Nowadays, new technologies give game developers more opportunities to create huge, detailed worlds where you can escape from the main storyline and start exploring its surroundings. The advantage of such games is that they, like no other, allow you to feel the reality of what is happening in them.
You may also be interested in the TOP 10 free MMORPGs and the Ten best online games.
The same TOP contains ten of the best open world games (OPEN-WORLD GAMES), which you can explore for days on end, which is sometimes more entertaining than the game itself.
10. Assassin's Creed
In 2007, for the first time, players were able to feel themselves in the role of Altair, one of the main characters in a series of games from French developers. Ubisoft Montreal.
The game is remembered for its unforgettable landscapes, interesting plot and fascinating gameplay based on parkour and murder. The game turned out to be very successful, and the sequel was not long in coming. Now every year players can try out a new part of the assassins.
However, in the entire Assassin’s Creed series, the open world plays a very mediocre role, and therefore only tenth place in our TOP.
9. Shenmue
A game that became a real breakthrough of its time. For the first time, the well-known changes in weather and time of day appeared in it. The game is filled with a large number of mini-games, such as darts, bowling and many others.
The plot of the game is about a simple guy trying to find his father. Then the second part came out, continuing the plot of the first. The game had a faster pace and some details were improved.
A third part was also planned, but development was canceled due to budget problems.
8. Batman: Arkham Asylum
Superhero action with an amazing combat system. The genre of the game can be defined as stealth. The main task of the character is to remain hidden and kill quietly.
The characters in the game are clearly created by people who really love the original comics. They took great care in every detail. However, the embodiment of the classics does not interfere with the feeling of novelty and originality of the project, because it was made at a very high technical level.
All this, combined with an open world filled with hundreds of mysteries and side quests that are every bit as good as the main company, and sometimes even better, gives us the best superhero game at the moment.
7. Dragon Age
This game was announced at E3 in 2004. By that time, Dragon Age had been in development for 18 months.
The developer studio positioned Dragon Age as an ideological continuation Baldur's Gate- a legendary project by a Canadian developer and one of the most popular role-playing games in the gaming industry. However, Dragon Age is in no way connected with the universe of this game. The first part boasted a non-linear plot, a flexible role-playing system, long dialogues and interesting side quests.
By the second part the game had lost some of its advantages. However, in the third part - Inquisition- the developers promised to fix their mistakes.
6. Fallout
In 1997, people from Black Isle Studios marked the beginning of a wonderful series of RPG games in a post-apocalyptic setting called Fallout.
The game was a real breakthrough of its time. The main feature of the gameplay is that in the game world the player has complete freedom of action. Critics received the game very warmly, and a sequel was not long in coming. Came out a year later Fallout 2, in which many aspects of the first part were improved. There are a hundred quests in the game and only one is mandatory.
Well, then the well-known Fallout 3- a radically different game that changed the approach to gameplay. Series fallout gave players hundreds of wonderfully spent hours.
5. The Witcher
A series of RPG games developed by a Polish company CD Projekt RED based on the novel by the well-known writer Andrzej Sapkowski.
The release of the first series of the game took place in 2007. The Witcher was planned as an experiment, but it turned out to be a very successful game. Both game series released so far are simply excellent and are considered one of the best in their genre.
A beautiful world, an interesting combat system, many colorful characters, a detailed leveling system, a fascinating plot, a wonderful medieval setting, interesting quests and much more. This combination produced an excellent series of games.
4. Red Dead Redemption
Nowadays, there are very few worthy works about the wild west in both the gaming and film industries. And when not just good projects appear, but some of the best of their kind, their coolness increases several times at once. And such a project is the brainchild RockStar a game Red Dead Redemption- the best game of 2010 in many categories.
The developers created their own GTA in the wild west with a bunch of cool mini-games, entertaining additional missions and the sad story of the main character John.
We are sent to the beginning of the 20th century, when cowboys are no longer fashionable, the first cars appear, cities are built, and John, in an unusual environment for him, is forced to find and kill his former friends.
The game surprises with its sophistication and attention to detail.
3. Far Cry 3
According to many players, this is the best open-world first-person shooter. In terms of graphics, there is practically nothing to complain about.
Everything in the game is balanced and makes sense. Hunting, gathering herbs, additional tasks - all this is interconnected, and the gameplay is simply amazing. Everything is done very realistically. The characters in the game look like ordinary people, which makes you wonder what you would do if you got into a bloody mess.
In the storyline, almost every task is unique. The developers surprised almost everyone. Nobody expected such a strong game after the controversial second part.
2. The Elder Scrolls
A series of games in which you will spend not even a hundred, but thousands of hours, completing an indecently large number of tasks, exploring dozens of dungeons, listening to a huge number of interesting conversations.
The games in this saga are simply huge, beautiful and completely immerse the player in a fantasy world. Everything here is done in order to entertain the player as best as possible. There are simply tons of content in the scrolls. Here, while you are going to complete what seems to be the most ordinary and simple quest, about 20 hours will pass, since on your way you will meet a whole bunch of additional adventures.
