Open-world games and RPGs tend to be the most ambitious, expensive, and time-consuming releases, and that goes double when they are combined. Due to the sheer risk involved, these types of projects are not only rare but also favor established properties that can rely on a pre-existing fan base. Consequently, we have not received all that many great standalone open-world RPGs, as the successful ones nearly always spawn continuations in some form or another.
Still, exceptions exist to every rule, and a handful of projects exist that have yet to receive a direct sequel. Maybe that will change in the future, but enough time has passed to make that seem unlikely. These games are fantastic (or, at least, good enough) to be worth checking out even after all these years, and it can be refreshing to know that they are "one and done."
Some notes and criteria:
- While completely standalone games are the priority, one franchise release will be included.
- Although they can be hard to tell apart, the focus is on open-world RPGs and not open-world action-adventure games. Titles like Brutal Legend, Immortals: Fenyx Rising, Beyond Good and Evil, and Sleeping Dogs.
- Games that have sequels in the works will be avoided, which removes stuff like Kenshi and Outward.
- Games have to be at least a few years old to qualify, just to give developers a chance to announce a sequel. So, no Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
- Ongoing live-service games will not be considered.
8 Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
The Yakuza Team's Open-World Battle Shonen
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
- Released
- October 2, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4
The Like a Dragon franchise might be the most consistent of the last decade, at least when it comes to RPGs set in (small) open-worlds. Sega publishes new entries frequently, and they are nearly always of high quality. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio devotes most of its attention to Kiryu and company, but the developer occasionally shifts to other IPs, leading to games like Judgment, Binary Domain, and the upcoming Stranger Than Heaven. Without fail, these side quests are shown the same love and care as the main moneymaker, and they are 100% worth playing even if you are not a die-hard Yakuza fan.
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Although not remembered quite as fondly, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is nevertheless a terrific action RPG that boasts over-the-top combat, brilliant storytelling that covers several of FOTNS's legendary arcs, and a small but charming setting called Eden. Similar to Like a Dragon, Lost Paradise is brimming with personality, comedy, and muscles, and the source material's classic battle shonen epicness fits Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's style and tone perfectly.
At this point, a sequel seems improbable, especially since Lost Paradise ends on a fairly definitive note. However, the game didn't cover all of FOTNS's arcs or touch on the sequel manga, so there is more than enough content for a continuation. At the bare minimum, Sega should port the 2019 game to other systems besides the PS4.
7 The Ascent
A Brilliant Cyberpunk World And A Fine RPG
The Ascent
- Released
- July 29, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Neon Giant
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
2021 is relatively recent, so The Ascent still might receive a sequel. That said, Neon Giant is working on No Law, and it is not set in the same universe as the previous game. At this point, I don't expect we will ever revisit Veles, which is a shame as this is a world that deserves further exploration. Putting everything else aside, The Ascent has one of the greatest cyberpunk settings in gaming history, a megacity drenched in atmosphere, environmental storytelling, and activity. The isometric perspective might not be ideal for immersion, but the game's world is vibrant and lively.
Now, I'm not going to pretend that The Ascent is perfect. While tactical and relatively fast-paced, the combat gets repetitive pretty quickly and is not among the strongest in the twin-stick shooter genre. The story and quest writing are nothing special and periodically uninspired, and they are far overshadowed by Veles' presentation. If you are playing solo, the game can threaten to overstay its welcome, despite being fairly short for an open-world RPG. These elements could all easily be improved in a sequel, which could transform The Ascent from a good to a great experience.
6 Ashen
The First Open-World Soulslike Game
Ashen
- Released
- December 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- A44 Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Admittedly, Ashen was more impressive in a pre-Elden Ring world, but that does not mean that A44's effort should be forgotten. Although the open-world is fairly tiny by modern standards, the game gives players relative freedom to explore as they see fit, and they are mostly guided through difficulty spikes. The combat is typical Dark Souls, and fans of the latter will probably feel right at home immediately.
Despite being clearly inspired by FromSoftware, A44 deviated from the developer's playbook in some key areas, including gear and item-based progression rather than traditional stats. Multiplayer is also emphasized to an extent, and solo players are even joined by AI partners for certain situations. The minimalist visuals were a smart artistic choice.
I loved Ashen when I played it, and I would recommend it to players who want something that is familiar but still distinct. Nowadays, we get so many Souls-like RPGs that exhaustion has largely set in; however, very few of these games are true open-worlds. Ashen is still distinct for this specific reason.
