Top Best Open World PC Games
The open-world in games was invented a long time ago. And he almost immediately became one of the elements, the presence of which puts a computer game a step higher than competitors. Therefore, I decided to compile this material, in which I will mention, in my opinion, the best open-world games on the PC.
I’ll clarify right away that here attention will be paid to projects designed for a single passage. As a rule, MMO entertainment developers always try to provide fans with large-scale locations, albeit sometimes not completely open. Single projects are another matter entirely. Not only is it necessary to think over an interesting story in them, but also the world itself must be alive and atmospheric. Otherwise, what’s the point in having huge spaces that are simply not interesting to explore?
So let’s go. These are the top open-world PC games that I recommend you play.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The eponymous project, which is the end of the legendary fantasy trilogy based on the novels of the Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. The Witcher 3 tells the story of the adventures of Geralt, a witcher from Rivia who dedicated his life to fighting evil spirits. A valiant warrior with strong magical abilities travels the world and rescues people from witches, werewolves, and other creatures living in the night. And he is helped in this by the kind witch Yennefer, the faithful friend Triss, the witch-apprentice Ciri, and other iconic characters.
The world in the game is amazing. It is inhabited by people, monsters, and various magical creatures. Each NPC character that the protagonist meets on the way has its character and habits. The atmosphere is added by professional Russian-language voice acting from professional actors.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
This is a game that has won a bunch of awards and therefore is very deservedly included in the top open-world games. Skyrim has been ported to every possible platform, patched a million times, and overgrown with an incredible amount of custom modifications. But its huge and unrealistically beautiful world still attracts valiant travelers, even though almost 10 years have passed since the release of the project.
In this game, you play the role of a Dragonborn – a hero who is destined to save the world from dragons. Graceful reptiles have long conquered the sky and terrorized people and representatives of other races. And you need to free them all … Or don’t give a damn about the plot and live for your pleasure, opening more and more new lands for research.
Grand theft auto v
Probably, there is not a single gamer in the world who has not heard about this game. GTA V conquered millions of players’ hearts around the world, becoming, in fact, the standard of how a modern project should look that can captivate participants for long hours.
Aside from the cool multiplayer mode, solo players can also get tons of fun out of the campaign. In principle, few end up the main story in Avtovor, since on the way to the next task you can run into regular showdowns, a side quest, or a store that can be robbed. In short, in this world, you will find something to do.
Assassins Creed: origins
Ubisoft has always had a knack for creating fun open-world story games. “Origins” invites players to go on an exploration of Ancient Egypt, which hides many secrets. Everyone you meet along the way will be able to tell you something unique about yourself. And while the player is busy in the next battle, NPCs walk around the world, communicate, go to bed, and work during the day.
You won’t get bored in Assassins Creed: Origins. There are no barriers, you can freely travel to any location, if, of course, your level up to a certain level. Otherwise, you will simply be killed by high-level mobs who will not just stand there and wait while the valiant hero pokes them with his blade, dull from many battles. But, in any case, you should try (if you haven’t already) “Origins”, which are often included in the lists of the best free world games on PC.
Just Cause 3
The Just Cause game series can be treated in different ways (the plot in the game is rather controversial, as is the motivation of the hero). However, this does not negate the fact that, in terms of working out the surrounding world, the authors have tried 100 points. Rico Rodriguez here, and the truth, there is something to do, in addition to eliminating the next outpost with an army of slightly stupid, but very dangerous opponents.
In Just Cause 3, you can wreak havoc by crossing the available terrain from edge to edge. Nobody forbids using transport, and the proprietary hook-cat of the protagonist will become an incentive for you to constantly try more and more new tricks.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Would you like to know how the knights lived in ancient times? Then, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, which I included in my top of free world games, is right for you. After all, it is this game that will demonstrate “from” and “to” all the hardships that untrained recruits went through, who want to leave their mark in history and become valiant husbands.
In the kingdom of Bohemia and the surrounding area, players were asked not only to complete tasks, but to make new acquaintances, build their reputation, monitor the physical characteristics of the character, and, of course, hone their fighting skills. Step by step, discovering new areas, you traveled through iconic historical sites, implemented in the game with amazing accuracy.
Far cry 5
Another, so to speak, controversial product. But I decided to mention it anyway, despite the notoriously drawn-out plot and rather annoying gameplay. After all, again, Ubisoft knows how to make open worlds and fill them with life. In Far Cry 5, there are not only outposts for clearing but also places with various side quests, collectibles, and, simply, quite picturesque landscapes. Bandits are constantly rolling along the roads, with whom you can fight, or you can bypass. A bunch of weapons, an interesting story, and, of course, a cool song as a companion! Already for it, the game can be included in the top of the best open-world games 🙂
Dying light
The plot in Dying Light is quite simple, you just need to escape alive from the city overrun by the dead. The country’s government has already put an end to all the inhabitants, but you will not put up with the inevitability.