Without a doubt Elder Scrolls- one of the most important pages in the history of the gaming industry.
1.GTA
No one here doubted it anymore. It is in this series of games from RockStar that the potential of the open world is fully realized.
Lots of mini-games, items to collect, complete freedom of action, creative story missions, memorable characters and a plot filled with realistic situations. GTA is a truly unique series of games that everyone has probably heard of.
By the fifth part, the developers had gone their separate ways, and the openness of the game world had reached its apogee. All in all, GTA- is still the unsurpassed leader in the field of open world games.
When the Scottish development studio Rockstar North released the third part of the gangster saga Grand Theft Auto back in 2001, the fashion for Open World games began to grow rapidly. This is understandable, because it is always interesting to wander the streets of a fictional or plausibly recreated city, complete secondary quests and do whatever you want. So, the top open world games on PC released over the past 4 years. Go!
Grand Theft Auto 5
Where would we be without this game? One of the best projects of the last generation and the entire gaming industry as a whole. It has not yet been released on PC, because the start of sales is scheduled for January 2015. Nevertheless, it has already managed to make a splash among owners of Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3 and PS4. For the first time in the history of the series, gamers had the opportunity to play as 3 characters at the same time, which certainly added dynamics and excitement. Explore the bottomless expanses of the ocean filled with living creatures, barren deserts and, of course, Los Santos, which is the prototype of the real Los Angeles. Watch the lives of three colorful characters with different personalities and temperaments, take part in exciting robberies, spend your leisure time as you please (triathlon, golf, tennis, racing, flying airplanes and helicopters, going to restaurants, tuning and much more).
The developers were able to improve all elements of the game, including graphics, sound, shooting mechanics and character physics, weather conditions, etc. In general, you will not get bored for a minute in the world of the fifth part, lost among the expanses of Blaine County. In addition to the single player, GTA 5 also has excellent multiplayer, where you can complete additional missions, buy real estate, try your luck on the stock exchanges and just have fun in the company of 16 friends. Of course, the top open world games on PC can only have one winner - GTA 5.
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
The Assassin's Creed series consists of 11 games, 6 of which are full-fledged titles, and the rest are just branches. The open worlds of the game allow us to run through the times of the Renaissance, America filled with the events of the War of Independence, revolutionary Paris and, finally, feel like a West Indian pirate. Exploring the open worlds of the game is made more exciting by the fact that the protagonist has strong parkour skills, which means we can climb the most inaccessible towers and explore the city from a bird's eye view. Over the past 4 years, 7 parts have been released at once, from which we will choose, perhaps, the best - Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
Players will be able to transform into Edward Kenway, a charismatic, dangerous and brave pirate who skillfully uses all the deadly techniques of an assassin. Capture forts and ships with the help of your own ship "Jackdaw", explore over 50 locations, in which there is a place for Havana, Kingston and, of course, the pirate Nassau. In addition, Edward can visit underwater locations, harpoon unique sea animals, craft new items, look for hidden treasures, get into fights, complete exciting side quests, etc. And you can test your killer skills in multiplayer mode, where the developers provided a variety of features, maps and thoughtful character customization. In the 2013 list, "Assassin's Creed" will convincingly take an honorable 1st place in the ranking.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Boundless spaces, contrasting characters, hundreds of quests, a dynamic plot, exciting character development and thoughtful gameplay - all this is The Elder Scrolls. Our hero is not why life goes on without him. But this is what everyone loves so much in open world games. Children playing tag, tired blacksmiths focused on their work, smiling salesmen, constantly working alchemists and, in the end, warriors fighting among themselves, not paying attention to the protagonist passing by. Today there are 6 full-fledged projects, among which we will highlight only one - The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
The top open world games on PC in 2011 can confidently put this masterpiece from Bethesda Softworks in first place. Take on the role of Dovahkiin, saving the world from Alduin - the mortal enemy of all mankind. Learn spells, upgrade your skills, create armor and weapons, hone your skills in battles, take part in conspiracies and civil wars, study dragon cries, travel across the vast Skyrim. The game has so much varied content that we can be “stuck” in virtual reality for 200 hours or more. All in all, our review of the top open world games on PC couldn't miss Skyrim.
Saints Row IV
The game was released on August 23, 2013, becoming quite popular among millions of gamers. The developer was Volition. Head to Stillport, a giant virtual sandbox where nothing is impossible. Superpowers, unimaginable and outlandish weapons, hundreds of vehicles and dozens of hours of exciting content created by the sick imagination of the developers.
Try to enjoy the unlimited power of the President by showing citizens the true face of the Saints. An alien invasion on a grand scale, a sea of explosions, adrenaline and fun - all this is Saints Row IV. If a “crazy” top open-world game on PC was created, then this title would confidently take 1st place. Advanced customization of characters and vehicles, improved skills, a huge number of weapons and a variety of missions will brighten up gray and boring evenings, lifting your spirits for the rest of the day.
