Summary
- Many great open-world games can be hard to put down, creating engaging gameplay loops fueled by that familiar “one more thing” appeal.
- Games like Elden Ring and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom prioritize a sense of freedom and adventure, offering little hand-holding and encouraging players to explore.
- Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher 3 are primarily driven by their stories and characters, with lots to do in between as well, prompting players to often stray off the main path.
It's always a treat to discover a game that can become one's second life, allowing for an engaging and immersive experience as time flies by. Naturally, this may also come as a drawback for some, as games can be so exciting and vast that they consume too much free time and even occupy one's thoughts whenever they aren't playing. Been there, done that.
8 Best Open-World Games Where Exploring Freely Is More Rewarding Than The Main Story
These open-world games do offer a main story campaign to complete, but their settings are so immersive that exploration almost always takes priority.
When it comes to lengthy play sessions, open-world games can be in a league of their own, offering hundreds of hours of playtime and brimming with various activities, collectibles, and places to visit. Mixing exploration, combat, crafting, or upgrading systems, side quests, leisure activities, and even some unique traversal mechanics, many great open-world games can be too hard to put down. Below are some of the best examples, with detailed looks at how exactly they achieve this precious feeling of doing “one more thing” before quitting the game.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Unpredictable World That Feels Alive
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Red Dead Redemption 2's unmatched secret in the open-world genre is rather simple: total unpredictability and countless interconnected mechanics that work to ensure an almost palpable simulation of the world around the players. From reactive NPCs and believable wildlife to natural weather and the look and feel of the world, it's a playground where almost nothing unfolds exactly as planned, as it's impossible to think of everything.
The most interesting things in Red Dead Redemption 2 often happen when players stray from story missions and simply ride through the world on horseback, discovering new places and meeting strangers along the way. While it can be easy to follow a specific mood to do some hunting, search for treasures, set up camp to prepare some meals, fence stolen loot, or visit a distant town for some poker – good luck sticking to the plan. Even the nature of many side and main missions in RDR 2 is totally unpredictable, reflecting this alluring feeling of a living, breathing world that not only reacts to players' actions but is capable of functioning on its own.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Absorbing, Vibrant, and Rewarding Adventure
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
- Released
- October 15, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Open-World
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is easily among the most immersive and charming entries in the long-running series, delivering a vast and vividly picturesque Ancient Greek world. The game can be relentless towards one's free time due to its scope and ambition, as well as some cleverly implemented systems like message boards with infinite quests and rewards, rich itemization taken straight from the best ARPGs with tons of unique loot of various rarity, and dynamic mercenaries that hunt players in the open world or vice versa.
Rarely will players feel bored in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, as there is always something to do. Beyond clearing enemy fortresses and camps to collect precious loot, players can upgrade their ship, the Adrestia, search for unique crew members and then take it into naval battles; weaken regions on the map to launch massive Conquest Battles; hunt for the Cult of Kosmos or search for mythical creatures; or even explore the realms of Elysium, the Underworld, or Atlantis – each with their own set of unique rules, enemies, and rewards.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Never Underestimate The Power Of A Good Story
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Even a decade later, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains a beloved staple of the open-world genre, and rightfully so. Blending together a rich atmosphere, a beautiful fantasy world, tons of armor and weapons to find or craft, and countless engaging hand-crafted quests and stories involving well-written characters in a single alluring mix, The Witcher 3 instantly grabs players and never lets go.
After the first two relatively small entries, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt went all in on creating that feeling of what it's like to be a witcher, wandering from one settlement to another to take on a monster contract. The sheer scope of the map and its density with numerous points of interest ensure that players will constantly stray from their intended path to find new adventures, while every smaller quest hides an emotional punch or amusing twist that keeps them wanting more.
Elden Ring
Going Blind Is Recommended
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Elden Ring brings the unforgiving nature of FromSoftware's soulslike into an enormous world ripe for exploration and conquering. Due to the game's cryptic nature and little to no hand-holding, players are left to their own devices on how to approach this epic adventure – and that's exactly where the game shines. Going blind is the best way to experience Elden Ring, as tons of surprises await players who carve their own path in the Lands Between.
8 Open-World Games With Best Map Activities
These open-world games really stand out from the crowd for their points of interest and varied side activities on the map.
The open nature of Elden Ring, with almost total freedom, also has its benefits for players who typically struggle with the soulslike genre, as it allows them to choose another direction or dungeon if facing too strong an enemy, level up, find and improve better gear, and return later. The only possible issue could arise when trying to figure out the game's tangled quests or solve its numerous puzzles, as players often have little to no tips or guidance in doing so.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Encouraging Freedom and Creativity
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
The last two Zelda games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, are all but synonymous with freedom and adventure, representing the rare kind of open-world games that players can enjoy for hours without ever feeling burnt out. Due to the sheer amount of hand-crafted dungeons, twisted challenges, and clever puzzles, as well as the incredibly flexible crafting system via the Ultrahand and Fuse abilities, Tears of the Kingdom provides so many different paths to one's goal that it can almost feel dizzying to think about.
Like the best Zelda games before it, Tears of the Kingdom encourages creativity and never rushes or pushes players towards certain destinations or solutions. Add to this the signature cozy feel of the world and the traditionally strong open-world mechanics with amazing physics-based interactions from Breath of the Wild, and it's easy to see why Tears of the Kingdom can become the only game that players might want to play for weeks, if not months.
Genshin Impact
Built For Keeping Players Going
Genshin Impact
- Released
- September 28, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action, Adventure, Gacha, Open-World
Genshin Impact is a real phenomenon of the open-world genre, combining several winning approaches to make it truly irresistible. From the game's unique anime-infused visual style and broad appeal as a free-to-play title with easy-to-grasp gameplay to its incredibly rich roster of playable characters and built-in gacha mechanics, it's a game that's easy to become invested in very quickly.
6 Open-World Games Carried By Their Characters
These open-world games might not be the greatest in the genre, yet their memorable characters alone could be enough to keep players going.
The world of Teyvat is vast and beautiful, encouraging exploration and generously rewarding players for their efforts. Due to the many characters and weapons to try, Genshin Impact caters to players with different tastes for how to approach combat, packing enough depth and strategy for experimentation. Finally, the rarity of certain characters and powerful new weapons, as well as the constant stream of updates with new events and regions, keep fans engaged, as there's always something new and exciting on the horizon.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
So Much Loot, So Little Space
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- Released
- November 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Open-World, Post-Apocalyptic, Survival
Honoring the series' legacy, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a brutal open-world game where it's so easy to lose track of time. Filled with radiation and anomalies, these desolate landscapes are as inviting and beautiful as they are treacherous, as the world itself can be just as lethal as the mutants and other stalkers in the Zone. A real paradise for treasure hunters, Heart of Chornobyl brims with rare and powerful artifacts to collect and well-hidden stashes to discover in every location.
With such a vast and dense map, observant players will find many more valuables than they can carry away, resulting in a signature gameplay loop of venturing into the Zone to find and collect as many rare artifacts, weapons, armors, and modifications as the character can carry, then bringing them back to the base, rinse and repeat. Some technical issues aside, STALKER 2 is capable of keeping players glued to their devices, constantly presenting new dangers, stunning locations, genuinely creepy places, and unique rewards.
7 Open-World Games With More Than One Explorable Map
These open-world games feature not just one, but multiple separate maps for players to freely explore.