A feature of the open world of the game is that you can move around it, both horizontally and vertically. The parkour system is something that the developers are especially proud of. And there is also a dynamic change of day and night, and when the sun goes down, you certainly better not appear on the street.
Death stranding
It is an extremely underrated game with a very interesting storyline. Hideo Kojima attracted a lot of Hollywood stars to his project and was able to realize a truly unique idea. Of course, he did not become the founder of the genre “Exit of Death”, but he brought something new to the industry.
The game’s huge open-world is worth noting for its dynamic weather effects and liveliness. Something constantly happens in it, the terrain is extremely rugged, and in it, now and then, the landscape changes. It is interesting to navigate through it, albeit the main feature is the plot message and professional cut-scenes.
Yakuza kiwami 2
If you are interested in Japan, then you can study it not only through textbooks. Yakuza Kiwami 2, which with a light heart I include in the top of the best open-world games on PC, the land of the rising sun is presented in all its glory. Here you will find colorful shops, ramen cafes, love hotels, and many other themed and not-so-great establishments. The main character can visit many places of entertainment, revealing plot details or completing side quests.
All in all, Yakuza Kiwami 2 provides a great opportunity to wander the streets of Tokyo and discover how the Japanese live. Colorful – this word best reflects the general impressions of exploring locations.
Red dead redemption 2
The authors of GTA V could not lose face when developing their next project. Therefore, they created an even more impressive world, albeit in a slightly different setting. This time we are talking about the Wild West, where everything is decided, as usual, over a shot of tequila or in a good old firefight at noon.
Arthur Morgan – the main acting character of RDR2 – travels across locations, visiting many interesting places. Here you can rob banks and trains, lasso horses, look for collectibles, and complete interesting quests. While walking, you can easily stumble upon a random event or find a hidden Easter egg, which the developers love so much.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
This project was the last collaboration Kojima performed under the Konami banner. So MGS5, which I included in this top open-world PC game, deserves your attention.
Snake’s new adventures begin with a sad note. He joins the Diamond Dogs organization, which operates worldwide. You have to defeat several camps of XOF mercenaries, gaining the trust of new partners.
Mad max
It is believed that, since the apocalypse occurred in the game, then nothing was left in the world. But, here, Mad Max proves the opposite, it is very lively and interesting here. True, it is insanely dangerous, since, with the disappearance of the old regime, law and order passed into the hands of the strongest. And they, as usual, will not reckon with just anyone.
In general, this world is cruel. Yes, it is open and you can navigate it in your cool car made of scrap metal and other trash. Wasteland dwellers are in an endless struggle for valuable resources, and you have to take a direct part in this war.
Mafia 2
The Mafia video game series claimed to be the spiritual successor to GTA. And the second part absorbed the best of the sequel but was devoid of the sequel’s drawbacks, which the fans did not like so much. What can I say, everything was better before, and therefore the project, in my humble opinion, deserves the full right to be at the top of the games on the PC with an open world and freedom of action.
Play Mafia 2 as a former military man and now a member of the criminal group Vito Scaletta. He needs to break through the steps of power to become a full member of the family. But within the family, not everyone is happy with such intentions, and other groups will constantly try to take away your territories. In general, there are many classes, you just need to take and do what your elders ask of you. They are still older …
Assassin’s creed odyssey
I think no one will be surprised that I will not miss the Odyssey. Slightly above there was already a mention of “Creed”, but then it was about Egypt. Now we have before us magnificent Greece with all its ancient monuments to the gods of Olympus, great heroes, philosophers, and thinkers.
In general, in this game, we have to do the already familiar thing – to save the world and fight the bad guys. All this is diluted with interesting tasks and cinematic storytelling. We are also invited to take part in many large-scale battles on the side of Sparta or Athens. Here you can write your personal heroic story, as well as meet the legendary personalities of those times.
The forest
The plane crash caused the main character to find himself in this frightening place. During the day, the forest lives its own life and is filled with colors, but with the sunset, it turns into a branch of hell on Earth. After all, bloodthirsty man-eating savages crawl out of their caves, for whom you are just another victim.
The gameplay in The Forest is built around survival. You need to monitor the main indicators of the hero’s vital functions and try to survive by building a shelter for yourself, until the sun disappeared behind the horizon.
Forza Horizon 4
In addition to the realistic mechanics of driving different cars, in Forza Horizon 4, the developers paid great attention to creating an incredibly beautiful open world. You can move freely around it and interact with other players. The time of the year, as well as the time of day, is constantly changing here, which makes the car’s handling also more difficult (on slippery roads, covered with rain or snow) or simplified (in summer, when the grip on the road surface is optimal). In 2018, the game won several awards, including the title of the best racing project of the year.
STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl
The “exclusion zone” is a place that is fraught with mortal danger for an unprepared person. Only stalkers can move between anomalies in search of another valuable artifact. But even such experienced trackers sometimes have to sacrifice themselves, since Chernobyl does not give the right to make a mistake.
