Summary
Open-world games have become one of the most common and beloved game genres of all time, as they offer plenty of in-game content for playersto experience within and beyondthe main storyline. Side quests, NPCs, mini-games, loot, and exploration all play a part in these games, which can often tempt players away from the main quest.
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Players may be afraid to pursue these distractions due to the possibility they may feel the ramifications in the main plot of the game, but with some open-world games, they need not fear as they won’t be punished for their delays. The world will soon be there even after they have snagged that last shiny collectible.
6The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
When someone says open-world games,Skyrimis most likely one of the games that will come to mind. The fifth installment inThe Elder Scrollsseries wasone of the most celebrated and popularentries, which saw players taking on the role of the Dragonborn, a legendary hero with the ability to use their voice to devastating effects. The world ofSkyrimis threatened by the evil dragon Alduin, who only the Dragonborn can stop.
Even with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, players can choose to stray from the path to explore the picturesque world and partake in the side-quests on offer. Players can join factions, find and loot weapons, learn new Shouts, or even set down roots and start a family, and Alduin will patiently wait to further his plans of world domination until they are ready to progress the main story.
5The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt is back and once more taking up the mantle of one of the titular monster slayers and the main protagonist of the series. InThe Witcher 3, Geralt is on the tail of his adoptive daughter Ciri who is on the run from the Wild Hunt, a group of deadly wraiths who gallop ride across the skies on horseback, who are rumored to be omens of war in certain folkloric tales, but the true purpose is to find and capture slaves to serve the Alder Folk. The Elder Blood running through Ciri’s veins drew their wrath down on her head.
Geralt will have to travel far and wide across the world in search of the one last Gwent card he needs to complete his deck, asThe Witcher 3contains one of the mostfun and addicting card gamesof all time. Not only is there plenty of Gwent to play, but bounties to take on, and beautiful women to woo. Players will have their hands full of fun to be had outside the main plot, and they don’t need to worry as the game won’t punish them for it.
4Fallout: New Vegas
Obsidian’s foray into theFalloutuniverse resulted in the phenomenalNew Vegas, which saw players on a quest for revenge after being shot in the head for being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong item in their possession. With multiple factions all warring for power in the Mojave,New Vegasis a game full of choices andadditional content to enjoy.
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As such, no one could blame players for straying away from the main quest to sample the wonders scattered throughout the vast and post-apocalyptic world, and better yet, they won’t be punished for experiencing what it has to offer.
3The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo’s foray into open-world games withBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomwere met with major success and adored by fans and critics alike. The second title,Tears of the Kingdom,brought more of what fans had come to love, combining an epic story and a cast of new andreturning characterswith an expansive open world for players to explore. Ganondorf is back and threatening the Kingdom of Hyrule once again, and it is up to series hero Link to save the day, once again.
But, should players wish to ignore the impending threat of doom, they are free to do so and can explore the open world and all it has to offer, from slaying camps of monsters, meeting up with old and new characters, and trying to track down every last Korok seeds which is an epic quest unto itself.
Prequel to the excellentRed Dead Redemption,Red Dead Redemption 2puts players in the saddle of Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Lin Gang, a posse of cowboys dealing with the decline of the Wild West and contending with rival forces such as government officials, gangs and other enemies. After running afoul of a man called Cornwall, they find themselves in the crosshair of the legendary mercenary gang the Pinkerton’s, who do their utmost to disrupt their operations and uproot their lives.
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In the typical fashion of Rockstar Games' titles, players are more than free to completely ignore the main plot line andinstead travel the worldof Wild-West America on horseback to experience its rural beauty and what may hide beneath. On top of that,Red Dead Redemption 2has a fantastic multiplayer aspect, so players can gather together their own posse to enjoy multiplayer fun.
1Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian’sD&DRPG proved to be a hit success, bringing the trademark Larian-style RPG with lore and rules from the world ofDungeons and Dragons. InBaldur’s Gate 3, players control either one ofthe original charactersor their own custom character. After being kidnapped by Mind Flayers and infected with a parasite that will transform them into another Illithid, players will be unleashed into the world of Faerun, tasked with the quest of finding someone capable of removing the parasite from their head.
But being able to experience the world ofD&Din a video game, it would be a crime not to explore the world and its wonders. The world is jam-packed full of interesting characters, events, dungeons, and side-quests. Even with a ticking time bomb in their head, players will not be punished for ignoring their quest to rid themselves of it, and can instead uncover the many secrets hiding in Faerun.
