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The video game industry has grown tremendously since the turn of this decade, which saw us witness some extraordinary titles that pushed our imagination to the limits.
The number of open world games grew along with the industry and the last ten years brought some of the finest games in the entertainment industry, which have kept the player's engaged for several months. The abundance of the user choice along with the ability to influence the story based on the user's actions added a new dynamic that kept the players' wanting more from the open world, open narrative games.
The gaming industry has responded to the same and has given us some truly remarkable titles, which not only became a commercial success but also went to win numerous Game of the Year awards.
Let us not wait any longer and look closer at the top-10 open world games that you must play at least once in your lifetime.
#10 Mass Effect: Andromeda
After the hugely successful original Mass Effect trilogy, Bioware and EA latest instalment had big shoes to fill, and Mass Effect: Andromeda delivered on most fronts.
Set in the Andromeda Galaxy, the game follows the adventures of Ryder, whose task is to find habitable worlds for human settlements. For the first time, the game employs open world elements and executes it to perfection with massive explorable planets, giving rise to an epic space adventure.
Mass Effect: Andromeda brings in a host of changes to the combat system, giving preference to mobile combat to focus on the theme of exploration. Furthermore, this game is the largest in the Mass Effect series from the Bioware.
Upon its release, it received generally positive reviews with many praising its open world elements. However, quite a few were disappointed with the game's departure from its roots.
Mass Effect: Andromeda is available for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
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#9 Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Middle Earth: Shadow of War is a sequel to Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor and hit the stores in late 2017. Like its predecessor, the game is set between the events of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Shadow of War follows the adventures of the protagonist from the previous game and adds new features to encourage action role-playing experience for a more personalised experience.
The game plays from a third-person point-of-view in an open world environment and continues the narrative style seen in the previous game of the franchise. The expansion of the 'Nemesis system' in the Shadow of War, which allowed the player to recruit followers in the game, received a positive reception from players and pundits alike.
Middle Earth: Shadow of War is available for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. A companion app was also released for iOS and Android devices.
Also, read PS4 vs PS4 Slim: Which should you buy
#8 Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Developed by Ubisoft Quebec, Assassin's Creed Odyssey is the eleventh major instalment in the Assasin's Creed franchise and is a successor to 2017's Assassin's Creed Origins.
Set in year 431 BC, the game portrays a fictional history of the Peloponnesian war, with most of the game taking place in ancient Greece. Multiple endings, branching quests, emphasis on role-playing elements and the ability to chose male or female protagonist were seen as a refreshment to long-standing fans of the Assassin's Creed franchise. Also, the naval combat system makes a return to the series
The open world elements, story and the character development seen in the game received a positive reception from players, emphasising the added depth given to the game. However, not everyone was pleased with the microtransactions present in the game.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey was released worldwide in October 2018 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Also, read Top 5 Cheap Xbox One Games Available (Single Player)
#7 Far Cry 5
Launched in early 2018, Far Cry 5, became the fastest-selling title of the franchise, grossing over $300 million in the first week of its release. The open world design of the game, along with its visuals and sound design made it an instant success and received critical acclaim from both fans and pundits alike.
The fifth main instalment in the Far Cry series, the game takes place in a fictional region of Montana, USA. For the first time, the first-person shooter features the ability to allow the player to customise the character to their liking.
Recruitment system and the ability to tame wild animals make a comeback to Far Cry 5. The entire campaign could either be played solo and with the help of another player through the cooperative multiplayer mode. Also, unlike the previous games of the franchise, increased attention was paid to the non-weapon melee combat system.
Far Cry 5 is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows.
Also, read The 10 Best PS4 Games of All Time
#6 Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing game set in an open world environment. Coming from the makers of the Killzone franchise, the game received generally positive reception at its launch for its gameplay, visuals and voice acting. Since its launch, the game became a commercial success and secured multiple awards in the process. With its scale and scope, it soon became the best selling IP on the PlayStation 4 platform.
Set sometime in the future, the game revolves around the protagonist's adventure in the post-apocalyptic world controlled by robotic creatures. The world present in Horizon Zero Dawn is stunning and features a day-night cycle along with dynamic weather, making it a joy for players to wander endlessly across the lands of the post-apocalyptic world. Weapon modification, extensive dialogue options with the NPCs, levelling-up are some of the standards features that one comes across while exploring the world of Horizon Zero Dawn.
