best open world games of all time

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It’s always difficult to choose the best games in a particular genre, but it’s even harder when it comes to the best open worlds. In our opinion, these are the 15 best games that made us dream about their fictional universes.

Open world games have grown the most in the last two decades. In the 80s and 90s, it seemed impossible that a video game could offer so much freedom and a huge amount of content, but the dream came true thanks to advances in technology.

Although they already existed in the PS2 generation , some of the best open-world games began to see the light in the PS3 and Xbox 360 generations , with masterpieces of the genre such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the first Assassin’s Creed or Xenoblade Chronicles . Before that, we had been able to enjoy true colossi like GTA San Andreas .

To gauge the importance of open worlds in video games, you only have to look at the vast majority of AAA releases from the last decade.

Whether they are shooters, action-adventures or role-playing games, many of them have adopted the open-world formula, even in franchises that are not common in the field, such as Metal Gear Solid.

What are the best open world games of all time ? It’s hard to choose just a few, but we believe there are certain titles that deserve to be highlighted, for their quality, significance and standing out above the rest.

In our opinion, these are the 15 best open-world games of all time , which dazzled when they arrived on consoles and PC. It is worth remembering that this is not a ranking, it is a list… so the order does not matter.

The best open world games ever made:

  • Marvel’s Spider-Man
  • Forza Horizon 4
  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • Assassin’s Creed II / Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
  • World of Warcraft
  • Far Cry 3
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
  • Fallout 3
  • Elden Ring
  • Red Dead Redemption 2
  • GTA: San Andreas / GTA V
  • Shenmue
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  • Zelda: Breath of the Wild / Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Marvel’s Spider-Man

  • Developer: Insomniac Games.
  • Platforms: PS4 / PS5 / PC.
  • Release date: September 7, 2018.

Our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has been known for having games with the same approach, such as the adaptations of the Sam Raimi films. However, what the guys and girls at Insomniac achieved in 2018, for PlayStation 4, is difficult to match, starting with the impressive swinging mechanics, and continuing with the boss fights.

Some will opt for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 , the sequel released last year, but the PS4 original showed the way forward for the wall-crawler. It also ranks as the best superhero game , alongside Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham games.

Forza Horizon 4

  • Developer: Playground Games.
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / PC.
  • Release date: September 28, 2018.

What’s a racing game doing on this list? Simple: Forza Horizon 4 is a masterpiece of arcade speed, but also the perfect example of how to adapt the genre to an open world . In this case, the title is set in the United Kingdom.

We were hesitant to go for Forza Horizon 5 , which is just as big or bigger than the fourth installment. However, it is truly Forza Horizon 4 that is the turning point, one that many driving games have tried to replicate since. A masterpiece from Microsoft.

Cyberpunk 2077

  • Developer: CD Projekt RED.
  • Platforms: PS5 / PS4 / Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / PC.
  • Release date: December 10, 2020.

Those who played Cyberpunk 2077 at launch back in the holiday season of 2020 will think this is a joke. But no. CD Projekt released an unfinished product and decided to turn things around, and they have succeeded in doing so in spades. We may very well be looking at the greatest redemption in history and one of the best open-world games ever .

Walking through the streets of Night City will always be a pleasure , and the same can be said of chatting with Johnny Silverhand or Solomon Reed, the main character of Phantom Liberty (its great expansion). We are already dreaming of the Cyberpunk sequel, known as Orion.

Cyberpunk 2077 Review

Ghost of Tsushima

  • Developer: Sucker Punch.
  • Platforms: PS4 / PS5 / PC.
  • Release date: July 17, 2020.

Sucker Punch surprised us with the Infamous saga and its open worlds in the PS3 generation, but its best work would come years later. Swapping the streets of Empire City for feudal Japan, Ghost of Tsushima proved that video games could be faithful to a historical reality , even more so than a book or movie, something that has even more merit in an open world.

Jin Sakai’s thrilling adventure recreates the island of Japan, where the setting is beautifully presented, offering a great diversity of landscapes and mechanics, such as the wind guiding us in the direction we should go, or a great combat system. And, in addition, everything is full of collectibles and secrets that invite you to explore every last micron of the map .