Far Cry 3
If we were to list the top open world PC games of 2012, then Far Cry 3 would be one of the contenders for the winner of this rating. Plunge into a mind-blowing adventure, following a wonderful plot, seasoned with madness and dynamics. Capture outposts and upgrade your character -
Exploring huge islands, rich in exotic animals, mini-games, relics, riddles and exciting quests, will not leave you indifferent until the end of the passage, and a huge arsenal of weapons and vehicles will only add charm to the 30-hour gameplay. At the same time, it is quite interesting to watch the history of the main characters, who will definitely be remembered by you for their charisma. In addition to the single-player campaign, Far Cry 3 has a full-fledged co-op and an excellent multiplayer game that will captivate you for another couple of dozen hours.
Watch Dogs
When compiling the top open world PC games of 2014, it should be noted that Watch Dogs deserves due attention. Play as Aiden Pearce, a genius hacker capable of hacking cameras, traffic lights, subway trains, bank accounts, police poles and other gadgets powered by ctOS. Chicago has a ton of content to offer, including a rich story campaign, exciting side quests and great mini-games that are new to Ubisoft projects. Colorful characters, detailed cars, interesting missions, excellent physics and an exciting soundtrack - all these are the impeccable advantages of "Sight Dogs". Finally, the seamless multiplayer skillfully integrated into the single player will add additional fun.
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor
One of the most popular games with over 10 million players. The top online open world games on PC must include World of Warcraft Dota 2 and Lineage. In 2014, a new global update was released, the name of which you can see in the subtitle. Life in Azeroth remains the same, but many innovations have significantly improved the gameplay. First of all, it is worth noting the emergence of new locations - Nagrand, Talador, Spiers of Arak, Frostfire Ridge, Gorgrond and others. You can also build a fortress on Draenor with the possibility of further modification. In addition, the maximum character level has increased to 100, which was missing for so many gamers for so long. Finally, the developers have added new skills, a PVP arena and other nice little things.
The Elder Scrolls Online
After the 20-year history of the series, developers from Bethesda decided to create a full-fledged MMORPG. The game successfully implements combat mechanics, which are in no way inferior to real-time battles. The plot is quite banal, but captivates from the very first minutes, telling the story of the struggle of 3 in-game factions: the Ebonheart Pact, the Daggerfall Covenant and the Aldmeri Dominion. It is worth noting that all dialogues are voiced at a very high level, which is very rare for online projects. What can you do in The Elder Scrolls Online? Explore the vast expanses of Tamriel, filled with the swamps of Black Marsh, the wild jungles of Valenwood, ancient cities, including Daggerfall, snow-capped mountains and colorful glades of the lowlands. A well-thought-out leveling system, thousands of quests and continuous faction wars will give you the opportunity to fully spend time on the other side of the screen.
- PC games: open world
- Year: 2012
- Genre: action RPG
- Developer: From Software
Dark Souls is a computer game in the action-RPG genre with open world. The basis of the gameplay is the exploration of the game world in conditions of almost constant danger. The influence of story on the gameplay in Dark Souls is minimal. Events and their meaning are often implied rather than explained or shown directly, leaving the player to interpret and speculate on what is happening. Most of the plot and information about the world is presented through dialogue with various characters, through descriptions of objects, or in short cast scenes. The player must find and process all the information he needs on his own.
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- PC games: open world
- Year: 2013
- Genre: action
- Developer: Double Fine Productions
Eddie Riggs was a simple worker traveling with touring musicians. When it came to tuning a guitar or putting together a stage, everyone turned to him. But Eddie himself dreamed of more; heavy metal lived in his soul! And one day the dreams of a simple worker about a better life came true. True, not quite what he expected... Brutal Legend is an unconventional, completely crazy project from the famous game developer Tim Schafer. His new creation, literally imbued with the spirit of heavy metal, is dedicated to all fans of this music and extraordinary, extravagant games. Piece work!
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- PC games: open world
- Year: 2001
- Genre: RPG
- Developer: Sir-Tech Canada
A huge three-dimensional world, where fantasy and future technologies are intricately mixed, a world of wars, witchcraft and adventures. You will have to travel through the dark labyrinths of caves, the most bizarre landscapes, and even under water. Dozens of quests, the opportunity to choose both the side of good and the side of evil, and as many as 4 possible endings. Wizardry 8 can be played for months. Huge possibilities for creating a group of heroes controlled by you. The game has 11 races and 15 character classes. By setting the parameters of new characters, you create unique gaming personalities with their own characters and characteristics. On your journey you will meet and talk with dozens of creatures, each of which is a unique individual. And your behavior towards them will determine who they will become for you, loyal allies or mortal enemies.
