Summary
- Dive into intense emotions through storytelling in open-world games with immersive gameplay.
- Top open-world games like Fallout: New Vegas, Red Dead Redemption 2, and The Witcher 3 master the balance of gameplay and storytelling.
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and The Long Dark offer unique experiences that merge narratives and gameplay seamlessly.
Open-world games have a ton of room for creating intense emotions through storytelling, and when this is accompanied by great gameplay, and both parts of the game merge seamlessly, the results are pure masterpieces. From immemorial classics that defined the last two decades in terms of game design, to revolutionary games that broke the mold and dared to go beyond the bar set by great titles.
10 Open-World Games With The Best Art Design, Ranked
They say 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'; however, there's simply no denying that these open-world games have amazing art design.
This list has several Open-world Games where Gameplay and Storytelling are perfectly aligned, and will transport players into some of the greatest settings in the gaming world, empowered by immersive gameplay.
This list might contain spoilers for certain popular games. Read at your discretion.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2
No Other Western Game Has Accomplished Such A Perfect Balance Between Story And Action
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game that has it all: beautiful level design, an enormous open-world sandbox to explore, memorable characters with unique personalities, incredible attention to detail, and, of course, gameplay that intertwines perfectly with its profound and thrilling narrative.
It is not just a Wild West simulator like some dared mention, but a whole cowboys and outlaws experience that will force players to become glued to the chair, and add it to their list of favorites in no time. It only takes a few hours for the player to become attached to Arthur. After all, his design is heavily inspired by the legendary John Wayne, one of the greatest cowboys of all time.
2 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
The Age Of Chivalry Brought To Life Through The Eyes Of Henry
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Released
- February 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
The story of how Henry of Skalitz rose to chivalry from the mud of a blacksmith shop is an adventure that spans over two huge open-world games (Kingdom Come Deliverance I & II), which perfectly merge narrative and game design into the ultimate medieval RPG. With intense combat, formidable foes, and a hyperrealism that is hard to find in any other game from the same genre, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II marks a before and after in the history of open-world RPGs.
Setting the bar high, KCD2 throws players into the merciless lands of Bohemia during the 15th Century. With a war of attrition between Wenceslaus (legitimate ruler of the lands) and Segismund, king of Croatia and Hungary, who is invading the lands and trying to force his iron fist rule upon its denizens. This tug of war between two rulers will plunge players into a thrilling plot filled with conspiracies, colorful characters, and bloody battles. It is a masterful merge of narrative and game design.
3 The Witcher 3: Blood And Wine
Touissant Merges Gameplay And Storytelling Perfectly
The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
WHERE TO PLAY
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine is not simply an expansion for one of the greatest Open-world ARPGs of all time; it's a whole new story to discover. From the moment players set foot on the picturesque Touissaint, it's like diving into a chivalry tale with the characteristic lore of the Wiedźmin (The Witcher) series.
Best Open-World Games That Focus On Gameplay
Many open-world games place story front and center, but these titles focus on gameplay first and foremost.
Solving a tremendously complex political conspiracy, tracking down an ancient vampire, dealing with strange women lying in ponds distributing swords, and preparing Geralt for his retirement as he takes care of the Corvo Bianco wineyard are all part of a large and complex story that is perfectly intertwined with the core gameplay of the series. Until the announcement of The Witcher 4, the game was the perfect closer for Geralt's tale, and player agency (meaning the decisions they took in the main game) had a true impact on how Geralt ended his Witcher career, and who shared his retirement home with him.
4 Fallout: New Vegas
The Things You Do To Survive In The Wasteland Stay With You Forever
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- RPG
From the first moment players step into the Wasteland, incarnating Courier Six, they are received in the worst possible way: A bullet to the head. From that point on, everything goes from bad to worse. The merciless lands surrounding New Vegas are plagued with more than the average deranged scavenger, the brutal super mutants, or dangerous murder-bots. But that's precisely what makes Fallout: New Vegas the best game of the franchise.
With memorable quests and characters, New Vegas was crafted with the idea of being a spin-off, but ended up becoming such an intrinsic part of the Fallout l ore that there is no way to play a game of the franchise and not think about that cool-looking NCR armor set. The game also implemented various gameplay changes that fitted the narrative style of the game like a glove. Like the Damage Threshold, which prevented players from endlessly roaming (at least they encountered a deadly Deathclaw that they couldn't beat).
5 The Long Dark
That Feeling Of Desolation Is Hard To Replicate With Just Words
The Long Dark
- Released
- August 1, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
The Long Dark is a weird game, but one that nails it at creating the feeling of isolation and hopelessness that a real survival experience should have. It does that by merging the narrative of a world slowly reaching a new ice age, with characters living in solitude and struggling, and, to top it off, a thrilling action plot about finding the main character's missing wife before it's too late.
Of course, the game also has a standalone survival mode that challenges players to survive for as long as they can, scavenging for resources and weapons and fending off the increasingly aggressive fauna that will try to turn them into an easy meal. The cold is another important actor in the overworld narrative of the game, constituting more than a major enemy to beat. The harsh weather will be the sole companion of players during the adventure, forcing them to adapt and seek shelter, heat, and a hot meal. That's part of the charm of The Long Dark, its merciless weather system will always remind players of how dangerous this game is. There is simply no time to get comfortable, and that's really what it means to be in a survival experience.
Best Open-World Games That Reward Adaptive Players
These creative open-world games are great for adaptive players who crave dynamic challenges and rewarding creative solutions.