Ghost of Tsushima Review

Assassin’s Creed II / Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

  • Developer: Ubisoft.
  • Platforms: PS5 / PS4 / Xbox / PC / Nintendo Switch (AC II only).
  • Release date: November 17, 2009 / November 10, 2020.

It is undeniable that the Assassin’s Creed saga is one of the most representative of the open world genre in the last 15 years . It is necessary to distinguish between two types of installments, because the series took a major change with AC: Origins, which has not been reversed until the arrival of Mirage.

Assassin’s Creed II is arguably the most well-rounded game of all, showing the beginning of Ezio Auditore’s adventures in superb recreations of cities like Florence and Venice , in the middle of the Italian Renaissance. But watch out, the modern trend of the saga has brought us another marvel.

We’re talking about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, an epic Nordic story starring Eivor , which to date has three expansions and several additional DLCs. It’s almost as good as the second installment, so it’s all a matter of taste…

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Review

World of Warcraft

  • Developer: Blizzard.
  • Platforms: PC.
  • Release date: November 23, 2004.

It has never made the jump to consoles, but we dream about it every day. However, World of Warcraft’s journey on PC is important enough to include it in this top, since it was practically the first major MMO to achieve huge success worldwide .

With just a few months to go before celebrating its 20th anniversary , World of Warcraft is well deserving of being considered one of the greatest games of all time. The millions of adventures experienced in Azeroth over the past two decades, including the recent Dragonflight expansion , can attest to that.

World of Warcraft Dragonflight Review

Far Cry 3

  • Developer: Ubisoft.
  • Platforms: PS4 / Xbox One / PC / PS3 / Xbox 360.
  • Release date: November 28, 2012.

The Far Cry saga is Ubisoft’s second venture into the open-world genre, and it must be said that it experienced a golden age that even rivaled Assassin’s Creed. The reason for this almost sudden success? The release of Far Cry 3, considered the best of the entire saga (although for many, Far Cry 5 is almost at the same level).

There are plenty of reasons for this, from having one of the best villains (Vaas Montenegro) to showing the hostility of this Bangkok island like no other game. Some will miss the African savannahs of Far Cry 2 , but frankly, it’s hard to top this tropical entry.

Far Cry 3 Review

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

  • Developer: CD Projekt RED.
  • Platforms: PS5 / PS4 / Xbox / Nintendo Switch / PC.
  • Release date: May 18, 2015.

What is the best open-world Western RPG of all time ? The Witcher 3 may not be it, but it’s a close second. We still dream every night of Geralt of Rivia’s latest adventure, in an open-world game that represents CD Projekt’s pinnacle to date.

It’s also the perfect ending to The Witcher trilogy, which will explore other stories and characters in future installments . If we add to this all the content from its expansions and the Netflix TV series, we have one of the great masterpieces of the genre.

The Witcher 3 review for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

Fallout 3

  • Developer: Bethesda Game Studios.
  • Platforms: Xbox One / Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC.
  • Release date: October 28, 2008.

I’ll leave my feelings aside (it’s my favorite game), but even so, Fallout 3 is part of the golden age of the Western RPG . Bethesda knew how to perfectly adapt the universe created by InterPlay and Black Isle, with the gameplay schemes of The Elder Scrolls.

The Capital Wasteland isn’t the idyllic setting you might hope for, but it’s packed with characters, stories, quests, and secrets to uncover . Will you secure humanity’s future? Or doom it eternally? It’s your mission as the Chosen of Vault 101.

Fallout: New Vegas was going to be an expansion for Fallout 3

Elden Ring

  • Developer: FromSoftware.
  • Platforms: PS5 / PS4 / Xbox / PC.
  • Release date: February 25, 2022.

We all knew that FromSoftware is one of the best studios in the industry, having created true masterpieces such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne and Sekiro . However, they had never before created a game as huge and fascinating as Elden Ring , worthy of the GOTY 2022 award .

While we wait for the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion , we can say that Elden Ring and its Lands Between are already part of the Olympus of open worlds . It’s a tough nut to crack, and at first it can seem overwhelming, but without a doubt the work of Miyazaki and George RR Martin is great.