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- PC games: open world
- Year: 2012
- Genre: RPG
- Developer: Big Huge Games
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning features dynamic third-person combat, exploration of the game world, a thoughtful character creation and development system, and an action-packed story set in a detailed fantasy universe. The adventures of the main character begin with a miraculous resurrection: it turns out that he owns an incomprehensible and extremely dangerous magic that can change Amalur once and for all. Finding himself in the center of a fierce confrontation between several races, factions and alliances, the chosen one must uncover the secret of his immortality and put an end to the ancient evil that threatens the entire world.
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- PC games: open world
- Year: 2012
- Genre: action
- Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
The main character, Jason Brody, goes on vacation with friends to an unusually beautiful tropical island. And then he finds himself hostage by a gang of pirates led by the mad killer Vaas. From this moment on, your task is to survive at any cost. Jason will be drawn into a bloody war between pirates and local rebels, in which blood, lead and drugs flow like a river. Some psychopaths fight with others, and soon the main character is no longer able to distinguish an opium dream from an insane reality. The crazy island drives everyone who sets foot on its shores crazy and you have to be crazy to stay here. Are you out of your mind?
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- PC games: open world
- Year: 2009
- Genre: action
- Developer: Volition Inc.
By 2125, Mars has been fully developed and adapted to life, while on Earth the reserves of fossil resources are coming to an end. Earthly corporations place Martian colonists in inhuman living and working conditions; the Earth Defense Forces become punitive forces and police instead of allies. Mass arrests and brutal suppression of protests lead to the rebirth of the Red Brigade. The old motto has not been forgotten - “Better red than dead!” Fully open world with realistic destruction and a modern cover system. And high-quality graphics, exciting gameplay and pleasant music will not let you out of their virtual shackles for many hours!
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- PC games: open world
- Year: 2010
- Genre: action RPG
- Developer: TaleWorlds
One of the best games to date about the magnificent time of the Middle Ages! Use your sword to pave the way to the heights of power! Do you want to get rich? Make capital through trading or take the high road. Do you dream of fame? Win tournaments or try your luck in war. Take castles by storm, crush enemy troops on the battlefield, ravage lands, winning new titles and allotments for yourself. Receive the rank of marshal, lead the entire army of the country and faithfully serve your overlord. If you want full power, start a rebellion and take your place on the throne!
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- PC games: open world
- Year: 2009
- Genre: action adventure
- Developer: Pandemic Studios
Pandemic Studios invites you to play the role of a saboteur in a game with open world new generation, combining elements of both adventure and action. Avenge the deaths of your loved ones by tracking down their killers in Nazi-occupied Paris. This is the first game in which the user will be closely involved in sabotage in a stylized Paris of the 1940s, where the women are beautiful, the feats are grandiose, and retribution is inevitable.
Most games can be divided into linear and open. The second ones are longer, more varied and more addictive, especially if there are well-developed locations. But the developers need to convince you that the world is alive - only then will you want to study it. We present ten such games.
Red Dead Redemption
This is a more adult Grand Theft Auto. Adult not in the sense that there is more blood, shooting and girls greedy for the sound of coins. It's about the world and the story being told. GTA is pure satire, which sometimes includes drama, albeit quite successfully. Red Dead Redemption is completely different. Cowboy John Marston, who caused trouble in his youth, must help important officials in capturing his former gang comrades, otherwise his family will literally be in trouble.
The hero, who has given up crime, goes against old acquaintances and, in a sense, against himself. At the same time, the world around is changing: progress is progressing, cars are appearing that leave no chance for horses, and Marston realizes that the era of the Wild West will soon end, and he does not know and does not want any other life. The story is skillfully diluted with comical characters (like a completely insane gravedigger) and funny situations.
Red Dead Redemption features a large area with a variety of things to do: non-story mini-stories, side quests, gambling, interesting duels - the Wild West is dangerous, but too good not to explore. The sequel is expected to be released this fall.
Far Cry
The series has experienced a rise, a fall and another rise. After the unexpectedly high-quality first part, fairly passable console versions followed, and then the terrible Far Cry 2 came out. It was a ready-made guide on “How not to make an open world”: the same type of tasks, a minimum of random events, tired roadblocks. It was time to bury the series.
Who would have thought that after this a fantastically cool third part would appear. A tropical island, a stunning villain Vaas and the spectacular leader of the Citra tribe, hurricane missions with choice, an interesting idea with hunting animals - Ubisoft was on a roll. Even Far Cry 4, which only moved the action to the Himalayas without offering anything new, also went off with a bang.
Then came a sharp change in concept: Far Cry Primal is dedicated to primeval time. The step is controversial, but in general it turned out well - albeit not so spectacular, but extremely original. Ubisoft has learned to fill its worlds with interesting events, which it proved again in Watch Dogs 2.
