By the 2010s, open-world games were already well-established. The world had seen Grand Theft Auto 3, Assassin’s Creed, and various other titles that placed you in a world to explore. Yet, during the 2010s, this genre continued to grow.
You started to see some traditionally linear series add more open-world elements. Some even fully committed to the concept. Also, plenty of new open-world series began to be established. It got to a point where it felt like there were several new iconic open-world games every year. Here are the best that each of those years had to offer.
The 2010s started off strong, with Red Dead Redemption released in the first year of the decade. In the game, you control former outlaw John Marston, who has to track down his old outlaw friends and deal with them for the Government.
As it’s set in the Old West, you roam around the world on a horse, and much of the map is open land. However, there are still interesting locations to discover, and exploration feels enjoyable. That said, the exceptional story and characters are the main reasons why this game is incredible.
Batman: Arkham is one of those series that started linear and became open-world. Arkham City was the first series to open things up and give you an entire map to explore. That map is the titular Arkham City, which is a section of Gotham that has been transformed into a place to contain some dangerous criminals. Batman places himself in there to find out the secrets behind the Arkham City project.
Along the way, there are plenty of side activities that allow you to take on some of Batman’s most iconic rogues. Grappling and gliding around the city while stopping these evildoers really makes you feel like Batman. Plus, the stellar voice acting and very entertaining combat make it a great game in general.
The world isn’t treated to many open-world games set in China, which is why Sleeping Dogs stands out. It’sset in Hong Kong, and you play as a Police Officer going undercover in the Triads.
Because of this premise, you have different activities to do in the world as either a cop or a Triad member. There is a great variety to them, but whatever you do, you will hope to get into some fights because the hand-to-hand combat in this game is slick and feels very satisfying. As for the city of Hong Kong, it contains several of the main landmarks, and the place looks beautiful.
The constant re-releases of Grand Theft Auto 5 have soured people on the game a bit. Yet, it remains one of the greatest open-world titles of its generation. Part of this comes from the game’s excellent writing, which is mainly showcased in the main story revolving around three criminals pulling scores and dealing with the Government.
Another appealing part of this game is the world itself. Los Santos is a warped version of LA. So, it contains some of the most iconic areas, such as Venice Beach, Hollywood Boulevard, and the Hollywood sign. Yet, they have all been altered a little for the game in terms of both name and look. All of those places and everywhere else on the game’s giant map are extremely detailed. You can notice all sorts of little things if you look closely while driving around the map.
No other open-world title released in 2014 is quite like Sunset Overdrive. In fact, no game of any year is really like Sunset Overdrive. It’s a unique experience, starting with its premise. Most of the residents of Sunset City have been transformed into orange, mutated monsters due to drinking a strange energy drink. Your character is one of the survivors and must find a way to get out of this place.
An energy drink being the cause of an apocalypse isn’t something you usually see in a game. The game’s combat is equally original. You are encouraged to be in perpetual motion while attacking your mutated enemies. This means running along walls, grinding rails, and basically doing anything that isn’t standing still. It’s all very creative.
While the first two games were solid, the third Witcher title is easilythe most well-known game in the series. This is because of its very impressive critical response. It deserves all the praise it gets, as it’s an outstanding open-world RPG. You primarily follow the adventures of Geralt, who is trying to find his adoptive daughter, Ciri, before the evil force known as The Wild Hunt can get their ghostly hands on her.
Along the way, you travel across a couple of large maps containing all sorts of fascinating locations and people. As Geralt is a Witcher, he slays monsters for a living, which comes in handy while roaming these lands. You will need to use these talents to defend yourself in this dangerous world. More importantly, though, you’re able to use these skills to make a bit of money by slaughtering the monsters people want to get rid of. Those monster contracts are just some of the many fantastic side quests in the game.
Yakuza was released in Japan in 2016 but not elsewhere until 2018.
Several ofthe best Yakuza gameswere released in the 2010s, including Yakuza 6. Like most of the others, it’s an open-world action-adventure game set in Japan. This one focuses on Kiryu coming out of prison to discover some interesting things going on with his adoptive daughter, Haruka. He must figure out what is really going down. It makes for a captivating narrative.
Between missions, you roam around two distinct districts in Japan. Both of them look beautiful and are filled with small details. However, you can’t always appreciate the sights, as you often get into fistfights with people on the street. This isn’t a bad thing, as it allows you to experience the game’s fluid and fast-paced combat, which is very enjoyable.
The Legend of Zelda had already established itself as one of the best gaming series ever by 2017. Yet, the bar was raised even further with Breath of the Wild. The game features an amnesiac Link who must save Princess Zelda and stop Ganon. So, the narrative isn’t very original for the series. However, pretty much everything else about the game is very creative.
You roam around Hyrule, finding all sorts of different things, from creatures to weapons to settlements. The place is a joy to explore. You can’t just take in the sights all the time, though. You have enemies to fight and puzzles to solve. To do those things, the game gives you the tools and allows you to experiment to see what works best.
It should’ve been very difficult to improve upon the first Red Dead Redemption, but Rockstar managed to do so with the prequel RDR2. Still set in the Old West, this one has you follow Arthur Morgan, who is a member of the Van Der Linde gang. The crew spends the game on the run, and it starts to impact their previously strong bond.
The storytelling, dialogue, and characters are all amazing. Yet, this is an open-world game, so exploration is important, too. Thankfully, the map you explore in this game is huge and filled with all sorts of secrets to find. As such, it’s a joy to ride around the map and see what other small interactions you’re able to find.
A unique open-world RPG named Disco Elysium was released in 2019. In this title, you control a hungover detective who can’t remember who he is. Along with figuring out his own identity, he must also solve a murder.
To do so, you need to travel around a stunning world that looks like it has come straight from an oil painting. The art style is beautiful and is part of what makes this game unique. Its uniqueness also comes from the lack of combat, which is rare for an RPG. Instead of swinging weapons, you solve issues through dialogue choices and skill checks. It’s a system that works and remains compelling throughout.
