Open-World Games are all about freedom and exploration, and in some cases, innovation that leads to true breakthroughs in the industry. Such is the case of the titles included in this list, which are obscure and relatively unknown titles, but each and every one of them has something that makes it extremely positive and enthralling.
Be it their level of engagement, immersion, and fun, or the core mechanics that pump action into the story, these open-world titles (mostly indies) will surely suit the tastes of more than one explorer player. Learn all about a game that puts medieval simulators to shame, an open-world cozy game made in the likeness of a legend, and a truly unique game with a powerful environmentalist message.
The Biggest Open World Games, Based On The Size Of Their Maps
Open-world games are beloved for their massive maps. Here are some of the biggest open worlds that gamers can explore in the genre.
5 Towers of Aghasba
A Game With A Clear Message: Take Care Of Nature Or Else
Towers of Aghasba
- Developer(s)
- Dreamlit inc.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Publisher(s)
- Dreamlit inc.
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Open-World, Survival
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
- Ideal For: Players who enjoy exploration, survival builders, and cozy games
- Not For: Players expecting deep RPG mechanics and combat
Towers of Aghasba is a beautiful game, with tons of incredible mechanics that will challenge players with restoring an archipelago where an ancient civilization used to live, all for the sake of the tribe that has been left stranded in this mysterious land. As members of the castaways who have arrived at Aghasba, the players will need to learn how to move around and explore the devastated lands, as well as the species that inhabit them. This game is quite challenging because the ecosystem is absolutely aggressive right from the start, and players need to fight back corrupted creatures while trying not to take more than what the land can give, with a unique mechanic called Amity, which controls the stability of the ecosystems in this land.
If players poach too many animals, the land will react aggressively, but if they spread seeds, help the spirits of the islands reconnect with the land, and clear it from corruption, they will soon see them flourish again. In the meantime, they will discover all about the tragedy that befell the ancient Aghasba, and explore the islands using gliders and mounting animals, while leading the settlers into a new era of prosperity. A mixture of cozy farming game and survival builder with a powerful message: Protect the place where you live, and harmonize with nature, or be destroyed alongside it. It will take hours for players to learn the basics of the game, but in return, it offers tons of fun.
4 Bellwright
A Game With A Spectacular Design, Still On Early Access
Bellwright
- Released
- April 23, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Open-World, RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Ideal For: Players who enjoy estate management, building, leading armies, in-depth simulation, hunting, and realistic combat
- Not For: Players who dislike strategic building, exploration, and games with a steep learning curve
Bellwright has an overwhelming potential to become the best Medieval Simulation game ever made, but few players know about this hidden gem that combines estate management with exploration and survival. Inspired by games like Mount & Blade and Life if Feudal, Bellwright will challenge players with the impossible task of leading a revolt of the commonfolk against a tyrannical noble and his army of bandits and mercenaries. From a humble shelter made of sticks and mud, to a huge fortress in the middle of the woods, filled with rebels and freedom fighters who are tired of being robbed and miserable. Players will have to manage in-depth city-builder mechanics, as well as train, equip, and lead the revolt, helping other villagers, and freeing hamlets from the claws of the oppressor by building bell towers and declaring their independence from the Feudal Lord.
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But beware. The second the revolt begins, the world will mark players as enemies, and entire armies will march down first to recover the freed villages, and then to destroy the players' settlement. Not to mention the innumerable bandit attacks, with raiding, looting, and murdering included. On top of that, players will need to provide the basic needs, food, shelter, and equipment for each of the villagers, and ensure these work constantly by foraging and hunting, preserving food for winter, and storing it safely, away from the sticky hands of pilfering burglars. Funily enough, the game's combat system privileges ranged combat over melee, though melee damage over light armor is lethal (for players and NPCs alike), so we could say it's a 'Robin Hood simulator.' The game has tons of interesting mechanics, recipes to craft, cool weapons, armor, and also tons of animals to hunt, and places to explore. Yes, it has wolves, and they're absolutely vicious, and when winter hits, they become even more aggressive. Boars are even more lethal than in Age of Empires, and crows are nearly impossible to hit (and players need their feathers for more arrows). Not to mention deer, which seem to have realistic AI and will flee at the slightest twig breaking in the woods. A cool game, and it has full mod support.