Saints Row
Open-world action games are sometimes casually referred to as "GTA clones." To avoid such comparisons, Volition has chosen its own path. Realizing that it would not be possible to surpass Rockstar in the level of production and elaboration of the world, the developers set out to make the most trashy action movie possible. Oddly enough, the idea turned out to be successful.
Saints Row is GTA gone crazy. Seriously, if you suddenly think that the height of madness is to dress up in a funny costume, throw a grenade at cars standing at a traffic light, and shoot the arriving policemen with a machine gun, then just launch the action game from Volition. Take the hero of Saints Row, for example. He has come a long way - from the leader of a street gang to the President of the United States.
In the fourth part of the game, an alien invasion occurs. Who, if not the head of state elected by the people, should be the first to protect his population? Moreover, there is no need to persuade him: the fighter, seasoned by courtyard showdowns, declares war on the aliens. The hero flies over the city, runs at incredible speed, incinerates and freezes enemies. It's trash in a good way, like Robert Rodriguez's Machete. You just need to not take what is happening seriously.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted
In racing, an open world is often not needed: there is practically nothing to do between competitions. One of the few exceptions is NFS: Most Wanted. Freedom of movement was first introduced in Underground 2, but the concept is best presented in the next game.
The project is dedicated to street racing - it was still fashionable back then. The hero needs to be at the top of the list of the best street racers in the sunny city of Rockport. Starting with something like a VW Golf GTI, the character rose higher and higher. At the end of the game, Lamborghinis and other exotics were revealed. At the same time, the BMW M3 GTR was chosen as the car of the best racer; it also appears on the cover of the game. It turned out funny: the hero drives the most powerful supercars, but dreams of defeating an upstart in some kind of BMW.
Most Wanted is jam-packed with events: races against the clock, setting maximum speed on the radar, sprints, circuit races, boss battles, lengthy police chases - not every open-world action game offers such variety.
Mafia
Mafia 3, released in the fall of 2016, was a complete failure: weak graphics, dead atmosphere and complete monotony of missions. If publisher 2K Games plans a new part, then the developers will have to try hard to restore trust in the franchise. But once upon a time everything was different.
Mafia: City of the Lost Heaven was released the same year as the PC version of GTA 3. The competition was fierce. The world of Rockstar's action was more alive, passers-by responded better to the player's intervention in their usual way of life. Mafia, from little-known Czechs from Illusion Softworks, offered a special atmosphere and well-developed characters.
Taxi driver Tommy Angelo accidentally received a ticket to the world of the mafia: he helped serious people escape and they offered to help him in the future. The hero enters a new world for himself and carries out tasks for major authorities. It's the 30s of the 20th century, men in hats drive huge cars and talk about loyalty to a mafia family. The second part took us to the middle of the last century. The atmosphere had changed, but the game was still addictive, although it was too short.
The Witcher
RPG is a genre for which an open world is almost mandatory. Complete freedom of action sometimes turns into total boredom: nothing happens in the game, the quests are already boring. The Polish Witcher series was spared the troubles of role-playing projects. A routine walk from one village to another can lead to a new investigation involving an ancient curse, star-crossed lovers, local drunks, ghosts, witches and the village elder - sometimes all at once.
The Witcher Geralt is a medieval freelancer and a complete parasite. He doesn’t have a permanent source of income, he’s not a fool to drink, party and spend time playing dice, he works from time to time, as orders appear. True, it would be difficult for tax collectors to obtain compensation from him to the royal treasury, and even more difficult to send him to forced labor. The hero wields a sword better than any person, fights well with his fists, and knows how to approach magical creatures.
The world of the third game turned out to be especially large and alive. Adventures happen at every turn. Having climbed into the thick of the forest, you will find a hermit's hut, wander into a gateway - you will have to save an inept guard from bandits, and so on all the time. The Witcher is constantly calling you somewhere, and you just need to turn off the path.
Fallout
The game was not the first RPG in a post-apocalyptic setting. Nine years before the release of the debut part, Wasteland was released, which has now been revived. But it was Fallout that gained the greatest fame and popularity.
Freedom of action is elevated to absolute: no one cares what you do. More and more new quests appear, characters entice you with intriguing stories, but you can simply walk off into the sunset towards your destiny. Fallout is imbued with the spirit of adventurism - you want to explore this world in detail, and it’s nice that there are many secrets hidden in it.
Despite the consequences of nuclear war, the world of Fallout lives on. With complete freedom, you won’t be bored - events, like in The Witcher, will appear on their own.
The Elder Scrolls
The action changes from part to part: the central region of the world of Tamriel - Cyrodiil - is shown in TES IV: Oblivion, we find ourselves in northern Skyrim in TES V, we walk through the province of Morrowind in the third numbered game, and so on. All locations are terribly interesting to explore.
The Elder Scrolls has a lot of shortcomings: the same type of tasks, a strange role-playing system. Let's say, nothing prevents a warrior character from undergoing training at the Mages Guild - it's about the same as a humanities student receiving a physics and mathematics diploma. And so much can be said about balance: about the automatic increase in enemy levels relative to your hero (see Oblivion), and about killing a dragon with one arrow (see Skyrim).
