Make no mistake,the open-world genreis by far one of the most popular video game genres in the industry, as evidenced by the sheer success of juggernauts like the GTA series, Assassin’s Creed and even FromSoftware’s Elden Ring.
However, given how I’ve spent the majority of my life playing this genre of games, I’ve reached a stage in my life whereI get burned out by them. And that’s just one of the various reasons why people dislike this genre, and that’s completely understandable.
12 Smallest Open World Games, Ranked By Size
Size doesn’t mean everything for these open-world games.
But hey, that’s where I’ve taken the liberty today to recommend my personalized list of games that will surely make you an open-world fan, or at least, be able to appreciate the actual great ones that are the most accessible in this oversaturated genre.
10Outer Wilds
Mysterious Yet So Cathartic
Outer Wilds
I’m kicking this list off with what is easily one of the best indie titles you’ll ever get to experience.Outer Wildsis perfect for this list because it is an open-world game that doesn’t have combat and allows you to have creative freedom with how you tackle its world.
Although the slightly cumbersome gameplay might take some time getting used to, and you might lose your directional bearings, the game will equally reward you with moments of serenity should you choose to unravel themystery behind its time-loop-trappedsolar system.
And when I say that you should jump into this game without looking up anything about it, you’d best believe that it’ll benefit you because Outerwilds' puzzles will end up having a heightened sense of curiosity and wonder if you manage to solve them.
9Spider-Man Remastered
To Become Greater
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
Insomniac’s glorious superhero adventure title may spark some debate aboutwhich is the better superhero gamebetween it and Rocksteady’s beloved franchise, but that’s besides the point of today’s discussion.
Marvel’s Spider-Manis easily one of the best games you can recommend to someone to get them into the open world genre, solely because of the short playtime and tightly packed pacing—well, besides those stealth sections with Mary Jane.
The open-world reimagining of New York is dense, even if the main stuff in it makes it a massive collect-a-thon on the surface. But hey, on the bright side, the fluid web-swinging makes everything extremely fun to explore, especially in the sequel, when you get more traversal options across the two boroughs.
8Borderlands 2
Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked
Borderlands 2
Just wanted to let you know that this one might be subjective, depending on whether you like shooters. But you’ll be thanking me for it because not only isBorderlands 2an excellent game to play with a buddy or two, but it’s also a great title to get to know about the open world genre, believe it or not.
10 Open World Games With Amazing Side Quests
These games have such immersive universes that the optional content ends up being just as good as the main campaign.
Borderlands 2 featuresa semi-open world structure, a pattern that you may’ve noticed in the games I’ve chosen for this list by now. Moreover, the FPS gunplay, combined with the lighthearted RPG elements, can easily teach someone the core mechanics behind build crafting.
The looter-shooter aspect can grow on you with the amount of different guns to use in cohesion with your Vault Hunter’s abilities, so much so that it can even lead to you getting a desire for games that deliver the power fantasy dopamine rush.
7Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor
All About The Nemesis System
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
I only recently became obsessed with Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, which even made me want to replayMiddle Earth: Shadow of Mordor. If you’re largely familiar with this game, then consider it another great entry point to get people into the open-world genre of video games.
It’s not just because ithandles the Ubisoft formula much betterthan their own titles, but also because it’s highly accessible to jump into. Although it does enhance the experience, you’re able to feasibly enjoy it without even watching the movies or even reading Tolkien’s books.
Furthermore, the highlight is how this game can introduce newcomers to the brilliance behind the Nemesis system’s ingenuity. This allowed the game’s AI to have a dynamic feel whenever you fought enemies and ultimately shifted the hierarchy system the next time you encountered them.
It’s also unfortunate that WB patented this system; otherwise, a multitude of talented developers could’ve done wonders with this idea. And if you experience this system yourself, you’ll realize just how game-changing it was for its time and still is.
6Sunset Overdrive
Gloriously Chaotic & Vibrant
Sunset Overdrive
As someone who has a soft spot for games that are just no filler and embody the idea of being dumb fun,Sunset Overdrivefelt like a dream to play, one whose remastered port would do wonders for its deserving recognition on modern-gen consoles.
The core gameplay loop is based around your chaotic antics in Sunset City as you take out the ravaging mutants, and what makes it so fun and accessible is how fast-paced everything is and (literally) on-rails. From wall-jumping, high-speed parkouring, and even riding actual rails, it has it all on the list.
