Summary
- Open-world games are like living history books with immersive storytelling and shocking plot twists.
- Fallout 4 reveals Shaun as the Institute leader, Far Cry 5 ends with a nuclear blast, and Batman: Arkham Knight ties in Jason Todd.
- Metal Gear Solid 5's Venom Snake revelation, Zelda as Light Dragon, Shadow of the Colossus' tragic twist, and Red Dead Redemption's heartbreaking ending showcase deep storytelling.
Open-world games usually come packed with intense stories that will keep players entertained for hours on end. Players love getting invested in these amazing narratives that are augmented by memorable characters and entertaining set-pieces.
6 Best Open-World Games That Feel Like a Living History Book
Everything from the gameplay and the environments, to the characters and the stories make these open-world titles feel like living history books.
The best story-heavy open-world games know how to keep fans hooked, shocking them with a plot twist that they could never see coming. These reveals are mind-blowing and ensure that players will have a blast as they explore the captivating sandboxes present in these games.
Major spoilers below, proceed with caution.
8 Fallout 4
Shaun Being The Institute's Leader Is Shocking, Despite Some Issues Surrounding This Revelation
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Exploration has always been at the forefront of Bethesda's video games, so props should be given to them for trying to move out of their comfort zone with Fallout 4. The game features a greater focus on story than most other games by the studio, with the Sole Survivor moving heaven and earth in their quest to find Shaun.
After a lengthy search, players find out that Shaun has outgrown them during the time they spent in cryostasis and is the current leader of the Institute. It's a notable twist that most fans love, even if some people criticize the way it was delivered.
7 Far Cry 5
No One Expected The Game To End With A Nuclear Blast
Far Cry 5
- Released
- March 27, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Toronto
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One
Far Cry 5 felt like a breath of fresh air after Ubisoft decided to veer away from its established formula just enough to let fans enjoy a unique experience. It helps that the Seed family makes for a set of memorable antagonists, with Joseph being the obvious standout.
Even after players capture him at the end, the heroes don't get to enjoy the victory they deserve. This is because Joseph somehow manages to make his destructive plans a reality by unleashing a nuclear blast in Hope County, razing the location in a shocking twist no one saw coming.
6 Batman: Arkham Knight
Jason Todd Comes Back To Haunt Bruce For His Failure
Batman: Arkham Knight
- Released
- June 23, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action
Some people felt that Jason's identity as the Arkham Knight was a bit too telegraphed. However, players who are familiar with Batman's failures in the comic book know just how brutally Jason Todd was beaten by the Joker, leading the Dark Knight to believe that the Boy Wonder had been killed.
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However, it turns out that the dreaded Arkham Knight is none other than Jason Todd himself, who survived this torture and swore vengeance on Batman for letting him down. It makes for an emotional climax as Batman must stop this villain at any cost, despite his personal feelings getting in the way.
5 Horizon Zero Dawn
The Game Is Littered With Many Plot Twists And Revelations
Horizon Zero Dawn
- Released
- February 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Horizon Zero Dawn introduces a world dripping with lore that players will love to uncover. Aloy's adventures take her to several Cauldrons that slowly but surely reveal the disasters that have affected this world.
The game is full of shocking revelations, with Sylens' heel turn being just one of the many shocking moments. The terraforming project had eradicated all of humanity and sent them back into the Stone Age, and Aloy is the clone of Elisabet Sobeck, a researcher who sowed the seeds for humanity to make a comeback following the Faro Plague.
4 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Venom Snake Turns Out To Be An Unknown Medic Who Was Turned Into The Protagonist
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Genre(s)
- Action, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Kojima's mind is known for creating wacky, mind-bending plotlines, which is a huge reason why Metal Gear Solid is such a beloved franchise. The fifth mainline entry, The Phantom Pain, features an open world and a plot twist for the ages that no one could've expected.
After a bomb blast at the end of Ground Zeroes, a medic caught in the blast was turned into Venom Snake via plastic surgery and hypnotherapy. The real Big Boss was waging a covert war from the shadows to bamboozle his enemies, which made for a wild twist.
3 The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Zelda Turns Out To Be The Mysterious Light Dragon Who Helped Repair The Master Sword
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
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Along with the three dragons that fans were familiar with from the previous game, Tears of the Kingdom also introduced a Light Dragon whose identity was a mystery. It's not until players make the effort to recover the Master Sword that they see the bigger picture.
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Knowing that the Master Sword would be broken in Link's timeline, Zelda made the ultimate sacrifice and turned herself into the Light Dragon, who would keep the legendary sword embedded within her for centuries so that it could regain its former glory. It's a beautiful twist that shows the lengths Zelda is willing to go to for Hyrule.
2 Shadow Of The Colossus
It's Clear That Wander's Goal Isn't All That Heroic As He Kills One Peaceful Colossi After Another
Shadow of the Colossus
- Released
- February 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bluepoint Games, JapanStudio, Team Ico
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4
Shadow of the Colossus starts with Wander bringing his dead love to a mysterious altar before embarking on a quest to kill the colossi of this abandoned land. It seems like a noble quest, but Dormin's sinister words and Wander's growing corruption slowly sow the seeds of doubt in a player's mind.
Eventually, it's revealed that Wander is willing to unleash a grand evil upon the world just to save his beloved, killing the sixteen colossi who were containing Dormin's nefarious powers. It hammers in the tragic nature of the colossi and why it felt so sad to take down these massive foes who did nothing to aggravate the player.
1 Red Dead Redemption
Marston Ends Up Being The Final Victims Of The Pinkertons, Despite All The Help He Provided
Red Dead Redemption
- Released
- May 18, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar San Diego
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS
Red Dead Redemption is one of the greatest video games ever made, with fans loving the adventures of John Marston as he hunts down the former members of his gang. All he wanted was to lead a simple life with his family, but the Pinkertons robbed him of this privilege at the end of the game.
After using the outlaw for their dirty work, they turned on Marston and gunned him down in cold blood, effectively eliminating everyone from Dutch's gang in the process. Players can take revenge for their father's death as Jack Marston, but the protagonist's death will still leave them with a sour taste in their mouths after everything is over and done with.
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