Open world games are computer games in which players have a maximum of possibilities and freedom. This means that everyone can play their game the way they want to. Decisions and freedom of movement are not restricted. Everyone decides for themselves what to do when and which corner of the game world they want to explore. The course of the game is not bound to a fixed storyline – so in open world games you can develop freely and do exactly what you want. This article gives an overview of the best open world games.
Terraria
Terraria is one of the best bullets. Terraria comes from the developer studio Re-Logic and was released in 2011. The game is playable in both single and multiplayer. Those who know the classic Minecraft will also enjoy Terraria – because the game was inspired by it. However, there are also numerous differences to Minecraft.
Terraria offers many bosses and events. The bosses can be summoned again at any time by using a certain summoning item. So it’s no big deal if you don’t emerge victorious from a fight. In Terraria, you can fight the Queen Bee, the Empress of Light, the Destroyer or the Eye of Cthulhu, for example.
What else do you do in Terraria? During the day, you explore the area and mine raw materials such as iron, clay and wood. With these, you can construct buildings or make weapons. At night – similar to Minecraft – there are zombie attacks against which you have to defend yourself. But you should also be on your guard during the day: so-called slimes, which are small aggressive creatures, are out to get you.
Picture: Terraria was influenced by the classic Minecraft. Source: AdultsOnlyMinecraft via pixabay.com
The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim
A classic that also comes from 2011 is The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim. The game takes place 200 years after Oblivion, which is the predecessor to Skyrim. The Great King of the Rim of Heaven has been assassinated, so the province is now in a state of civil war. Players can discover this world at their own pace and interact with the various NPCs. The real goal is to solve the main quests of the storyline. In Skyrim, dark dungeons can be discovered, dragons and other creatures can be fought, and the character is always evolving. Thus it is a classic open world game.
Elden Ring
A true game novelty is Elden Ring, which was only released in 2022. George R. R. Martin, known as the author of the fantasy classic “Song of Ice and Fire”, was involved in the development. So you already know what to expect from Elden Ring: Lots of fantasy.
The prehistory of Elden Ring is essential for the further proceedings: It is about Queen Marika, whose children had seized the fragments of the mighty Elden Ring. Her children – all of them demigods – were corrupted as a result and triggered a terrible war. Players of Elden Ring must now somehow manage to command the power of the Elden Ring and become the mighty Elden Lord.
This open world game has turned the genre on its head. For in addition to the diverse possibilities, there is a very clear goal that players want to achieve. Nevertheless, the classic elements of the open world genre are also present: You can explore the game world without limits and the quests are only loosely intertwined.
Cyberpunk 2077
The game that gamers were most looking forward to in 2020 was Cyberpunk 2077. After a few disappointments regarding performance, most of the bugs have now been fixed and the gaming fun can continue.
Cyberpunk 2077 is a single player game that is not available in multiplayer. It combines the components of open world games with storytelling and a lot of action. Thus, it is not a typical open world game.
In the game, players slip into the role of V. He is an outlaw mercenary looking for the key to immortality. The game world is a dystopian megacity where new dangers lurk around every corner. As Polish game designer Stanislaw Swiecicki revealed in an interview, Cyberpunk 2077 is never about saving the world. It’s always about saving yourself.
Each player can experience their own personal story. After all, it is this story that makes the character what he or she is. Thus, every gamer is free to be whoever they want to be in the online world.
