Summary
- PS2 RPGs like.hack//Infection and Dragon Quest 8 laid the foundation for open-world ideas.
- Final Fantasy 12 on PS2 showcased larger, open zones with seamless transitions in the game world.
- Wild Arms 3 introduced a unique world map system with a radar that required exploration to discover towns and dungeons.
Open-world games didn’t quite come into their own until the Xbox 360 and PS3 generation of consoles. Thanks to the computing power of both, they were able to render these massive, seamless worlds players could explore. The biggest example being The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
Best PS1 RPGs With Open-World Elements
These PlayStation 1 RPGs had some early open-world moments that left an impression.
That doesn’t mean open-world games didn’t exist before Bethesda’s massive hit. It just means games evolved during the Xbox 360 and PS3 generations. The PS2 had some RPGs that weren’t fully open-world yet, but there were world maps or zones with big opportunities waiting. Let’s go through some of the biggest RPGs on the PS2 to see where the open-world ideas started to bloom.
.hack//Infection
Logging In
.hack//Infection
- Released
- June 20, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- CyberConnect2
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
.hack//Infection is the first part of a quadrilogy of action RPGs that CyberConnect2 made for the PS2, which was risky, but fans ate it up. The game is centered on a fake MMO, The World, which has several hub towns like Mac Anu.
Each town has a Chaos Gate, and when keywords are entered, like Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground, players will be transported to other areas, often accompanied by a dungeon hidden somewhere. While there are no seamless transitions between zones, these areas do offer players big areas to explore.
Dragon Quest 8: Journey Of The Cursed King
A Giant Leap Ahead Of Seven
Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King
- Released
- November 15, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King is perhaps the best example of a PS2 game feeling like an open-world game. It’s a big upgrade from the previous Dragon Quest game on the PS1, which used sprites, but this sequel rendered everything in 3D with expertly crafted cel-shaded models.
Best Open-World Games On The PlayStation 2, Ranked
Some of the best PS2 games on the platform were open-world titles. These games are still worth exploring despite their advanced age.
There is no traditional world map like classic RPGs, but the areas surrounding towns and dungeons are massive for a PS2 game. The protagonist is still silent, but they are accompanied by a colorful cast of party members. It was also the first mainline game to include voice acting, which also helped connect players to their party.
Final Fantasy 12
Bigger Zones
Final Fantasy 12
- Released
- October 31, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
Final Fantasy 12 was the last mainline entry on the PS2 and it is a stunning RPG. It did not feature an overworld map, and instead, players could travel between large zones separated by smaller sections. Each zone, from beaches to plains to deserts, had tons of enemies roaming around that players could engage with in a combination of turn-based and real-time combat.
Players could use Gambits to have characters attack automatically or they could use commands manually. Because there were no battle transitions, and because the areas were open, this gave the impression that Final Fantasy 12’s Ivalice was bigger than it actually was.
MS Saga: A New Dawn
A Unique Gundam Game
MS Saga: A New Dawn
- Released
- June 30, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- B.B. Studio
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
Most Gundam games never see the light of day in the West, but MS Saga: A New Dawn thankfully did come over. Things start with a bang as an orphanage explodes, leading to an orphan, Tristan, discovering a Mobile Suit nearby.
Tristan and the rest of his party can customize their mechs and level up skills from turn-based combat. Mobile Suits take on a more Chibi-like design, making everything appear cute even though the story is anything but cute. There is a world map to explore that connects towns and dungeons with plenty of side activities to investigate eventually.
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
Intergalactic Planetary
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
- Released
- November 11, 2003
- ESRB
- Teen // Mild Violence
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Platformer
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
The Ratchet & Clank series is not traditionally looped in with other PS2 RPGs. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, the second game, did indeed change things for the better by adding RPG elements to the gameplay.
Ratchet can level up health by attacking enemies, which can also lead to weapons leveling up. Ratchet and Clank will visit several planets with main and side objectives that they can typically tackle in a nonlinear fashion. These planets aren’t as massive as compared to later entries, but exploration is still key.
Tales Of The Abyss
A Classic World Map
Tales of the Abyss
- Released
- October 10, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Namco Tales Studio
- Genre(s)
- Action, JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 3DS, PS2, PS3
The Tales of series got two PS2 entries in the West, and Tales of the Abyss stands out as the better one. Like all games, players can explore dungeons, and a world map will connect them to towns like several other titles. Monsters appear as blobs on the world map, and battles will then transition into action gameplay.
Best SNES RPGs With Open-World Elements
Though limited in terms of the open-world aspect, these incredible SNES RPGs still showcase some of the best elements the genre has to offer.
All party members are available to play, and combat can even be played with co-op. Players who like their open-world games to have cooking will not be disappointed with Tales of the Abyss, as that’s a core feature for healing.
Wild Arms 3
Discovering The Old JRPG West
Wild Arms 3
- Released
- October 15, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
Wild Arms 3 has a world map like many JRPGs, but there is a twist that will intrigue open-world fanatics. Players cannot simply wander between towns and dungeons like Tales of the Abyss or MS Saga: A New Dawn.
Instead, they have to use a radar system to locate these areas, and talking to NPCs can often lead to some amazing discoveries. It’s not a perfect system as it can be frustrating to locate places at times, but it does make this Wild West-inspired JRPG unique. Even the turn-based gameplay has a cowboy-like flair as enemies and characters move around in-between turns like they are in a big shootout.
8 Games With Custom Characters Who Can Actually Talk
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