The world in the game “STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl” is built based on stories and fantasy about what radiation can cause to our planet. So far, a small piece of land, but in the future, a much larger territory may turn out to be “contaminated”. And before that happens, grab the nuts and go in search of relics. Oh yeah, don’t forget to grab the right barrel and don’t trust anyone, not even your eyesight.
Dragon age: origins
At the height of its fame, BioWare gave fans a lot of interesting projects. One of them was the cool RPG game Dragon Age: Origins, in which the elaborate fantasy world has become one of the strongest sides. Speaking on the side of good, we needed to become stronger to be able to stop the invasion of the creatures of darkness led by the Archdemon on the kingdoms of humans and non-humans in the future.
Dragon Age: Origins is a project that provided us with complete freedom in terms of moving around locations. We could explore the world around us, acquiring new skills and going from a beginner to a professional in the field of melee weapons, long-range and throwing projectiles, or the wisest of magicians.
Batman: Arkham city
Gloomy Gotham is a place where the cruelest and bloodthirsty maniacs took refuge. But there was also a place here for the defender of goodness and justice, who, however, cannot cope with all threats alone at once. Batman needs our help in solving the problem associated with the activities of the Joker, Penguin, Two-Face, and other psychopaths generated by the authors of the legendary comics about Bruce Wayne.
Batman: Arkham City gameplay is about moving around the world and completing tasks. We have to fight gangs of thugs, solve puzzles, and chase bosses with unique combat mechanics. In a word, everything that the Dark Knight does in his free time, so to speak, is from his main work.
Fallout: New Vegas
Perhaps the best representative of what is called “Folycha in 3D”. The main events of “New Vegas” unfold in the Mojave Wasteland, which is located next to the place that used to be called Las Vegas. Yeah, the very center of entertainment and debauchery, which more or less survived the nuclear war and subsequent years, when human civilization came to complete desolation.
Players travel across a shattered world and meet the survivors. We need to build a new world order on the ruins of an old civilization, helping one of the factions in the game in this. We follow the parameters of the hero, we fight with mutants and ordinary people and, as they say, we survive.
Borderlands 3
Not so long ago, the third numbered part of “Borda” was released, which did not surpass the previous ones in quality, but it certainly turned out to be no worse. Not the least role in this was played by the expansion of the game world, which is no longer limited to Pandora alone. No, we will also have to run on it, but there are also 4 more separate planets in the project.
In general, the gameplay is the same familiar to many Borderlands with non-stop action, tons of loot, and guns. We run through the wastelands, fight mutants and farm a useful (and not so) drop, for which we buy upgrades. We are confronted by two twins who (what a surprise) want to establish their power in the galaxy. They are, of course, very far from Handsome Jack, but the guys still turned out to be charismatic.
ATOM RPG
I singled ATOM RPG into the top games with the best open-world because the project was made, so to speak, in the spirit of an alternative USSR. At the end of the last century, according to the plot of the game between the Soviets and the United States, a nuclear war broke out, which destroyed the human race. Well, it almost destroyed it, because someone still had to survive to then lead the remnants of the community to new world order.
You are one of the representatives of a secret organization that was one of the few able to maintain a semblance of hierarchy and order. Completing the storyline and side quests, you have to walk through the ruins of European and Soviet cities, explore mysterious places and find out what needs to be done to make the planet come to life again.
The outer worlds
The outskirts of the galaxy are places that humanity wants to make their new home. You are the lucky one who got out of cryosleep earlier than others on your ship. And now you have to plunge into the research of available locations to find a drug that will save the rest of the crew from certain death.
True, you can, in general, score on the main plot and enjoy the freedom of action. Chat with the inhabitants of the planets and develop relationships with them, fight with representatives of alien races, and, in general, do whatever your heart desires. Well, of course, ideally, help humanity survive … You know, all these boring tasks to save the race, the position of the greatest hero, everything … It’s good that even though the worlds turned out to be alive and seamless, you can spend long hours and discover only a small fraction of the available content.
Final fantasy xv
I would like to finish compiling a list of the best open-world games on PC on one of the most beautiful projects of the past. Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition is a gorgeous fairy tale that combines elements of fantasy, fantasy, and modernity. The developers from SE even foresaw the presence of a special vehicle (hello Chocobo) that will help you cover the required distance faster since the locations are huge.
In general, the world in Final Fantasy XV is quite lively and beautiful. Something constantly happens in it, and the superbly designed protagonists only add atmosphere. In short, this project, in my opinion, is the standard of Japanese game development, which many other game companies should strive for when creating their best open-world games with a storyline.
I hope that my selection of the best open-world games will allow you to choose a couple or two projects for your liking for tonight. Play, explore and immerse yourself in the fairytale atmosphere that the developers give us in their legendary creations!
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