3 Mirthwood
Inspired By Fable, Destined For Greatness
Mirthwood
- Released
- November 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Ideal For: Players who enjoy cozy sim, hunting, foraging, building, and farming, with mild RPG mechanics
- Not For: Players who dislike exploration, funny gags, or those looking for hardcore RPGs
Mirthwood is a game inspired by the classic Fable game (1966) and other titles like Zelda, Stardew Valley, and Harvest Moon. It's essentially a cozy RPG with estate management, but also an adventure/exploration open-world game with an intriguing story and lots of places to explore. From an isometric view, players will experience the life of an exiled survivor from a distant realm, who has inherited a state in the secluded land of Mirthwood. The game is all about starting a new life in this destroyed home, rebuilding it from ruins, and establishing relationships with the locals, perhaps even marrying and adopting a unicorn or two. It's a fun game, full of interesting encounters, magical creatures, dangerous beasts, and quirky combat mechanics that add charm to its overall enthralling world.
What's more: The game is still in development, so new features are constantly being added, with Seasonal Festivals, new Quests, Encounters, Pets, and even bandit attacks as their last content drop (at the moment of writing this list). This little hidden jewel of indie game development has come a long way since its early release back in 2022, and it has now become quite big, with loads of content to enjoy while the devs work on what's coming next for their debut title.
2 Gedonia 2
A Raw Diamond, That Everyone Should Play If They Love Open-World RPGs
- Created by: Oleg Kazakov
- Published by: Oleg Kazakov
- Platforms: PC (Steam)
- Ideal For: Fans of Indie RPG Games and Breath Of The Wild Art Style, slow-paced exploration, coop-action
- Not For: Extremely Hardcore Players, Thrill seekers
Gedonia and Gedonia 2 are made by a single developer Oleg Kazakov, a veteran of the indie industry and a fan of open-world exploration games. This game is quite attractive, especially for those who enjoyed titles like Magicka, and For The King, though its main charm is its beautiful scenarios that remind one of Legend Of Zelda: BOTW and similar games. The combat is fluid, and in Gedonia 2, it can be enjoyed with up to four party members, which is nice, since these games are often single-player focused.
The game's character creation system is similar to games like Fable: The Lost Chapters, where players can create either a hero or a villain, with an emphasis on customization: Every character players create will be unique. Wield powerful magic, fly through the skies, or create an immortal barbarian wielding a battleaxe: the possibilities are limitless. If players are ready to live a different type of open-world RPG, then Gedonia and Gedonia 2 are just what they are looking for: an obscure but incredible indie jewel.
1 9th Dawn III
Thousands Of Hours Of Fun Ahead
9th Dawn III
- Released
- October 5, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash, RPG, Dungeon Crawler
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Ideal For: Fans of Classic RPG Games and Dungeon Crawlers
- Not For: Players who like fast-paced RPGs
9th Dawn III is a game inspired by great titles like Tibia, Terraria, and Ultima, with an enormous map to explore, tons of content to enjoy alone or with friends, and a dungeon-crawling mechanic that is both challenging and easy to learn. The game has over two hundred monsters that players need to defeat, thousands of items to collect and equip their characters with, dozens of mounts, and a lovely 2.5 D isometric view with quirky and fluid animations. It's a special game, in every sense of the word, that most hardcore Classic RPG enjoyers will learn to love.
Falling for 9th Dawn III is easy: The problem is letting it go, since it can become quite addictive. Unlike games like Terraria, where players knew (somewhat) what they were doing, the learning curve of this isometric open-world RPG can be slower, and some players might lose patience before they reach the true essence of the game: Having fun living in a fantasy world. Besides, with so many side-activities to enjoy (including fishing), the game will never cease to amaze both newcomers and veterans. It has a ton of replay value, and that is a good thing in an open-world game.
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