It incentivizes a cycle of running and gunning your way through enemies while causing mass destruction with your given tools. And with how much of a massive grin I had on my face whilst initially playing it, you’re sure to get a morbid curiosity about other open-world games that allow for similar unfiltered joy once you’re done plowing through this game.
5Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
A Pirate’s Life For Me
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag (2013)
Assassin’s Creed 4is very near and dear to me during the times when I played it back-to-back on my Xbox 360. It’s only right that I recommend it as a game to introduce someone to the open-world genre. Don’t worry; there’s more to it besides personal novelty.
Black Flag’s naval gameplay allows you to sail across the vast Caribbean seas with a delicate balance between on-foot and ship exploration. The islands are filled with lush treasures, secrets, fauna, and sometimes fishing villages with their own activities.
10 Best Open World Games With Fun Puzzles
I love wandering around cluelessly for hours!
Although the series experienced a major decline later with the current RPG titles (in my opinion), that’s why I’ll forever adore this, along with the other golden age Assassin’s Creed titles. The naval combat and exploration are sure to impress anyone here. Oh, and you’ve got a badass yet endearing protagonist in Edward Kenway.
4Sleeping Dogs
I Fought The Law…
Sleeping Dogs
Speaking of favorites on the X360,Sleeping Dogsis another great game to get you immersed in the open world genre. It’s honestly one of the open-world games that I personally think strikes a fine balance between side content and main progression.
The sprawling city of Hong Kong is filled with a plethora of crime/police events, street racing events, fight clubs, and, oh, did I mention it has cockfight gambling? I wouldn’t even call it underrated, because it still has a massive cult-following even when its sequel projects were swept under the rug by Square Enix.
Even though I’m a dirty shill for the company’s other franchises, it’s still a resentment that I harbor to this day because the game is more than just a GTA clone, as it has satisfying brawler combat along with an undercover cop story filled with tense moments and comedic relief occasions to undercut it.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Fextralife Wiki
I know I mentioned how I’d be straying away from the mainstream titles, butRed Dead Redemption 2is truly a special game that got my non-gamer family members and close friends to try out some other medium-packaged open world titles, as well as some indies.
The Wild West world is intricately designed with tons of features andimmaculate detailsthat to this day seem ahead of its time. It honestly proves why Rockstar is one of the only developers who could ever make a blockbuster open world title, while others likeMindseye flop miserably on their backsto achieve a fraction of their praise.
Although the gameplay is pretty standard, if you give its rich yet slow narrative the proper attention, then I’m sure the whole journey riding alongside Arthur and the Van Der Linde gang will leave an everlasting mark on you, as it did for the rest of the world since its original release.
2Yakuza: Like a Dragon
From Zero to Hero
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
I’m sure I’ve gushed about my adoration for the series on my other lists at some point, with my co-workers referencing it in our conversations. But hey, laying down another love letter to Yakuza: Like a Dragon won’t hurt because let’s be real, to those who’ve played it—Ichiban deserves all of his flowers.
Yakuza 7 soft-rebooted the franchise to mold it into a turn-based JRPG, a risky yet bold approach that had a mixed reception from the community on initial reveal but ironically paved the way for it to become one of the most popular games next to Yakuza 0.
But what makes it a game that’ll make you an open-world fan, you ask? Sure, it’s got that typical 50+ hour RPG playtime, but that’s backed up by the sheer quality—a ton of mini-games, side activities and one of the most rollercoaster of video game narratives with a wholesome protagonist like Ichiban Kasuga at the helm of it.
I know some of the brawler gameplay fellow Yakuza fans might have mixed opinions on it, but I digress. The game is wonderfully panned across the cities of Ijincho in Yokohama and Kamurucho, making it the ideal setting that won’t overwhelm you with its size like other mainstream open world titles.
1Cyberpunk 2077
Never Fade Away
Cyberpunk 2077
Again, forgive me for bringing in another behemoth open world title to recommend for this list, but there’s a perfectly good reasoning here.Cyberpunk 2077is not just one of the best games to make you an open world fan,but also an RPG fanwith tons of other things to adore.
The beauty of Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t just the comeback it made from its original release; the game is filled with an array of memorable characters, side quests, and a dynamic main storyline that can get amplified thanks to the new endings introduced with the Phantom Liberty DLC on top of the existing ones.
Night City holds a special place in my heart for being one of the best-designed worlds in a video game that, even after several updates (which, funnily enough, end up breaking my dozens of mods), I’ll still joyously drive around the city for a good couple of hours and contemplate starting my third playthrough.
10 Best Semi-Open World Games
For players who want to explore, but not be overwhelmed by a world larger than the story.
