9 Best Open World Video Games on the Market Today

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If there is one genre of video game that has really taken off in recent years, it’s the open world platform. As games were largely linear worlds, moving only in the up, down, left, right directional pattern; gaining the ability to move around, make choices, and collect even more items than ever before. This has brought these games to the forefront of video game demand.

With the start of games like GTA, Metal Gear Solid and Ghost Recon; the open world platform has expanded and evolve to what it is today. Rest assured it will get even better in the years to come.

The Evolution of the Digital Open World Game

We’ve come a long way from the first video game. Everyone remembers or at least has heard of Pong. The gam with its two vertical blocks and ball that bounced from side to side. Then came the linear side scrollers. A character that traveled a path, possibly collecting items and fighting enemies as they went from point A to point B. These evolved and expanded to include cities that offered areas or merchants to visit.

Soon came some of the first “open world” games to the market. Or at least as open world as they could be for the time. Games like Elite, The Legend of Zelda, Grand Theft Auto, Far Cry, Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time showed really promise in the open world category. These games allowed you, the player to explore off the linear path. To explore the game environments as you completed missions, side missions, interact with NPC, and more.

As these games evolved, developers began introducing games with different settings to explore. Games including the Old West, areas with fantasy elements, the Caribbean, Rome, and so many more! Now you can adventure too so many places as different characters. It really is like experiencing the story of a great novel.

What Qualifies as an Open Word Game?

Open world is a game mechanics which lack barriers between different areas and levels. Using a virtual world where players can roam freely, explore, and choose how or when to approach objectives within the game missions.

You, the player character, have the choice to explore the environment, finding all the extras/items within. You choose to play side missions for NPCs or continue on the direct path to the main story.

Best Open World Games

As we go through the best open world games; we will identify the game as a whole (not just one in particular to the franchise). These games have evolved and developed even better and more expansive open world games as the years have passed. So, let’s get to it.

The Witcher: Wild Hunt

PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Playstation 4

With The Witcher: Wild Hunt embracing the open world platform more than the rest, this one makes it to the list. You play as Gerald of River, the White Wolf and renowned Witcher of the Northern Realms. Your job is to hunt down and slay monsters, but in this game you are able to venture beyond the main story. You can explore the ravaged countryside, explore the landscape, help civilians, and more.

There is always something to do and choices to make. With the option of the notice boards or talk to NPC around towns, complete side missions in this expansive war raged environment. Complete side quests, find treasures, and uncover more surprises as you traverse the world.

The Legend of Zelda

Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U

Even within the early days of The Legend of Zelda, you were able to explore more than most linear games provided. Searching in bushes for items, visiting merchants, interacting with NPCs and more.

Now with Breath of the Wild, that environment has been taken to a whole new level of open world greatness. You now have 3D visual graphics that take you into the heart of Hyrule. Here you discover that what you do now is really anything you want.

Complete side quests, gather items, upgrade weapons, or begin your main story. It’s completely up to you. The world is now open to you to discover and experience as you defeat enemies, obtain horses to ride, find useful items, weapons and armor, discover shrines and help those in need. How you proceed is completely up to you, the player. Go explore the world or start your main journey, which will you choose?

Grand Theft Auto

PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation 5

The GTA franchise has offered open world gameplay for some time, with the most recent titles giving you more of the open world gameplay you’ve always loved with the GTA games. When you think of one of the first open world games, GTA usually comes to mind.

Explore the expansive landscape while you cause chaos, manipulate NPCs, complete missions and more. The world offers many places to explore, things to do like races and heists, and just basic shenanigans to engage in. There’s a reason why GTA is known as one of the best open world games of all time.

Infamous

Playstation 3

This karma based open world series allow the player to make decisions that have consequences for your work and your fate. In Infamous you can end up being the hero or the villain of the story as you make choices while you use your superpower to help or harm those around you. Complete missions, side missions, collect times and ultimately decide if you’ll be on the side of good or evil.

The Elder Scrolls

PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation 5

As each game adds to the next, The Elder Scrolls has become a fantastic adventure with dragons and customizable main character abilities. You play as a Dragonborn, exploring the world, slaying dragons, creating gear and even sleeping in the wilds when needed.

The beauty this world has to offer is one of a kind as you venture for discovery and intriguing story elements.

Horizon: Zero Dawn/Forbidden West

Playstation 4, PC, PlayStation 5

One of our favorites, Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West follows the main character, Aloy, in a post-apocalyptic world where the human race has reverted back to primitive living. Always interested in the fall of the Old Ones. Aloy travels the path to find out what happen to them and stop the machines they left behind from destroying what was left of humanity.

In Forbidden West, there is a new threat plaguing the world. As the blight makes the plants and animals die, this leads to struggles with human survival. The upgrade to stashes make keeping inventory stocked and new items that make travel a bit easier. No more falling off cliffs when looking for a quick way down.

With animal/dinosaur style machines to fight/override, missions and side missions, worlds to explore, tribes to meet and items, weapons and armor to collect, there is plenty to do to keep you busy for quite some time.

Assassin’s Creed

Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, Playstation 5

The Assassin’s Creed franchise is so expansive you have your pick of environments and worlds to choose from, from traversing the high seas, to renaissance Italy, to ancient Greece, Egypt, Paris, and Victorian London and more. Discover towns, explore beautiful landscapes, fight evil, and meet new characters from history.

Follow the narrative, explore the expansive world, complete side quests, hide in haystacks and bushes, conquer fortresses, collect items, weapons, materials, outfits and so much more.

Not only do you have access to the main games, but there are also tons of DLC expansions to add to your gaming experience.

Metal Gear Solid

Playstation 4, Playstation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC

With the fifth installment causing controversy with storytelling within the gameplay, you cannot deny that the open world realism is beyond amazing. Explore the world with your trusty animals and fight enemies, but don’t stick to one strategy as the enemies will adapt to your fighting style as you repeat moves.

With the dynamic weather system, you could find your self in harsh weather that can come in handy for stealth or enjoyable leisure walk through the landscape.

Red Dead Redemption

Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia

Explore the expansive world of the Wild West with incredible detail and immersive quality in Red Dead Redemption. Complete survival elements such as cooking, camping and hunting allowing full immersion as a trail worn gunslinger. Complete missions following a great story, visit towns, tackle side missions and activities that allow you to be captivated by this environment for hours.

The variety of choice and massive amounts of things to do, missions to tackle, and land to explore makes this game one of the best in open world gaming.

Final Thoughts

There are so many games now that are amazing open world games. Some didn’t make this list, and that doesn’t mean they were great games. It means I haven’t played them or experienced them in one way or another. So, I ask you… which game should I try that you absolutely loved the open world exploration and discovery?