7 Best Open-World Games That Started As PC Exclusives

Key Takeaways

• Open-world games offer vast possibilities & versatility, catering to all genres.
• Some PC exclusives like Warframe grew to cover multiple platforms for broader reach.
• Games like Rust & The Forest challenge players with survival mechanics & strategic gameplay.

Open-world games offer players vast possibilities in amazingly large areas full of life, side quests, and many things to discover. No matter the topic, everything pairs well with this genre, thanks to its versatility. Given their sheer size, open worlds are typically designed to cover as many platforms as possible, but this isn’t always the case.

Sometimes, developers decide to keep certain titles exclusive to PC or release them first for that platform and then for consoles and mobile. In cases like these, console owners might feel a little left out, but this period also allows developers to iron out some details and patch a few bugs. Here are some of the best open-world games that started out as PC exclusives.

7 Warframe

An Action-packed Futuristic Title

• Players take on the role of members of the Tenno
• The game was released for the PlayStation 4 in the same year it was originally released for PC

As far as futuristic premises go, Warframe is definitely a strong entry, as it offers tons of action, a great story, and amazing character designs. When members of an ancient warrior race called the Tenno awaken after centuries of being in suspended animation, they will have to face different factions of enemies to survive.

While Warframe started as a PC exclusive, it was eventually released on many other platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and more, thus expanding its reach and garnering a considerable player base throughout the years. While the game isn’t always open-world, it does have some areas that fit the description, making it a valid entry for this list.

6 Rust

Survival At Its Finest

• Players must survive the many dangers they’ll encounter along the way
• There’s no shortage of options when it comes to survival approaches

Few games challenge players as much as Rust does. The main objective of this title is to survive the various threats players will encounter, which include other survivors, the environment, wildlife, and more. Resource gathering and management are critical to ensuring survival and victory, which makes this game very interesting to play from the get-go.

With a large variety of different weapons for players to take advantage of, there’s hardly ever a shortage of options to devise different survival strategies and tactics to beat the competition.

5 Elite Dangerous

A Vast Galaxy Waiting To Be Explored

• Three different factions are present in the game
• Elite Dangerous was first released for Windows and then for macOS

Set in the year 3300, Elite Dangerous starts players in a spaceship with a limited amount of money, surrounded by a vast open galaxy that they can explore. Players can engage in many activities, including, but not limited to, bounty hunting, exploration, mining, trading, piracy, and much more.

There are three major factions in the game: the Empire of Achenar, the Alliance of Independent Systems, and the Federation. Similar to other titles on this list, Elite Dangerous was first released on PC and then on consoles like the PlayStation 4, expanding its coverage and increasing its player base considerably.

4 The Forest

A Father Looking For His Son On An Island That Isn’t What It Seems

• Eric must look for his son on an apparently deserted island
• Players must craft tools and build shelters to survive

The Forest will have players take control of the main character, Eric LeBlanc, as he explores a deserted island in search of his son Timmy. However, this task will not be simple, as Eric will need to craft different weapons and other survival tools, as well as come up with various means of building shelters to face the weather of the island he finds himself stranded on.

Unfortunately for Eric and his son, they’re not alone on the island, as it’s also inhabited by cannibals and other creatures who pose an imminent risk to their lives. The Forest will force players to think strategically and let their survival instincts lead the way, which makes the experience very interesting. This title was released in 2018, first for PC and then for the PlayStation 4. Many people argue that this title isn’t an open-world per se, but rather a sandbox due to its characteristics. Whatever the case, The Forest is great fun and everyone should try it at least once.

Considered By Many To Be One Of The Best Installments In The Franchise

• Morrowind is set roughly 200 years before Skyrim
• The game was promptly released for consoles after its original PC release

Although there are many stories to explore in The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, the main focus of the game revolves around a triumvirate of godlike beings who are struggling against a former ally, unleashing chaos like never before. While Morrowind isn’t directly related to Skyrim since the events of the former take place 200 years before the events of the latter, it helped lay the foundations for what Skyrim would become.

While fans of The Elder Scrolls franchise had to wait less than two months to get the game on console after the PC release in 2002, the fact that it was a PC exclusive, even for a short period, makes it qualify for this list.

2 Minecraft

A Title That Revolutionized Gaming Forever

• Players must gather and manage resources, as well as build structures
• Over 174 million concurrent monthly players

When Minecraft was first released, many people were probably confused about the concept and the overall appearance of it. However, it wasn’t long before millions of players started joining in and helping set the gears in motion to make the game one of the most influential of the last 20 years.

While there are no real set goals when it comes to how Minecraft must be played, resource gathering and management are key, and so is building structures. Presently, it’s estimated that the game has around 174 million monthly active players, which is outstanding, especially considering that it was released more than a decade ago. Whether the upcoming movie will honor the game remains to be seen—all players can do in the meantime is keep building their worlds and having a blast while they wait for the answer.

1 World of Warcraft (Franchise)

The Vast World Of Azeroth Has Much To Discover

• Arguably the most popular online PC game ever made
• Multiple expansions and entries

World of Warcraft is arguably the most popular online game to date and has been so for almost two decades. When Blizzard Entertainment created this fantastic world, it probably wasn’t expecting the title to blow up as much as it did, but luckily, it all panned out and helped the studio make its mark on gaming history.

The World of Warcraft franchise has always been designed to be PC-centric. However, it’s now possible to play it on Xbox and get a smooth experience through Nvidia’s Cloud gaming platform, GeForce Now. That said, players report that having both an Nvidia GeForce Now subscription and a World of Warcraft one is necessary, so it represents a double expense in that regard.