Summary
- Obsidian's open-world games offer immersive storytelling blended with player freedom.
- Obsidian's games span from navigating a backyard while the size of an ant to exploring a richly detailed world brimming with magic.
- Obsidian creates unconventional open-world experiences like turning everyday nature into dangerous playgrounds.
Obsidian Entertainment is no stranger to crafting immersive worlds, and when it comes to open-world games, they've left quite a mark. From vast RPG landscapes to more experimental settings, Obsidian knows how to blend intricate storytelling with player freedom.
14 Best Obsidian Entertainment Games
After bringing gamers The Outer Worlds, the rest of Obsidian Entertainment's repertoire of games deserves more attention.
While some titles lean into hardcore RPG mechanics, others take a more laid-back, experimental approach. Ranking these games isn’t just about their scale, but how effectively they pull players into their respective worlds. This list dives into the best open-world experiences Obsidian Entertainment has crafted.
5 Grounded
Honey, I Shrunk The RPG
Grounded
- Released
- September 27, 2022
- ESRB
- Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
Survival in Grounded isn’t about wastelands or alien planets — it’s about navigating your backyard when you’re the size of an ant. Obsidian flipped the script on open-world RPGs by making players feel small in a world that suddenly feels enormous. Crafting weapons from twigs and armor from acorns becomes essential when even a ladybug looks like a tank.
The game’s open world is more than just an oversized garden; it’s an ecosystem. Spiders patrol their webs, ants march in lines, and bees are both beautiful and terrifying up close. Multiplayer shines here, as teaming up to take down a particularly aggressive bombardier beetle feels like a small victory in a big world. It’s an unconventional open-world game, sure, but the way it turns everyday nature into a sprawling, dangerous playground is pure Obsidian creativity.
4 Avowed
Magic & Mystery In The Living Lands
Avowed
- Released
- February 18, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Set in the richly detailed world of Eora, Avowed invites players to explore the Living Lands, a region brimming with magic, mystery, and danger.
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Players can switch between first-person and third-person perspectives, a flexibility that caters to different playstyles, enhancing immersion. The combat system is versatile, blending magic, melee weapons, and firearms; spells can freeze or entangle enemies, setting them up for devastating physical attacks, and quick combat setup switches, like dual-wielding pistols or using a sword and shield, keep battles fresh and exciting.
The narrative emphasizes player choice, with branching dialogue options and quest decisions significantly impacting the story and world, showcasing Obsidian's storytelling prowess. Exploration is key, with players uncovering hidden treasures, solving puzzles like the Avowed Woedica's Inheritance map.
3 Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire
A Pirate’s Life For Me
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
- Released
- May 8, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Versus Evil, Obsidian Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
Sailing from one island to another, managing a crew, and trying to track down a god that’s taken on physical form — Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is a classic RPG that dares to embrace the open sea. The game world is sprawling, with each island offering unique cultures, conflicts, and quests. Whether negotiating with pirate lords or aiding a colony on the brink of collapse, the choices always carry weight.
Deadfire’s open-world design blends classic isometric exploration with ship management and sea combat, keeping things varied. Crew morale and supply management make every journey feel like an expedition rather than a simple map transition. The story is rich with lore, continuing the legacy of Pillars of Eternity while introducing a more vibrant and less gloomy atmosphere. It’s Obsidian’s way of saying that open-world RPGs don’t always have to be dark and gritty.
2 The Outer Worlds
Outer Worlds, Inner Conflict
The Outer Worlds
- Released
- October 25, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Private Division
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
If you’ve ever wanted to play Fallout in space, The Outer Worlds might just be your thing. Set in a corporate-controlled galaxy, it’s a satire of late-stage capitalism wrapped in colorful, retro-futuristic aesthetics. The game’s open world isn’t seamless, but it’s broken into rich, handcrafted zones where player choice and dark humor thrive.
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The heart of The Outer Worlds lies in its dialogue-driven storytelling. Whether convincing a corporation to invest in workers' rights or deciding the fate of entire colonies, players always feel like they’re shaping the story. Companions like Parvati and Nyoka bring heart and humor to even the bleakest missions, and combat is surprisingly punchy, blending first-person shooting with RPG stats. Though it lacks the massive world scale of some contemporaries, it makes up for that with clever writing and the freedom to play however you like.
1 Fallout: New Vegas
Vegas, Baby
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
This one doesn’t need much introduction. Fallout: New Vegas took Bethesda’s Fallout 3 formula and gave it a gritty, nuanced makeover. It’s a post-apocalyptic world where every faction has a story and every choice has a consequence. Whether siding with the NCR, joining Caesar’s Legion, or claiming the Mojave for yourself, no decision feels trivial.
What makes New Vegas special is the freedom to shape your character’s moral compass. Want to be a diplomatic genius who talks their way out of trouble? Go for it. Prefer to be a trigger-happy wildcard? The world responds accordingly. Its open world feels lived-in, with settlements like Novac and Freeside buzzing with stories. The DLCs only add more flavor, particularly Old World Blues and Lonesome Road, which deepen the lore and challenge players in unexpected ways.
The game’s janky combat and dated visuals don’t hold it back from being one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. For many, New Vegas set the standard for open-world storytelling, and even years later, its reputation remains untarnished.
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