Best Open-World Games With Rich Lore and Backstory, Ranked

Open-world games are full of fantastic possibilities for players, as they allow for tons of versatility in terms of attire, combat mechanics, and the overall narrative pathways that players can explore as they progress. Some titles focus more on the gameplay experience, whereas others explore a unique mythology that the developers behind them crafted to keep players interested.

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Whatever the case, open-world games are typically a great choice for players who want to escape their reality and be part of an exciting adventure that lasts a long time. Here are some of the best open-world games with rich lore and enticing backstories.

7

Cyberpunk 2077

There Are Decades Of Lore To Explain The State Players Find The World In

Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.
Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.
Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades. 
The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?

Released

December 10, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

• Many evil corporations had their origins in the late-20th century.
• The game’s dystopian society foundations are extensively covered in the lore

Although it had a rough start, Cyberpunk 2077 is now regarded by many to be one of the best futuristic open-world RPGs set in a dystopian society. The world players are introduced to is already in considerable decadence, with crime and gangs at every corner and criminal syndicates running society along with greedy corporations

There’s a ton of lore behind the world of Cyberpunk 2077, which explains the origins of the Arasaka Corporation and many other evils that are present in the decaying society players get to experience.

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6

Fallout 4

Even Before The Bombs Dropped, The Fallout Universe Was Vast

Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, invite you to the ambitious open world of Fallout 4. Do whatever you want in a massive Commonwealth with hundreds of locations, characters and quests.
As the sole survivor of Vault 111, only you can rebuild and determine the fate of the Wasteland. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone – the choices are yours.
From a Power Armor-toting soldier to the charismatic smooth-talker, be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character system and develop your own playstyle from hundreds of Perks.
Experience exciting first- or third-person combat with the dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., targeting enemies for maximum tactical advantage (and cinematic carnage!) Collect, upgrade and build thousands of items with Fallout 4’s crafting system. Weapons, armor, food and with the right materials, even entire settlements are possible. Welcome home.

Released

November 10, 2015

ESRB

M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS

• Players can still find traces of pre-war society in the wasteland
• The Fallout franchise has lots of rich lore

The Fallout franchise has been around for more than 25 years at the time of writing this article, which explains why and how it has such extensive lore. Regardless of the title they choose to explore, players will always find something new to learn about this dystopian universe.

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In the case of Fallout 4, there’s tons to learn about what happened before the bombs dropped, how society worked, and how some elements like the Mister Handy Robot companion came to be. While there’s not much left of the world before 2077 by the time the Sole Survivor awakens, some remnants of what used to be can still be found throughout the wasteland.

5

Horizon Zero Dawn

The Downfall Of Humanity Comes From An Interesting Source

Horizon Zero Dawn

EARTH IS OURS NO MORE

Experience Aloy’s entire legendary quest to unravel the mysteries of a world ruled by deadly Machines.

An outcast from her tribe, the young hunter fights to uncover her past, discover her destiny… and stop a catastrophic threat to the future.

Unleash devastating, tactical attacks against unique Machines and rival tribes as you explore an open world teeming with wildlife and danger.

Horizon Zero Dawn™ is a multi-award-winning action role-playing game – and this Complete Edition for PC includes the huge expansion The Frozen Wilds, featuring new lands, skills, weapons and Machines.

Systems

Released

February 28, 2017

ESRB

T for Teen – Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Violence

• Humanity once achieved great technological prowess, but that was also the cause of its downfall
• Several mechanical creatures populate the land

Horizon Zero Dawn is one of those games that are set in a futuristic dystopian society, yet still manage to present players with a colorful world that seems to be teeming with life—even if it’s not organic.

The backstory of this title is all about the hubris of the human race and how the search for superiority and the quest for power brought it down in the blink of an eye. As they explore, players can still find traces of pre-apocalypse technology, and even some human remains in the rubble.

4

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Conjunction Of The Spheres Changed Everything

You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.

