5 best open-world RPGs of the 2010s

The 2010s were truly dominated by some of the best open-world role-playing games (RPGs) ever released. From true open-world RPGs like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to RPGs that didn't feature a true open world but emulated one, like Bloodborne and Monster Hunter World, the decade had a lot to offer.

Even open-world action-adventure games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild were two of the most successful games of the decade. Sure, they don't technically fall into the RPG category, but they have a lot of RPG elements that give them a similar vibe. Needless to say, the 2010s were dominated by incredible open-world and semi-open-world games, so let's take a look at five of the best open-world RPGs that came out between 2010 and 2019.

NieR: Automata Has a Beautiful Art Style & an Incredible Replayability Factor

NieR: Automata (2017) is an action RPG developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix. It acts as a sequel to Nier (2010), which was a spin-off of the Drakengard series. This beautiful game features a stunning art style that just makes players happy to look at it. It's elegant and fluid in a way that's hard to describe, but it's not just the beauty of the game that makes it so incredible. NieR: Automata is one of those games that breaks conventional rules, gets away with it, and makes it look easy.

NieR: Automata combines elements from many different genres of video games. It has everything from hack-and-slash combat to traditional RPG elements to a large, open-world map to explore. NieR: Automata is also purposefully designed to be played multiple times, with each new run showing off a completely new perspective that challenges everything the player knows about the game. NieR: Automata has a replayability factor that gives players a brand-new experience every time they play, and that's something truly special.

Fallout: New Vegas Is One of the Best Games in the Series

Fallout is one of the most infamous RPG franchises ever created, dating all the way back to Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game (1997). Fallout has a lot of incredible games in the series, but one of the best has to go to Fallout: New Vegas (2010). New Vegas received praise from critics and gamers for its purely choice-driven gameplay, which gives players the power to completely reshape the Mojave Wasteland. This game is so popular that a New Vegas remaster has officially been announced.

New Vegas features a massive open-world map where players can explore every inch of the Mojave Wasteland, from small settlements, deserts overrun with monsters, and even the remains of Las Vegas itself. The game gives the player full agency, from moral decisions and alliances to everything in between. New Vegas feels like a completely different game depending on the choices the player makes, as the Mojave Wasteland can be changed for the better, remain exactly the same, or become an even deadlier place.

Dragon Age: Inquisition Is a Political Masterpiece

Dragon Age is an interesting franchise because it's a cornerstone of classic-meets-modern fantasy RPGs. That said, every Dragon Age fan has a differing opinion about which game is the best, with Origins (2009) and Dragon Age II (2011) often competing for top spot. Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014) might be a controversial pick for the best Dragon Age game, but it's a truly unique experience that every RPG lover should have at least once.

Inquisition got a lot of praise for its massive open-world map that focuses on immersive exploration and beautiful scenery. Players will genuinely feel like they've entered the continent of Thedas as they roam around with their chosen companions. The game also features extremely satisfying real-time combat, but that's not even the star of the show. Inquisition is a deeply political game where players face moral dilemmas, political control, and even managing trade routes and security for specific regions. In Inquisition, it's not enough to be powerful; players must also be wise and be prepared to make the hard calls.

The World Is Your Oyster in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

When it comes to incredible open-world RPGs, it's hard to find a game better than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011). Skyrim is a gigantic game that tells countless stories through its open-world exploration. This game features a "you can go anywhere, see everything, and do anything" mentality, because the sky truly is the limit as far as Skyrim is concerned. If something exists in the game, the player can do it, no matter how ridiculous that something might be.

Many gamers call Skyrim the best open-world RPG ever created because of how much freedom it offers players. Some critics have called the main campaign into question, but that hasn't stopped millions of gamers from spending dozens and even hundreds of hours exploring the land of Skyrim. With thorough world quests, the ability to become a vampire or a werewolf, and the endless areas to explore, Skyrim is one of those games where players will always find something new.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Is the Perfect Open-World Action RPG

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) is a true staple in the action RPG space because it became the benchmark for every other action RPG that followed it. Players control a monster hunter named Geralt as he travels across the massive open-world known as "the Continent." The Continent draws inspiration from many different places, like Norse mythology and Slavic folklore, so it's rich with world-building that would put any other open-world RPG to shame.

There are so many incredible things about the Wild Hunt that make it a true revolutionary masterpiece. Geralt as a character, the main story, the moral dilemmas the player must face, and the lessons learned about what truly makes a monster are all part of this incredible package. Still, it's the open world that really helps the game shine. The Continent is so thorough, so detailed, and so reactive, that players will genuinely feel like they're traveling alongside Geralt himself. After 11 years, Wild Hunt is still the game to beat, and it's not done yet, because a new expansion is expected to hit the game in 2027.