We live in a golden age where there are no shortage of great open world games on the market. Here is a list of our favorites.
It's a great time for games with an open world and many virtual sandboxes, in which everything depends solely on the player's choice. Of course, they have their own stories, story missions, quests and goals, but players are free to complete them in the order in which they enter them.
From fantasy worlds to entire gaming galaxies, from modern cities to post-apocalyptic wastelands, the best open world games give gamers absolute decision-making freedom to do whatever they want, whenever they want, while enjoying a compelling story along the way. your own adventure. So, Here are the most outstanding open world games for PC.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Assassin's Creed Odyssey was a significant milestone for the franchise, changing much of what the Assassin's Creed series was known for. Odyssey has transformed itself into a full-fledged RPG. At the same time, it follows the tradition of having an incredibly large open world filled with small details, colorful landscapes and a variety of quests.
“They say that size doesn’t matter, but The Odyssey benefits from the sheer scale of Ancient Greece, especially because each location is different from the next,” it says.
It's a vast world to explore and explore, and every part of it has its own unique atmosphere, from the arid wastelands of Crete to the lush green plains of Arcadia. This is not only the biggest, but also the most beautiful game from Ubisoft."
Subnautica's vast underwater world and diverse underwater life make up the most stunningly large open world in the video game industry. Games literally are rarely this flawless.
Assassin's Creed: Origins
The world of Origins is by far the best in the entire game series and one of the best open ones that has ever existed. We, as a Ubisoft company, worked on the locations of Ancient Egypt and made them lively, despite the huge area.
Cities and towns are teeming with locals, farmers, workers and soldiers. There is a huge amount of wild life (which can eventually be tamed): from the evil crocodiles and hippos that live in the waters of the Nile, to lions and hymens that wander along the sand dunes of the mountains and flamingos with egrets that fly into the sky when you rush on your horse near them.
Gold can be found in the Thar Desert. After playing for 35 hours trying to complete the main quest, Chris was still unable to visit every location on the map. This means that there are some quests, characters, and societies left in the game that you can still look at. Assassin's Creed: Origins proves that Ubisoft can reinvigorate the tired franchise through sheer skill.
At the same time, the company does not have to add dubious and low-quality content. Nevertheless, it is wonderful to be in the areas of Ancient Egypt. Now you can explore every centimeter of it without killing people, thanks to this educational mod.
Quite buggy, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an open-world RPG whose ambitions largely outstrip its problems. Here is not only part of the bohemian Middle Ages, but also a complex of imitation of (conditionally historical) life and death.
If you are caught stealing, you will have to spend some time behind bars. If you draw your sword during a fist fight, your opponent will likely back down or even apologize. Nobles will be more willing to communicate with you after you take a shower. If your reputation in the city is high enough, local residents, seeing you on the street, will exclaim your name and praise you.
He continues and barely touches on everything else. The detail in the life simulation here is pretty absurd, but Kingdom Come manages to tie it all together to a pretty good standard. From start to finish, you play as a naive, vulnerable and unremarkable young man. The shadows of small dangers hang over the lovable fool Henry, filling the world with mysteries and dangers that we are looking for in a huge open world.
Forza Horizon 3 is a racing simulator, but the game is not limited to just racing. Players are presented with a huge and beautiful sandbox full of city streets, picturesque beaches, green forests and giant deserts, recreating a large part of Australia.
Here we always have something to do: races, special tasks, special tricks, collecting bonuses, not to mention a decent fleet of vehicles, where each car is worked out to the smallest detail. Forza Horizon 3 is a series staple because of its scope, variety, and enjoyment.
In the game Stalker, the main enemy of the gamer can be called the open world. Gamma radiation, many anomalies and radioactive storms can shorten the life of newcomers to a few moments. In every building there is a high probability of stumbling upon looters or terrible mutated creatures. Ammo and armor are a rarity in this world, and a feeling of alienation reigns here in almost every location.
But many experienced stalkers will confirm that the Zone inexplicably attracts them. Explore abandoned Ukrainian factories and try to come to terms with the lifeless silence. After some time, you will understand that the destroyed world of Stalker is beautiful in its own way.
A remarkable technical achievement, The Witcher 3 is a true milestone in the history of open world gaming, taking full advantage of the capabilities of modern gaming systems to create compelling environments where every detail is designed and feels natural. The gloomy swamps of Velen are just an aperitif, after which the main course awaits you in the form of the huge Novigrad and the northern region of Skellige - one of the most beautiful locations in the entire history of gaming.
You can spend hundreds of hours here, moving between islands, completing various quests, encountering witches, slaying monsters and playing Gwent with the rowdy locals. Yes, the cities in The Witcher 3 are bustling with life, unlike other free world games which can seem rather dull in comparison.
