There is nothing quite like getting immersed in a video game. Every genre is capable of pulling this off, but except for grand strategy, open-worlds arguably present the ideal foundation for projects that can completely take over your life for hours on end. I have lost days to games, and these adventures are among my fondest memories. Whether focusing on the main story or just messing about in the sandbox, open-world games are the ultimate time-sink, and that is an entirely positive statement.
Open-world fatigue can be an issue if you are playing these releases regularly, but that can be said for basically every genre. If you find yourself in the mood for this type of freedom, then nothing else will suffice. There are also so many open-world games out there, the options feel unlimited, which can make picking a title daunting. So, I'm here to help with a couple of open-world games that can and will make time fly by. At least, they have that effect on me.
Look, you don't need me to tell you that GTA 5 has a fun sandbox, Breath of the Wild is pretty good, and Skyrim is quite replayable. Anybody who reads this article probably already knows that, and mentioning them does not really hold much value. Rather than just highlighting the best open-world games ever, I am sticking to titles that are either niche or have mixed reputations. Hopefully, one of the picks speaks to you, and most of them tend to go on sale frequently or are available through subscription services.
Kenshi
A Realistic Survival Open-World Game That Lets You Create Your Own Legacy
Kenshi
- Released
- December 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Lo-Fi Games
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Open-World, Survival
- Platform(s)
- PC
If your primary avenue for gaming is Steam, Kenshi should not be a new name, but its brilliance can be hard to appreciate from the outside looking in. Despite graphics that are, admittedly, rough, Kenshi is nothing short of impressive considering it was mostly created by a single developer, a process that took more than a decade. Nowadays, the game belongs to a niche but passionate community that has worked endlessly to mold an experience that is quite unlike anything else on the market. Frankly, Kenshi is not for everyone, but it is an open-world game that most PC gamers should at least try.
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So, how can I sell Kenshi to the uninitiated in a way that does not make it sound unwelcoming? Well, it is essentially a real-time strategy RPG that prioritizes player freedom and expression above everything else. You are dropped into a Mad Max-esque world and encouraged to create your own legend, which could involve amassing an army of followers capable of challenging this realm's strongest factions or sticking to the lone wolf mantra by drifting, scavenging, and surviving. Kenshi is not for the faint of heart, as its world is grueling, unforgiving, and realistic. Permadeath is also part of the experience, although you can reload saves to continue.
With no dedicated endpoint or any notable story, you have to create your own goals and adapt to the dynamic world as it changes. This leads to one of the most immersive open-world games of all time, one that lets you live a second life that is entirely your own.
Elex 2
Be A Sci-Fi Killer In A Fantasy Open-World
Elex 2
- Released
- March 1, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Piranha Bytes
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
While it might sound like a criticism, Eurojank is really a term of endearment, and no other developer is more heavily associated with the phrase than Piranha Bytes. Honestly, most of its games are great time-wasters, particularly the first two Gothic RPGs and Risen 2: Dark Waters; however, they are acquired tastes with pretty notable downsides. Although not the developer's crowning achievement, Elex 2 is the best option for newcomers who are mostly craving a fresh-feeling world to escape to. The story and characters are not great, but they never need to be to make an open-world worth playing.
Elex 2 blends sci-fi and fantasy by featuring a nature-dominated post-apocalyptic world while giving you an exoskeleton that can fly and guns to shoot. You have a jetpack to accommodate exploration, and it is just ridiculously fun to use. Combat is way better and more varied than the typical Piranha Bytes' effort, and you can play around with both ranged and melee loadouts. While the quests aren't consistently fantastic, they are mostly decent, and they showcase the developer's love for traditional story-driven RPGs and player-focused choices. More importantly, the story does not get in the way after the first few beats, and you can just ignore it and have fun being a sci-fi powerhouse in a magical world.
Forspoken
A Magical Open-World Game With Fun Traversal & Combat
Forspoken
- Released
- January 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Luminous Productions
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
If you have access to Forspoen through something like PS Plus Extra, and are in the mood for an empowering open-world romp that gradually turns you into a ridiculously potent mage, you might want to give it a try.
Forspoken leaves PS Plus Extra and Premium on December 16, 2025. If you are at all interested, I recommend giving it a shot within the next few weeks. I had fun with it, but the game is very divisive, so there is a good chance you won't enjoy it.
Now, Forspoken gets off to a weak start, with Frey (the main character) starting her isekai adventure when she finds a bracelet that sends her from New York to Athia. While once prosperous under the protective guidance of the four Tantas, this realm has fallen into ruin due to the spread of a corruption known as the Break; basically, there are zombies. With the aid of Cuff (the talkative bracelet), Frey steadily awakens her magic, acquires a range of spells, and begins on a quest to take down the corrupted Tantas and save what is left of Athia. As the story is nothing too special, and Frey is an acquired taste, I wouldn't recommend the game for them. However, the gameplay becomes really fun once it gets over some growing pains.
