Open-world games have remained popular among players and developers for decades. The idea of allowing players to get lost in a big open world has always been regarded as a key ingredient to a successful game. But with so many titles released in the genre, the competition has gotten tougher.

While some games carry on the same cliché sandbox-style open-world structure and nothing else catchier, some games offer a lot more than a world to explore.

With character-driven, interesting plots, plenty of options and areas to explore, customization, and enough variety to encourage replayability,

best open-world games to play this year and probably beyond.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild:

When we think of open-world games, the first series that comes to our minds is Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda series. And that is because it is one of the earliest games in the genre to get popular among players worldwide. Breath of the Wild was released in 2017 and set at the end of the Zelda series.

The players control Link, who has woken up from his hundred-year slumber and has lost his memory. He is tasked to save Princess Zelda and defeat Calamity Ganon before he destroys the world.

Breath of the Wild tops this list for a reason; the game was developed after careful consideration of the request of Zelda fans who wanted a larger world to explore. The development took five years, but the results are astonishing.

With its attention to detail, open-ended gameplay, and fantastic open-world design, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has gained universal praise as one of the best games of its genre.

2. Genshin Impact:

Released in September 2020, Genshin Impact is an award-winning open-world RPG. The core of its fame lies in the fact that the game offers amazing gameplay for FREE! While this fact alone is enough to invite players to try this game at least for once, its gameplay and design are so good that it never disappoints.

The storyline is no less interesting. It follows the character, Traveler, who has traveled across many worlds with their twin sibling before separating in Teyvat.

Traveler now travels in search of his lost sibling along with Paimon, a companion who gets involved in Teyvat’s national affairs.

Genshin Impact has won many awards including the Golden Joystick Award, and The Game Awards for three consecutive years.

3. Terraria:

Terraria is a sand-box style open-world game that offers not just the flexibility of its genre but also includes the components of traditional action games. The gameplay offers a unique experience and lets the player decide on both the destination and the course of the journey.

The tremendous amount of depth and scope along with a straightforward action style and sandbox world make an exclusive combination that lets the player glued to his seat.

In short, Terraria is a great option to explore if you enjoy a good ol’ sandbox-style open-world game.

4. Days Gone:

Days Gone is a third-person open-world action-adventure game that sets its players free in a post-apocalyptic world. You now have to use your weapons and stealth to save yourself from deadly cannibals.

Given its fantastic graphics and attention to detail, Days Gone is surely a title that should be enjoyed on a big screen and an HD display.

The immersive plot, stunning visual aspects, and open-world game environment will keep you trapped in the 36-hour gameplay without you even noticing.

Additionally, there is a rumor surrounding the release of a sequel of the title, which will allow multiplayer game mode.

Hopefully, as long as you have your internet connection in place, you’ll be able to enjoy this action-packed game with your friends online. So make sure you are connected with a reliable service like Kinetic Internet, beforehand.

5. Elden Ring:

Elden Ring is a popular name in the open-world genre. According to Statista, the global unit sales of this action open-world RPG have crossed 20 million units.

The game offers a fantastic storyline and has the quality to attach itself to your identity like a parasite. The game design is flexible enough to accommodate a variety of different styles.

So if your flexes are not up to continual dodge-rolling, just make a magical building and defeat your enemies from afar.

6. Eastward:

Last but not the least, if you are a classic Zelda fan, this title is a fantastic choice for you. While Eastward is built on a different perspective being a super linear game, the gameplay and storyline are Zelda-like. The graphics are influenced by Studio Ghibli and are gorgeous as can be expected.

Overall, it’s a wonderfully fun, linear take on the earlier “Zelda-type” games, with stunning visuals, and everything you could want from an indie open-world game.

Wrap-Up

Open-world games are fun as they offer players to wander around, question their game environment and learn about it as they progress. Above, we have mentioned some of the best titles in the open-world genre that we are sure any player would love to play.