Here you can simply direct the hero in any direction at any time and still find something - and this speaks of the quality of detail in the open world.
Not every game has an open world as expansive as Elite: Dangerous. You will take the helm of a spaceship and fly throughout the Milky Way galaxy, along the way fighting pirates (or becoming one of them), blowing up asteroids, transporting and selling goods, or simply discovering unexplored stars of the planet, as well as entire systems.
Whether you're playing solo or online, you'll find adventure among the 400 billion solar systems featured in Elite. Of course, it won't happen without aliens.
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
One of the most exciting Assassin's Creed titles since the second game, Black Flag masterfully combines the familiar elements of parkour and sailing through a lush Caribbean archipelago. Small islands, whales, various forts and colonial fortifications - all this awaits you in the vast ocean, and on the largest islands events standard for the Assassin’s Creed series will unfold. Against the backdrop of the frankly weak third part, Black Flag looked like a breath of fresh sea air.
The cities have become smaller, and the plot is more pointless, but not every game allows you to destroy the port with your own hands. Imagine your ship's guns tearing apart seemingly solid walls as you run across the battlefield, hunting down enemy commanders with pistols at the ready. It is in moments like these that you realize how good the local open world is. In addition, storms are perfectly recreated here.
Walking through the world of Morrowind is very similar to walking through the streets of the Victorian era - it is clear that technology was not used to recreate the image, but everything looks surprisingly realistic. A kind of look at the world, frozen in time, which is both frightening and attractive. Morrowind became a real bridge between the spectacular but soulless 3D blockbusters of today and the enchanting role-playing games of the last century.
Thanks to well-known mods like OpenMW and Skywind, it's possible that Morrowind's popularity will continue to grow in the coming years. The game world continues to surprise and delight just as it did 15 years ago.
The full potential of the open world in Metal Gear Solid 5 is only revealed when the player stops using a helicopter for each mission and starts moving on foot through two huge locations (Afghanistan and the border between Angola and Zaire), acting in RPG style. The stealth action game from Kojima Productions encourages freedom of action, and the progression system generously rewards the player for making the most decisions.
It all starts modestly: with a weak pistol in the hand and futile attempts to hit the heads of enemies, but by the end of the game, gamers can already attract opponents with a mechanical arm, lift tanks with the help of balloons and call in an artillery strike on bears. Perhaps all the components of a great game are in place.
The stylish and pixelated 2D universe presented in Starbound is richer than it seems. You will find quests, battles with regular enemies and bosses, exploration, and interplanetary travel. Whether you're excavating another planet, exploring new solar systems, or building your own town with friendly NPCs, you'll realize that the world (or rather, worlds) of Starbound is so enjoyable that you want to spend as much time as possible in it.
It's certainly not the deepest game on the list, but it's engaging because of its wildness and level of fun. It's not always possible to see such a huge open world, which is a real playground for experiments, and the famous grappling hook and endless parachutes help you easily move around all corners of this tropical paradise.
I'm sure you'll barely touch the ground, quickly moving through the air from one point to another, causing chaos and destruction along the way. In Just Cause 3 we saw a more impressive scale, but in this game the open world is much more interesting.
There's something appealing about a ruined world, and Mad Max's wasteland is a stunning sight to behold. From industrial locations to lifeless deserts and lakes filled with toxic waste, the local world is fraught with danger, but the whole world is built on this. In addition, you can explore the local expanses in a homemade car, whose body is covered with spikes, which will be very useful when colliding with all the madmen that inhabit the local expanses.
The gameplay in Mad Max may seem monotonous and quickly boring to some, especially when the game forces us to get out of the car and move on foot, but, nevertheless, the adventures of Mad Max are a real high-octane pleasure.
The entire Saints Row series is an inventive satire of the entire gaming industry, but don't rush to conclusions after seeing the slightly empty city from Saints Row 4. Superpowers like Hulk-style long-distance jumping, running at high speeds, as well as a set of unique weapons and With moves straight from wrestling, the game is the closest thing in spirit to Crackdown that can be found on PC, but there is also a ton of humor.
The game is favored by a cannon that allows you to inflate enemies until they explode, and a dubstep gun, the firing speed of which depends on the costume the character is wearing. These facts alone are enough to at least try the game.
Looks can be deceiving: Westerado is a stunning open world game that gives the player an incredible level of freedom. The plot here does not shine with originality - we are looking for a certain madman who killed our entire family, but the identity of the criminal changes with each new playthrough.
As you explore a dusty, Wild West-style world and search for the killer, you're free to do whatever you want—you can accuse anyone you meet of the aforementioned crime at any time. If you wish, you can even shoot any NPC right during the dialogue. Be a hero, a bandit or anything else. The choice is entirely yours.