PLAY AS A HIGHLY TRAINED MONSTER SLAYER FOR HIRE
Trained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.
Gruesomely destroy foes as a professional monster hunter armed with a range of upgradeable weapons, mutating potions, and combat magic. Hunt down a wide variety of exotic monsters, from savage beasts prowling mountain passes to cunning supernatural predators lurking in the shadowy back alleys of densely populated cities. Invest your rewards to upgrade your weaponry and buy custom armor, or spend them on horse races, card games, fist fighting, and other pleasures life brings.

EXPLORE A MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FANTASY OPEN WORLD
Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity. Traverse a fantastical open world: explore forgotten ruins, caves, and shipwrecks, trade with merchants and dwarven smiths in cities, and hunt across the open plains, mountains, and seas. Deal with treasonous generals, devious witches, and corrupt royalty to provide dark and dangerous services. Make choices that go beyond good & evil, and face their far-reaching consequences.

Released

May 19, 2015

ESRB

M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content

• The Conjunction of the Spheres merged the world of humans with other worlds
• Reading more about The Continent’s lore can answer many questions

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has some of the best lore of any fantasy game out there, as it not only touches on the origins of magic and the horrendous creatures that Geralt must hunt down, but it also explains where everything else came from.

The event that merged the world of humanity with that of monsters and elves is called the Conjunction of the Spheres, which happened roughly 1,500 years before the events that take place in the novel. This event alone is worth reading about and exploring, as it can answer many of players’ questions. Those who’ve already completed the game once might want to learn more about The Continent to shake up their second playthrough.

3

Red Dead Redemption 2

Lore Isn’t As Extensive, But The Narrative And The Original Red Dead Redemption Make Many Pieces Fit Together

America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.

Released

October 26, 2018

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

• The lore and backstory aren’t as extensive as in other games, but they’re still outstanding
• Playing both Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 can help answer many questions

Out of all the games on this list, Red Dead Redemption 2 has arguably the shortest lore and backstory. However, this doesn’t mean that what is available is bad. As a matter of fact, quite the opposite, which is why it made this ranking.

Although Red Dead Redemption 2 is actually a prequel to the original game, it helps answer many questions that players might have had for years and also builds on the story of Arthur, the Van der Linde gang, and many other important elements that make this amazing title one of the best open-worlds that focus on the law vs outlaws. .

2

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

The Kingdom Of Hyrule Holds Many Ancestral Secrets

Systems

Released

March 3, 2017

ESRB

E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes

• Outstanding open world design and game mechanics
• Many questions remain unanswered in the Kingdom of Hyrule

Ever since the first Legend of Zelda games came out in the late 20th century, the world the game is set in and the Kingdom of Hyrule have always had tons of surprises and backstory for players to explore.

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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is no exception, as, on top of having interesting game mechanics, a compelling narrative, and an overall great open-world design, it also reveals many exciting aspects about Hyrule. This, along with other aspects, such as the amazing weapons available, is why it’s considered to be one of the best Legend of Zelda games to date.

The Franchise Packs Tons Of Details That Fans Will Want To Read More About

Skyrim

Skyrim is a beloved game for a reason. There is so much to do in the game, and with the new anniversary updates, even veteran players will have a fresh experience if they haven’t played it in a few years. The modding community around the game is beyond active with some fans even using Skyrim’s foundations to rebuild previous entries into the Elder Scrolls series.

Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail. The Special Edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features like remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more.

Skyrim Special Edition also brings the power of Bethesda Game Studios Creations to PC and consoles. New quests, environments, characters, dialogue, armor, weapons and more – with Creations, there are no limits to what you can experience.

Released

November 11, 2011

ESRB

M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes

• Sheogorath appears in both Oblivion and Skyrim
• The Elder Scrolls franchise spans over 3 decades

Just like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls franchise spans a few decades, which has given it enough time for Bethesda to develop an interesting lore and backstory for many of the characters. Although The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is set roughly 200 years after the events of Oblivion, there are still many elements of its predecessor present.

The Daedric Prince of Madness, Sheogorath, is a perfect example of this, as he makes an appearance in both games. There are also many other deities present in Skyrim that have very interesting lore that fans of the franchise will want to explore. On top of this, the game also features some great Light Armor sets that can offer decent protection without sacrificing agility, many of which have interesting lore to them.

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