5 Vampyr
The Best Standalone Vampire Open-World RPG Of The Last Decade
Vampyr
- Released
- June 5, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Dontnod Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Vampyr is a must-play for anybody remotely into bloodsuckers, especially if they want a game that blends dialogue-driven quests, some player choices, a Victorian hub world, and a handful of Souls-like mechanics. Despite having its fair share of issues and arguably not excelling in many areas, Dontnod's game delivers such a unique combination that it is better than the sum of its parts. As a vampire doctor torn apart by his human commitment and new urges, players are in charge of deciding their character's morality, and both sparing and killing NPCs have consequences that drastically change the campaign.
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Plague-ridden, ugly, and oppressive, London is dense and atmospheric. Although not fully open-world like, for example, Elder Scrolls, Vampyr still gives you relative freedom to explore the map, especially early on, before you make choices that can lock you out of certain areas. The story is also pretty great, which is a standard compliment of most Dontnod projects.
4 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Once Upon A Time, This Was the Best Open-World Action RPG For Fun Combat
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
- Released
- February 7, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is awesome, and that goes for both the 2012 original and the 2020 remaster. Due to a complicated financial situation that saw the closure of both the publishing and developing studios, this game's critical success could not be built upon, and it was all but forgotten until Re-Reckoning brought it to modern systems. Since then, rumors of a sequel have made the rounds, but nothing official has been announced since the "Fatesworn" expansion came out in 2021.
If you are looking for a power fantasy, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is about as good an option as the open-world RPG genre has ever produced. The hack-and-slash combat is fast-paced, satisfying, and accessible, all the while still presenting opportunities for experimentation through different builds and weapon types. Faelands, the main setting, is bursting with color and natural beauty, and it still looks respectable despite showing its age. Amalur had plenty of room for improvement, but its universe should have become a staple of the RPG scene rather than just a one-off. Heck, the game was originally meant to be followed by an MMORPG.
3 Fallout: New Vegas
The Best 3D Fallout Is A One-Off Spin-Off
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- RPG
We will almost certainly get more Fallout in the future, and they will probably be pretty good. Some of them might take inspiration from New Vegas, but the likelihood of Obsidian returning for a proper sequel seems to be almost zero. New Vegas 2 has been rumored for the best part of a decade, and while Bethesda could be working on new projects in the franchise, the developer's recent efforts do not suggest a return to New Vegas's open-ended nature, consequence-driven choices, faction complexity, and dark comedy tone.
Fortunately, a very active modding scene has kept Obsidian's masterwork relevant, providing both technical improvements and additional content. If you want to invest more time in this interpretation of this universe, your best bet is to pick up a PC copy and download as many mods as you can. Don't get me wrong, the vanilla game is one of the greatest open-world RPGs of all time, but it might start to get boring when you play through it for the hundredth time.
2 Disco Elysium
A Brilliant Written Open-World RPG That Might Get A Spiritual Successor
Disco Elysium
- Released
- October 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- ZA/UM
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia
At this point, many people are probably tired of hearing about Disco Elysium's brilliance, but ZA/UM's masterclass in dialogue writing and philosophical exploration is just too good not to mention. While definitely an acquired taste, the game is a truly singular experience within the RPG scene, even though it takes inspiration from tabletop staples and old-school isometric masterpieces. With no combat, Disco Elysium turns conversations into battles, both external and internal. The protagonist is a troubled soul with a fractured psyche that evolves depending on the choices made during the story, and their political ideology is also influenced by players.
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We will probably get a spiritual successor to Disco Elysium; in fact, we might get a couple of them. ZA/UM is working on Zero Parades, which is still shrouded in shadow but will hopefully showcase some similarities to the previous game. However, this project is arguably the least exciting, as Disco Elysium's original writers and developers are no longer part of ZA/UM. Some of those creators are now part of Dark Math Games, a new studio that is working on a detective RPG called Tangerine Antarctic. Longdue Games is another studio born out of ZA/UM's wreckage, and it is also planning to create an isometric RPG called Hopetown.
As exciting as the above projects are, Disco Elysium 2 will probably never happen at this point.
1 Prey
Arkane's Stellar Immersive Sim That Will Never Get A Sequel
Prey
- Released
- May 5, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Arkane Studios
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Like the 2006 game that it shares a name with, Prey should be the perfect candidate for a sequel, but that is not the world we live in. An immersive sim set in a semi-open world and featuring RPG mechanics that are all meaningful, Prey is entirely driven by players, both in terms of exploration and problem-solving.
Although not absurdly huge by any stretch of the imagination, Talos I is a triumph in level design, crafting a map that is logical, learnable, and flexible. You are meant to explore different paths, occasionally get lost, and try things that don't seem like they should work. This freedom extends to the GLOO cannon, one of the most versatile main tools in any game. The storytelling, progression systems, and atmosphere are all fantastic.
Arkane Studios is still active, but the team behind Prey, Arkane Austin, was shut down in 2024. Beyond that, nearly 10 years have passed since Prey's debut, and we would have heard something if a sequel was on the cards.
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