A harsh post-apocalyptic wasteland is supposed to be boring by definition, but Bethesda has spent decades honing its own formula to make Fallout 4 as rich a place as possible. Yes, the game ended up not being as revolutionary as its predecessors, but participating in military operations in Boston, densely populated by people and mutants, is still interesting. On the outskirts of Diamond City, endless battles rage, while in the wasteland, survivors fight brutal mutants who are trying to devour everything that moves.
With the exception of Minecraft, this is the only game where gamers can change the world around them. Villages are liberated to use the property of local residents to build cities with amenities such as running water and turrets designed to ward off intruders. And since the game was based on an advanced version of the Creation engine, which underlay Skyrim and Oblivion, it became a real paradise for modders.
And, of course, it only gets better with mods. Follow the link to find a selection.
Thanks to PlayStation Now and Xbox One backwards compatibility, this Bethesda masterpiece managed to make it onto our list. Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion has stood the test of time. It's filled with enough quests and memorable characters (yes, I'm talking about you, Glarthir) that you'll immediately want to shut yourself out from the rest of the world and spend hours trying to achieve the highest rank in the Thieves Guild or return giant potatoes to their rightful owner.
Once you get out of prison in the prologue, you can do whatever your heart desires, even postponing the mission to save the world indefinitely. It would be the same in real life.
This is the best game in existence, if, of course, you get the hang of it. Like Minecraft, Dwarf Fortress generates entire planets in a matter of seconds. And everything is not limited to just creating realistic rivers and continents. The local system generates real civilizations with their own stories, wars, heroes and even religious beliefs. Sometimes civilizations do not even survive the world generation process.
In these cases, we stumble upon the ruins of their buildings, restoring them for our fortress, or find hidden treasures in the role-playing game mode. Many will be put off by the ASCII interface, and before starting the game it is worth watching a couple of training videos, but it is worth recognizing that at the moment this is one of the most advanced open worlds, which, moreover, is regularly updated with fresh updates and patches.
The open world is usually equated with complete freedom and carefree fun, but Sunless Sea smashes this concept to smithereens. An intriguing plot and complex (and sometimes cruel) gameplay build your character so much that you involuntarily step into the role of the character.
The ominous atmosphere will not appeal to everyone - and certainly not to those who do not like to read, but the game maintains the set pace from the very first seconds, and is another reason to return to adventures full of dark humor in the sea.
Starting with Far Cry 2, the series each time offered the player shootouts in new exotic locations - from Africa and tropical islands to the Himalayas. Far Cry 2's setting, unique approach to action sequences, and partnership system quickly made the game a source of critical admiration. It still looks decent today, but since then Far Cry has had excellent stealth and added a cooperative mode, and the mesmerizing snowy peaks from Far Cry 4 simply cannot be ignored.
With each new part, the game became more and more intense, so in parts 3 and 4, great attention was paid to capturing and holding various checkpoints. You can approach this task in an open world in different ways - combining an extensive arsenal and stealth kills in close combat. Like its predecessors, Far Cry 4 boasts excellent fire physics. It is especially noticeable in moments when everything is not going completely according to plan.
What if we imagined the open world not as a hostile environment where you need to focus on survival, but as a foundation for building your own world? Many games have tried to replicate the success of Minecraft over the years. Some of them, like Terraria and Starbound, have notably succeeded, but the original, which has become a symbol of an entire generation, continues to grow before our eyes with each new patch.
It's quite simple for the survival genre, but great as an interactive construction set - people build worlds of incredible detail in it. Minecraft is not just a great open world game, but a true cultural phenomenon.
This game may not have the most beautiful of worlds, but the complete freedom of action that is given to the player in Mount & Blade: Warband more than compensates for any shortcomings. You will travel through gigantic locations with medieval villages, cities and castles, where you can gather your own army to fight your enemies (you can, of course, do this alone, but it’s not as fun).
The combat system here is one of the best on PC, and the list of advantages of the game includes the ability to choose your own style of play. Complete quests, join any faction and become its leader... or just explore the world to your heart's content. And if you pay attention to the many mods, you can transfer your adventures to the worlds of “Star Wars”, “” and other iconic universes.
The world of Skyrim doesn't revolve around you. Somewhere in the wilderness, a necromancer is trying to revive a skeleton. At the same time, during the day you meet a gang of bandits trying to defeat a giant (rest in peace to them) or wander into a nearby village, which is attacked by a dragon at the very moment when you, well-fed and satisfied, leave the tavern. Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim consists of many such stories that surround you everywhere: even if you avoid any major settlements, you will still complete at least 30% of the quests along the way.
The game world is filled with a variety of interesting activities: there are so many amazing things to see, hack so many unusual creatures to pieces, steal so many goods from so many merchants and explore so many creepy Dwemer ruins... oh yes, and fight dragons. Even after playing Skyrim for 100 hours (this is a beginner level), you will not complete all the quests and not kill all the bosses. It is difficult to overestimate the influence of this game on the gaming industry around the world. To understand the bar he's set for the next Elder Scrolls 6, we encourage you to dive into the world of Skyrim right now.
