high points of this masterpiece ensured that people couldn't stop talking about this game, even if Red Dead Online was a disappointment that failed to capitalize on the original game's popularity.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt's Adventures Were In A Class Of Their Own And Helped CD Projekt Red Become A Beloved Company
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The Witcher 3 is one of the greatest video games ever made, catapulting CD Projekt Red to the stratosphere of popularity. After achieving modest levels of success with the first two games in the series, Wild Hunt's incredible writing and beautiful open-world environments helped it stand out as one of the best open-world titles around.
It single-handedly turned The Witcher franchise into one of the most mainstream series around, while the game's two expansions ensured that the game would be relevant for a long time. The next-gen patch is the cherry on top of this experience, encouraging players to replay this game and enjoy a new level of detail and beauty, something that was thought to be unimaginable given how beautiful the original game already was.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Nintendo Blew Everyone Away With Their Work On This Incredible Open-World Zelda Adventure
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
When Nintendo revealed its plans to release a proper open-world Zelda game, fans didn't know what to expect. Pre-release impressions were mixed, but Breath of the Wild blew everything out of the water and established itself as one of the best video games of all time.
The organic open-world design was mind-blowing and ensured that players weren't constantly chasing map markers in the open world, like most other titles in the genre. The freeform design and malleable gameplay elements ensured that players would have a blast with this game, interacting with the community as they stumbled upon the game's many incredible moments and clever secrets.
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