Open-World RPGs With The Best Questing

Key Takeaways

• Open-world RPGs offer immersive gameplay in diverse settings with rich side quests.
• Horizon Forbidden West: an action-packed adventure with stunning visuals and challenging enemies.
• Elden Ring: a successful open-world game with no hand-holding, rewarding exploration, and epic battles.

Open-world RPGs are some of the most successful and beloved video games of all time. These expansive settings offer hours of immersive gameplay in stunning large-scale locations. From sprawling cityscapes or post-apocalyptic wastelands to medieval towns and dense forests, these are games to get lost in.

Exploration is at the heart of the open-world RPG, where a simple side quest can lead to hours of fun. From traversing remote regions, meeting new NPCs, or discovering hidden secrets, these quests can make the open world feel alive. While side quests can sometimes feel pointless, they can also enrich the gaming experience. They can add further depth to characters and the world. These games are about adventuring and creating unique stories through the player’s choices and actions while exploring vast worlds filled with dangers and mysteries.

1 Horizon Forbidden West

A Colorful Action Epic

Horizon Forbidden West, the hit sequel to the 2017 game Horizon Zero Dawn, takes players to the far future, where the apocalypse has left the planet an overgrown ruin and where mechanical dinosaurs rule supreme. In the game, players control Aloy, as she ventures into the mysterious Forbidden West region.

Players have access to an assortment of weapons and tools, as well as various combat styles that can be upgraded and improved. From using trip wires and traps to melee, stealth, or ranged-focused attacks, players have a lot of freedom in how they take on the dangers of the world. Exploration is a big part of the game, with numerous NPCs sending Aloy out on side quests around the map. Horizon Forbidden West is an epic-scale game with stunning visuals, fluid movement, and challenging robotic enemies that will appeal to fans of action RPGs.

2 Dying Light 2: Stay Human

Survive The Zombie Apocalypse

The sequel to the 2015 zombie classic is set 22 years later in the fictional city of Harran. The THV virus has decimated the world’s population, with the few survivors living in small settlements. Players control Aiden Caldwell, who is searching for his missing sister in Villedor, one of the last major active cities. Dying Light 2 takes all the parkour action of the first game and turns it up a notch, with numerous weapons and abilities that can be upgraded and unlocked.

Players can explore the vast ruined city freely, helping different factions gain influence. Choosing one faction over another can change the city and how the inhabitants react to the player. Dying Light 2 is a fast-paced, free-roaming action RPG that will appeal to fans of the first game.

3 Cyberpunk 2077

Explore A Sprawling Cityscape

While Cyberpunk 2077 had a rough release, with numerous bugs and performance issues, it has since seen a resurgence in quality and acclaim. This futuristic open-world RPG allows players to explore the vibrant and dangerous metropolis of Night City, taking on the various gangs and lowlifes that inhabit its bustling world.

While the main story takes players into the very underbelly of the city, the game is filled with side quests, contracts, and random encounters that bring the virtual world to life. With an assortment of weapons, clothing options, and character classes available, each playthrough is a unique experience. While Cyberpunk doesn’t reach the industry-changing level of CD Project Red’s previous release, The Witcher 3, the game is a must-play for fans of action FPS and open-world exploration.

4 Outward

A Challenging Hidden Gem

Outward is an indie open-world RPG that challenges players with tough combat and survival mechanics. Players can explore various large regions, from the lush coastal mountains to dangerous swamps and burning deserts. There is little hand-holding in the game and no save points. Dying will often result in either being saved by an NPC or the player waking up somewhere else and needing to escape. The world map does not show the player’s location, meaning players must navigate by learning the region by sight.

Outward is a true adventure game where the world’s dangers can easily kill the player. There are many side quests to complete, locations to discover, and powerful magic to learn. While the game’s difficulty may put off some casual players, Outward is a hidden gem that will appeal to hardcore RPG fans.

5 Dragon’s Dogma 2

High-Fantasy Adventuring

In Dragon’s Dogma 2, players control a fully customizable character, known as the Arisen, as they navigate the world, its politics, and the legendary creatures inhabiting it. The game takes place in a vast land where two major kingdoms are at war.

In the game, the player can take on numerous quests, from hunting monsters to helping NPCs. How the player goes about each quest is up to them, with several options open to the player. Dragon’s Dogma 2 became a successful release, bringing the series to a wider audience. Fans of the Dragon Age and Elder Scrolls series should love this fantasy RPG that offers high adventure and epic battles.

6 Fallout 4

A Vast Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland

Fallout 4 is a large open-world RPG set in the irradiated remains of Boston. It follows a vault dweller who, after being frozen for 200 years, goes on a mission to find their kidnapped son. While this is the main story, Fallout 4 is filled with side missions and random encounters. From various factions vying for power to settlements regularly requiring help. The player is constantly busy, juggling multiple storylines as they navigate the post-apocalyptic setting.

Like all great open-world games, Fallout 4 rewards exploration. The map is huge, with numerous hidden locations filled with enemies and secrets. With hours of engaging content, Fallout 4 is still one of the best open-world RPGs around today. With the release of the successful TV adaptation, the Fallout series has become one of the most recognizable gaming franchises in the modern era.

7 Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake

The Definitive Version Of A Classic

Dragon Quest 3 is one of the most beloved JRPGs ever released and has already been remade several times. However, with the release of the HD-2D version, this genre classic has found an entirely new audience of modern gamers.

Dragon Quest 3 is set in a vibrant and colorful fantasy world where exploration is rewarded with hidden secrets and powerful loot. Players can explore the open world freely, with side quests around every corner. The stunning game world shines with color, and while new players may struggle with the challenging old-school turn-based combat, Dragon Quest 3 is a must-play for RPG fans looking for a taste of nostalgia.

8 Elden Ring

A New Era In Open World Gaming

While FromSoftware is no stranger to action RPGs, Elden Ring marks their first foray into the open-world game style. Elden Ring has been a landmark release for the studio, becoming their most successful game and firmly establishing them as an industry leader. The game is a stunning open-world experience where exploration is rewarded with secret locations and hidden regions.

Like in true FromSoftware fashion, players must work for their side quests. There are no mission markers or quest logs. However, some of Elden Ring’s best moments are found through talking to random NPCs and following their storylines. The game is all about adventure and discovery while defeating challenging bosses that will test the player’s skill. Elden Ring is one of the best recently released titles and is a must-play for fans of open-world games.

The Classic That Keeps Going

While first released in 2011, the fifth installment of the Elder Scrolls series has been kept alive by several remastered editions that have helped it retain its strong player base. Skyrim is an open-world RPG classic that brings fans to the snow-covered region filled with warring factions, roaming creatures, and hidden secrets.

The map is filled with unique locations. From large cities, forts, and camps to a host of smaller towns and villages, all with quests waiting to be discovered. The setting has a rich and varied history, with ancient ruins and temples hosting hidden stories and mysteries. Skyrim is one of the defining moments in open-world RPG history, with few games able to replicate its unique charm.

10 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A Living Breathing World

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was a landmark moment in open-world RPGs and set a new standard for the genre. Its huge map was filled with numerous enemies, locations, and secrets. One of the standout aspects of the game was the variety of quests on offer. From simple fetch quests, such as finding an NPC’s beloved goat, to fun monster-hunting contracts to major side stories that flesh out the setting and important characters.

Each massive region of the game has a distinctive history and landscape and contains numerous secrets. From hidden caves to haunted buildings, the game rewards exploration. The Witcher 3 is filled with quests completely optional from the main story. Each quest feels unique and a part of the world, rewarding players with valuable loot and memorable gaming moments.