Elden Ring Review

Red Dead Redemption 2

  • Developer: Rockstar Games.
  • Platforms: PS4 / Xbox One / PC.
  • Release date: October 26, 2018.

It would be fair to say that Red Dead Redemption 2 is not only one of the best open-world games, but also one of the best ever . The story of Arthur Morgan and his connection to John Marston rests in the memories of millions of players.

This sequel is much more than a cowboy GTA, with an absorbing narrative, unforgettable characters, and a technical section that will blow your mind. Only Kratos was able to snatch the GOTY award at that unforgettable gala in 2018.

Red Dead Redemption 2 Review

GTA: San Andreas / GTA V

  • Developer: Rockstar Games.
  • Platforms: PS5 / PS4 / Xbox / PC / Nintendo Switch (San Andreas only).
  • Release date: October 26, 2004 / September 17, 2013.

With the exception of Red Dead Redemption 2, which is a gem, Rockstar’s best game belongs to the GTA or Grand Theft Auto franchise . In reality, we can’t say that one is better than the other, so everyone will have their preference.

On the one hand, there is GTA San Andreas, which perfected the formula created with GTA 3 , which we will never forget for the charisma of its characters, CJ’s dialogues with Big Smoke, those crazy secondary missions, or the enormity of its open world, being a 2004 game that was released on PS2.

GTA V is the other great option, as it brings back the best elements of the 128-bit games, with that modern touch that we already saw in GTA IV. Los Santos will always be in our hearts, whether in the story (with Michael, Trevor and Franklin) or in the endless multiplayer of GTA Online .

GTA V Review

Shenmue

  • Developer: Sega AM2.
  • Platforms: Dreamcast / PS4 / Xbox One / PC.
  • Release date: December 29, 1999.

It’s the oldest game on the list, but it shouldn’t be forgotten. Shenmue is one of the great masterpieces in the history of video games , the hallmark of the last console launched by Sega, and another of the key steps to understanding open-world games today.

Ryo Hazuki’s revenge epic was proof that the Dreamcast hardware was ahead of its time . Shenmue boasts top-notch storytelling, a living world, day/night cycles, tons of minigames, and superb technical skills.

Shenmue Review

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

  • Developer: Bethesda Game Studios.
  • Platforms: PS5 / PS4 / Xbox / PC / Nintendo Switch / PS3 / Xbox 360.
  • Release date: November 11, 2011.

If Shenmue is the best open-world urban game, we can say that Skyrim is the great masterpiece of the RPG genre . It has been almost 15 years since its release and countless re-releases and versions, but Bethesda’s work continues to sell almost as well as the first day on all platforms.

Its open world, full of towns, cities, villages and dungeons, keeps you hooked for hundreds of hours. And there are still three expansions to enjoy, as well as the Creation Club , included in the Anniversary Edition. Not much more needs to be said.

Skyrim Anniversary Edition Review

Zelda: Breath of the Wild / Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

  • Developer: Nintendo.
  • Platforms: Nintendo Switch / Wii U (Breath of the Wild only).
  • Release date: March 3, 2017 / May 12, 2023.

What is the best open-world game ever? It’s a tricky question, but we can say that both Breath of the Wild and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, are very close to being one. Of course, at HobbyConsolas we have little (or no) doubts about it.

The GOTY of 2017, Breath of the Wild, is not only one of the masterpieces of the Nintendo Switch, but also the best game in the entire Zelda saga . Proof of this is that it has not lacked imitators and games that have copied some of its ideas, from Immortals Fenix ​​Rising to Genshin Impact.

Its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, is set in the same kingdom of Hyrule, but much larger, with a gigantic underworld and floating islands with lots of things to do , dungeons to explore and a story of confrontation against the best villain in the series. If you have a Nintendo Switch, don’t hesitate for a second to play them.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Review

They may not be the best ever, but in this report we talk about 10 open-world games with fascinating universes that will captivate you for hundreds of hours . Oh, and keep an eye out for this great Steam offer that lets you get an underrated gem for your PC.

 

 

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