Horizon Zero Dawn is an exclusive title and is available for PlayStation 4.
Also, read PS4 vs Xbox One: 8 Point Comparison To Determine Which Console Is Better For You?
#5 Fallout 4
Fallout 4 is the fifth major instalment in the Fallout franchise and is set in a post-apocalyptic world.
Set in 2287, ten years after the events of Fallout 3, the action role-playing video game is set in an open world set in and around the city of Boston, which is ravaged by the catastrophic nuclear disaster that hit the United States some 200 years ago.
The plot is rather simple, as the protagonist who has woken up from a cryogenic stasis in a nuclear shelter sets out to find their missing child, after witnessing the murder of their spouse. Along with the features that one is used to seeing in the series, this game introduces an extensive crafting system, which has received critical acclaim from all fans of the franchise. Furthermore, it is the first game in the Fallout series that features full voice acting for the protagonist.
Fallout 4 sold over 12 million copies and made over $750 million on the day of its launch. It was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2015.
On a side note, players must also try the ever-popular Fallout 3 from Bethesda Game Studios.
Also, read 5 Best Offline PC Games You Can Play Without Using The Internet
#4 Grand Theft Auto V
Initially released in Septemeber 2013, Grand Theft Auto V is the fifth major instalment of the popular Grand Theft Auto series, successor to 2008's Grand Theft Auto IV. The game grossed over $1 billion in the first three days of its launch, becoming the best-selling entertainment product in the history.
Set in the fictional state of San Andreas, the game allows the player to control the lives of three protagonists and follow them in their criminal quests. Exploration along with NPC interaction is still seen in this massive open world game where the protagonist is controlled either with a third-person or first-person perspective.
The game and Rockstar Games received numerous awards, including a couple of Game of the Year awards. Often, the game is regarded as the greatest game of the seventh-generation consoles.
Grand Theft Auto V is available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Also, read Top 5 PC Games to Download for Windows 7
#3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Developed by CD Projekt Red, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a sequel to the 2011 game The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.
The game employs the familiar open world setting with a third-person perspective, along with moral ambiguity in the writing style, allowing better immersion of the players into the game. Player's choices during the game will affect the main story's ending.
The plot is rather simple as it follows the protagonist's search for his missing daughter from Wild Hunt. Set in a fantasy world, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt employs magic and weapons for combat and features extensive interaction with the NPCs to complete main and side quests to progress in the game.
Since its launch in 2015, the game received numerous Game of the Year awards amongst other accolades. Also, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the most awarded game in the history.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows.
Also, read Top 5 Free PS4 Games To Play In December 2018
#2 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is often regarded as one of the best games ever made. Despite being launched over seven years ago, the game is still close to many for they have so many fond memories of their adventures in the lands of Skyrim. The game received numerous RPG Game of the Year and Overall Game of the Year awards since its initial launch in 2011.
Set 200 years after the events of the Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim revolves around the protagonist's quest to defeat Aldiun dragon. Like the previous games of the series, the action role-playing game is playable from either first-person and third-person perspective and still employs the vastly popular open world elements that allow the player to either postpone or ignore the main story altogether.
The Elder Scrolls V is available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows. The remastered version of the game was launched in 2016 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
Also, read 7 Best Open World PC Games You Should Play At least Once
#1 Red Dead Redemption 2
Developed by Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the original released in 2010. The action role-playing game became an instant success since its launch and grossed over $725 million in the first three days.
The game employs most of the mechanics present in the previous game and fine-tunes them to make the western-themed open world adventure even more enjoyable. Unlike the original Red Dead Redemption, this instalment puts a heavy focus on decisions and player choices, which could ultimately affect the ending of the main story. For the first time, the game features item and weapon degradation along with enhanced interactions with the NPCs.
Red Dead Redemption 2 received positive reviews for its environment, sound design, visuals and the narrative. RDR 2 won the Critics Choice Award at the 2018 Golden Joystick Awards. Additionally, the game is nominated for eight categories at 2018 The Game Awards.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Also, read The 10 Best Open World Games on PS4