Seriously, Forspoken is a zombie game. Don't worry, Athia is home to plenty of other monsters.
Although never terrible, Forspoken's early hours are mostly spent in uninspired conversations and brief combat scenarios that are broken up by too many cutscenes. The game offers a taste of the (brilliant) movement and (expansive) combat systems that blossom during the second half of the campaign, but you will not know just how gratifying both of these aspects become until you complete the first story arc, which takes about 6–10 hours. After that, Forspoken truly opens up as you are given a second set of spells to play around with, allowing you to swap between movesets at the click of a button. At this point, you will have access to roughly a dozen support and attack spells, most of which are useful and stylish. This is not the end either; in fact, it is just the beginning.
Along with rock-solid core gameplay that continually evolves, Forspoken's campaign is structured in a way that you are forever moving forward to the next main mission's final destination, requiring you to travel through miles of terrain to get there. This presents the perfect opportunity to check off most of the optional content, which you will need to complete to acquire new gear, unlock and upgrade spells, improve your stats, and find familiars. The world itself won't blow anyone away, though, and the first region is comfortably the least visually interesting; still, it does the job as a sandbox for parkour and combat.
Except for the hundreds of treasure chests that are not worth seeking out individually, most of the optional content emphasizes Forspoken's biggest strengths: Movement and combat. Also, they can be rewarding, with things like the Labyrinths not only handing out new cloaks but also featuring unique boss fights. As most of the side quests do not take that long to complete, it allows for that "well, I have time to do one more thing" mentality to set in.
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Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
An Open-World Game With Addictive And Accessible Hack And Slash Combat
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
- Released
- September 8, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
This might seem weird, but personally, I tend to find it easier to spend 6 hours straight in a game when the combat is slightly mindless. If the gameplay loop requires 100% attention and focus at all times, mental exhaustion sets in fast, leading to sessions that are memorable but typically on the short side. Plenty of open-world games try to walk the line between mechanical depth and accessible minute-to-minute gameplay, and they should all look to Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning for guidance on how to strike the perfect middle-ground.
Although more common nowadays, in 2012, the game's hack-and-slash combat was revolutionary for the open-world genre, and it still holds up all these years later. While relatively straightforward and not extremely complex, the gameplay's depth comes in the form of build variety and the (occasionally) challenging bosses. You are given enough choices to play an active part in carving your success, all the while being allowed to demolish your way through fodder enemies without needing to use significant brain power.
Kingdoms of Amalur's world is also vibrant and lively, making it fun to stroll around and take in the sights. While the map is not extremely huge by modern standards, it is still fairly big and, crucially, comes tightly packed with content that you should easily be able to spend about 30 hours on if you mostly focus on the main story while doing a few optional quests along the way. If you really take your time with the game and enjoy everything it has to offer, you will spend way longer in Amalur.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is the 2020 version, and it is definitely the best way to play this open-world game. To be honest, it is the only way, as the original can no longer be purchased except for second-hand copies for consoles. Re-Reckoning remasters the base content and all of its DLC, making it the definitive version.
"Fatesworn" is also a great and massive expansion that adds a whole new area, along with plenty of additional things to do. Unless you find them as a combo, I wouldn't recommend buying the expansion until you've spent time with the core content, but it is worth getting if you love Re-Reckoning.
Outward
Hard-As-Nails Survival Open-World Game That Can Be Incredibly Immersive
Outward
- Released
- March 26, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Publisher(s)
- Deep Silver
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Unintentionally, this article ended up highlighting two extremes. Two of the games cast you as overpowered gods who can wreck enemies with reckless abandon, while two others have you start as a nobody who barely has clothes on their back and can die at the hands of a weak skeleton or bandit. Elex 2 is somewhere in between, although leaning more into power fantasy territory.
Perhaps even more so than Kenshi, Outward is the definitive hardcore open-world game that will either break your spirit or become your everything. There is something akin to a story, but it mostly just serves as an excuse for your character to head out into the unknown and explore. The game provides very little in the way of direction or hand-holding, instead demanding that you plan your own journeys and face whatever might come. Initially, this results in expeditions that end quickly and gruesomely. However, while they might not seem to offer great benefits individually, they collectively serve as experience to fuel future adventures.
Outward's world is huge and diverse, although the latter only becomes apparent once longer journeys are viable. The combat can be frustrating due to its sheer difficulty, but it rewards players who are willing to not only master their skills but also adequately prepare for the battles they might face. Oh, Outward is also a survival game that requires you to keep track of your character's basic needs, which is also immersive.
Truthfully, I am terrible at Outward and have never been able to get that far. However, I dropped quite a few hours into the game, just because I wanted to get better and, crucially, still felt like my time was being respected.
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