Top 5 Best Designed Open-Worlds In Video Games

Elden Ring by FromSoftware is undoubtedly the most innovative and groundbreaking open-world game. The developers have taken the Dark Souls formula and enhanced it with a vast world for players to explore. The game's freedom is outstanding, and there is no interference from typical open-world hand-holding. The sense of discovery is unparalleled, even when compared to other games in the same genre.

Players are encouraged and rewarded for exploring the Lands Between, which is a diverse and breathtakingly beautiful map. The game features multiple biomes that are filled with dungeons, catacombs, weapons, armor, and bosses to conquer. There are also optional areas that require completing character quests or environmental puzzles to reveal.

While Elden Ring is challenging, it is typical of a souls-like game. However, players who are patient and persistent will be rewarded with a highly thought-provoking narrative and a unique open-world experience that is unlike any other game in the genre.

2. Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2, the wild west epic by Rockstar Games, is well-known to all open-world enthusiasts. This game is an immersive masterpiece that will capture players' attention throughout its extensive 50 to 60-hour-long campaign.

The game's narrative follows Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang, led by the infamous Dutch Van der Linde, as he navigates his life as a wanted outlaw. Although the story has a linear progression, players have numerous options in both the story and Arthur's life to personalize their experience.

With a moving tale of retribution, atonement, and sacrifice, Red Dead atonement 2 succeeds in storytelling. However, it doesn't stop there.

Red Dead Redemption 2's open-world action-adventure is one of the most captivating and graphically spectacular game worlds ever created. Players can lose themselves in the Old West's atmosphere for long hours since it is painstakingly recreated and breathtakingly gorgeous.

3. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The best thing about Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is its extraordinary sense of adventure and complete freedom. The immense landscape of Hyrule is immediately available to players and persistently ignites their inquisitiveness with perplexing landmarks, elaborate concealed puzzles, and chances to plunder enemy encampments for valuable items and armaments. The game's open-endedness is liberating since players can tackle anything at their own pace, and almost never feel compelled to follow the main path. What's even more impressive is how all the game's systems fit elegantly into a complex yet light survival game.

Breath of the Wild's main theme is the post-apocalyptic, untamed, and technologically fantastical realm of Hyrule. It is large, lovely, and features a variety of landscapes, from open fields to rocky alpine slopes.

But what sets it apart is its surprisingly realistic rules that let players achieve intuitive solutions that they might not have expected. The trees bear fruit, grass fields can be set ablaze, and even enemies and animals behave believably, responding skittishly or aggressively in the wild.

4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt by CD Projekt Red has raised the standard for open-world video games. Users can find something fascinating to uncover on every square inch of the map.

Players never know what they may come across while exploring the lovely game world, whether it be a legendary monster to hunt, new armor sets and weapons to find, or possibly a new side-quest with a narrative that can match entire main narratives in other games.

From the busy streets of Novigrad to the stunning lush fields of Toussaint in the Blood and Wine expansion, it is full of various and entirely diverse places to explore. With Geralt of Rivia's fascinating adventures, players will never run out of things to do or learn.

5. GTA V

The single player campaign is one of the best I ever played. The concept of playing three characters is a welcome addition to the GTA formula and absolutely pays off. As with all the previous GTA's the NPC are fantastic. I thought that Brucie from GTA IV was the craziest character ever, until Rockstar introduced Trevor in GTA V. Character and mission design are top notch. Also the level of detail of the game world is incredible. Too bad that Rockstar has never released any single player DLCs.

Now to GTA Online: The concept is amazing as well and the game is continuously updated with new content. I like the heists especially. The downside is that you definitely need other players for them and that it takes ages to find co-op partners especially for the heist set-up missions where money and reputation rewards are scarce. When you finally find enough players people often drop out in the middle of the mission which leads to an instant fail and you have to find another team. Not to mention all the player-killers in the open world and the long load times in general... However, if you happen to find decent people to play with or play with friends the game is an absolute blast.

>>> Read more: 5 GTA V Characters That Are Likely To Comeback In GTA 6