SerpApi.Org
Open-world role-playing games are often cited as some of the most immersive and influential games in the world of video games. RPGs usually provide dozens or even hundreds of hours of content, multiple endings, character customization, and moral decisions the player has to make. These definitive traits make RPGs far more personal than a traditional story game ever could be, so, in a way, the player becomes the main playable character.
This list will take a close look at four popular open-world RPGs. Some of these offerings are action role-playing games, while others are more traditional RPGs, but they all have one thing in common: a massive and immersive world to explore. This list will also cover a few different genres, because RPGs can cross over into multiple genres with ease.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Functions On A "Go Anywhere, Do Anything" Ideology
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimis an action RPG developed and published by Bethesda, and it is arguably one of the greatest action RPGs ever made. Few RPGs are actually better than Skyrim, even after 15 years on the market. Some fans might point out a lackluster main campaign, but the sheer size of Skyrim makes the entire experience a feat in open-world gaming. Skyrim has a philosophy of allowing its players to go just about anywhere and do just about anything, so there is always something new to explore or discover.
Skyrim gives players a lot to bite off and even more to chew. There are so many side quests, it feels impossible to finish them all. Most of them aren't just filler quests, either, because they actively help progress your character further, or tell an engaging story that enhances the overall world state of the game. Players can become vampires, werewolves, join guilds, or become a professional assassin. The sky's the limit in Skyrim, and that's what makes the game so enticing to so many players.
The game takes place in the land of Skyrim, and it is a massive, continuous map that includes forests, cities, small towns, villages, caves, strongholds, dungeons, and so much more. The land of Skyrim is based on Scandinavia, and it is so immersive that it's easy to forget about the main objects and following the story. There are so many ways to explore the expansive map, from horseback riding, to walking, to paying for a fantasy-appropriate Uber. Players will never grow bored in a game like Skyrim, and if they do, they've probably sunken way too many hours into the game.
Cyberpunk 2077 Is A Truly Unique Action RPG With A Vast World
Cyberpunk 2077 is a bit of a controversial addition to this list because a lot of gamers love arguing that it's not actually an RPG. That said, Cyberpunk 2077 is 100% an action RPG where players control a customizable MC named V. Players have full control over how V looks and sounds, what background V comes from, and what abilities V has at their disposal to get through the game. What makes Cyberpunk 2077 such a unique experience is that, unlike most RPGs, which are fantasy or dark fantasy, Cyberpunk 2077 is a cyberpunk-inspired sci-fi game.
Cyberpunk 2077 takes place in Night City, a dystopian metropolis full of crime. In Night City, you can make it big as a "Corpo" or as a gang member, but peace more or less doesn't exist in Night City. It's an urban nightmare of a place and most average people who get stuck there simply can't afford to leave. Instead of magic or other traditional power sets from most RPGs, players get cyberware, which are augmentations that implant cybernetics into the human body.
Cyberware gives players access to truly unique functions, like hacking into security systems and even enemy cyberware. Players also have access to futuristic weapons built into the cyberware that amplify more traditional means of combat, like melee weapons and guns. The true shining beacon of Cyberpunk 2077, though, is Night City itself, because it's a huge neon city full of side quests, and so immersive, you'll truly feel like you're fearing for your life in every back alley.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Is Still An Unmatched Open-World Masterpiece
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is truly a game that needs no introduction. Before CD Projekt Red (CDPR) created Cyberpunk 2077, they released The Witcher series, with Wild Hunt being, by far, the best in the series. Wild Hunt became the gold standard for action RPGs overnight, and it's not surprising that many gamers still consider it to be one of the greatest games ever made. Wild Hunt isn't just one of the best fantasy games or RPGs out there, it's a heavy hitter across the board.
Players control Geralt of Rivia, a witcher who is hired to slay monsters. Witchers have special mutations, training, and a limited range of magic that allow them to go head-to-head with beasts that ordinary humans would never be able to fight. While The Witcher 3 does have plenty of epic monsters to battle, it also forces Geralt, and therefore the players, to confront what being a monster truly is. Sometimes it isn't the scary beast lurking in the woods, but your next-door neighbor, who would sooner sell you out than help you.
The Witcher 3 takes place on the Continent, a fantasy world that draws inspiration from Slavic folklore, Norse mythology, and Central European history. Players will be able to explore just about every inch of the Continent, giving them numerous side quests to complete, bounties to cash in on, and non-player characters (NPCs) to interact with. Wild Hunt has one of the most immersive video game open world maps ever created, which is why so many gamers still cite it as the best of the best more than a decade later.
