Bethesda’s Fallout 3 raised the bar for open-world games when it was initially released in 2008. The RPG engrossed players early on in the game when they left the vault for the first time and stepped foot into the huge post-apocalyptic world. The moment may not seem noteworthy to people picking up the game today, but at the time it was a monumental piece of gameplay that showed the gaming industry was ready to break through its linear walls and let players explore enormous maps.
Sadly, Fallout 3 doesn’t get the respect and acclaim that it deserves today, as the influx of open-world titles that followed have found ways to innovate and improve upon the game’s open-world formula, subsequently making Fallout 3 feel outdated. Fans of Fallout 3 are likely to enjoy the games on this list as many of them will have been influenced, either directly or indirectly, by Bethesda’s groundbreaking RPG.
10 Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas is an ideal choice to kick off this list, as it’s one of the first games that people point to as having improved upon Fallout 3‘s gameplay formula. Although Obsidian Entertainment’s 2010 game disappointed some players with its lack of visual improvements, it encapsulated them with the RPG’s increased focus on player choice.
Fallout: New Vegas is still considered to be one of the best examples of non-linear role-playing gameplay, as players are free to be as involved as they like in the storylines that center around the charismatic NPCs.
9 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
It may surprise some people that the aforementioned Fallout: New Vegas only received a Metascore of 84, which wasn’t even enough to earn Obsidian Entertainment bonuses for the game. Critical reviews aren’t necessarily indicative of whether every individual will enjoy a game of course, but Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain turned heads upon release with its whopping Metascore of 95 on Xbox One.
The considerable praise from critics was primarily aimed at the game’s stunning open-world. Not only did the game look impressive, but it also managed to make stealth gameplay work in an open-world environment, something that many games have struggled with in the past.
8 Death Stranding
One of the many reasons why Metal Gear Solid V is so impressive is that the development team, Kojima Productions, had to work on the game during high tensions between the top staff at their company and the game’s publishing company, Konami.
Success is the best revenge, as the saying goes, so Kojima Productions were likely determined to smash it out of the park with Death Stranding. The game was released to a mixed reception, as many players were disappointed by the amount of walking required, and by how difficult the seemingly simple task was. Those that got to grips with traversing the game’s bumpy landscapes, however, they were treated to one of gaming’s best story’s in recent memory.
7 Yakuza 0
Summarizing the story of the Yakuza games is far easier said than done, as it frequently goes from one extreme to another; one minute players will be trying to stay alive in the ultra-violent world of organized crime, and the next they’ll be in a park trying to offer advice to a dominatrix.
Yakuza 0 opts for a quality over quantity approach to its open-world, as although the maps are small, it crams tons into its space by making many of the shops and stores available to enter. Casinos, arcades, bowling alleys, karaoke bars, and much more are available to players looking for a break from the intensive and bizarre world of Yakuza 0.
6 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Bethesda’s latest entry in the critically acclaimed Elder Scrolls series is still considered to be the benchmark for all open-world RPGs, despite it now being, believe it or not, nearly 10 years since it initially hit stores.
Skyrim is still one of the most expansive, most well-designed, and quite simply one of the most enjoyable RPGs to play today. Bethesda perfected the art of creating a game that didn’t rely on an overarching story, as many players will have pumped thousands of hours into Skyrim without even coming close to finishing the main quest.
5 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
French company Ubisoft certainly has a knack for creating and changing franchises to suit what’s currently popular in the gaming industry. Rayman was created to compete with the platforming mascots of the 90s, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell were a major part of the PlayStation 2’s emphasis on realism and action, and Assassin’s Creed has carved a comfy spot in the modern open-world subgenre.
The Assassin’s Creed series went through a significant change itself recently, when Assassin’s Creed Origins took the franchise in a direction that was clearly influenced by CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3. The historically inspired games may not be considered amongst gaming’s elite, but they do offer solid, enjoyable experiences that will appeal to anyone looking for streamlined open-world gameplay.
4 Grand Theft Auto V
There probably aren’t too many gamers who haven’t tried Rockstar Games’ record-breaking Grand Theft Auto V yet, but it deserves to be mentioned nonetheless, especially because the recent disappointment over Cyberpunk 2077 has reminded players of how ahead of its time GTA V was.
Grand Theft Auto V hit the nail on the head of many key aspects of the open-world subgenre with its vast, densely populated map, excellent story, well-integrated online mode, and the incredible amount of scripted and non-scripted activities to partake in.
3 Red Dead Redemption 2
From one Rockstar game to another, Red Dead Redemption 2 did a great job of silencing frustrations over the lack of news about Grand Theft Auto VI. Fans of Rockstar Games were understandably disappointed over the company only releasing one new title for the eighth generation of consoles, though many of them were willing to let it slide once they played the groundbreaking Red Dead Redemption 2.
Along with the meticulously designed cities & towns and the incredible level of realism in the wildlife and weather effects, it was the game’s story that blew people away. Arthur Morgan has quickly become one of the most beloved anti-heroes in all of gaming, thanks to his wonderfully written and engrossing journey.
2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Released in 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt raised the bar for modern open-world games with its breathtaking environments, layered role-playing mechanics, and talented range of voice actors who bought the game to life.
The game does have some aspects that may frustrate fans of Fallout 3, particularly the significant amount of hand-holding, but it is still worth considering for its extremely well-written and well-performed story and side quests alone.
1 Far Cry 3
The second Ubisoft franchise to appear on this list, Far Cry 3 has many significant differences to Fallout 3, particularly the tropical island setting, but it’s still an ideal choice for fans of the post-apocalyptic game with its first-person shooter similarities.
Moreover, Far Cry 3 will appeal to anyone who enjoys storytelling in games, largely thanks to the iconic antagonist Vaas. Far Cry 3‘s Vaas Montenegro has become one of gaming’s most beloved villains, which likely helped the character’s voice actor, Michael Mando, land a large role in the hit Netflix show Better Call Saul.
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