7 Best Open-World Games If You Like Exploring Wilderness, Ranked

Open-world games can be extremely exciting, as they’re full of many possibilities that players can take advantage of, including interesting NPCs that will give them side quests. Some open-world titles allow players to build strong teams to take on their enemies, whereas others force them to face the music solo.

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Playing as a wizard in an open world environment gives players unlimited access to their spellcasting utensils in a rich and vibrant world.

Another great aspect of open-world games is that they have tons of romance options for players to explore and choose the NPC that they like the most. And, of course, there’s also significant exploration involved, which is often rewarded with valuable items. Here are some of the best open-world games to explore the wilderness.

7

No Man’s Sky

Endless Possibilities In A Massive Universe

Adventure

Action

Survival

Released

August 9, 2016

ESRB

T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood

• Quintillions of planets
• Harvesting resources is a key component of the game

No Man’s Sky is one of the best deep space exploration games of the last 10 years as it not only features many things for players to do and stay entertained, but also quintillions of procedurally generated planets, providing a different experience for everyone.

While progressing through the game, players will have the chance to explore the different planets available to them, harvesting resources and building their bases to survive inhospitable conditions. No Man’s Sky offers a different type of wilderness than what players are used to, but it’s still very rewarding to cover every corner of a specific location.

6

Subnautica

Planet 4546B Is As Dangerous As It Is Beautiful

Survival

Horror

Open-World

Science Fiction

Released

January 23, 2018

ESRB

E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language

• Dangerous marine creatures
• A vast world to explore

Subnautica is a great open-world title that pits players against insurmountable odds on an inhospitable planet full of dangerous marine creatures and other dangers. While this title did not have the development budget that AAA games do, it still manages to deliver a very interesting experience that will force players to think about their every move to survive.

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Throughout the game, players will get to explore the vastness of this wonderful world and even the ocean floor. Staying alert and keeping their eyes open is key, as there are many scary creatures in Subnautica lurking in the shadows.

5

Fallout 4

Exploring The Boston Commonwealth’s Wilderness Is Very Entertaining

Released

November 10, 2015

ESRB

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

• There are tons of barren areas in the game
• Exploring the Commonwealth is as fun as it is dangerous

In almost every depiction of post-apocalyptic worlds, the wilderness has taken over everything, including large settlements in massive cities. This is not the exception for Fallout 4, as it will put players in an inhospitable environment full of ruins of a society that’s long gone.

As would be expected in this kind of setting, exploring the wilderness can be very dangerous, as it’s full of mutants, ghouls, and even the lethal Deathclaw, which can kill careless players with a few swipes of its massive claws. Those who’ve already completed the story might want to check out some interesting ways to shake up their second Fallout 4 playthrough.

4

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The World Is Full Of Monsters, And Someone Has To Take Care Of Them

Released

May 19, 2015

ESRB

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

• The Continent and the Skellige Isles are vast
• Playing Gwent can also be very rewarding

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is not only the best installment in its series, but arguably, one of the best Open World RPGs set in a fantasy environment. Throughout the story, players will get to take on various different monsters, many of which are based on actual folklore.

The Continent and the Skellige Isles are extremely vast and full of dangers, so players will want to explore it to get the best experience possible and often be rewarded with valuable items and interesting interactions. Additionally, while it has nothing to do with exploring the wilderness, obtaining every card in the best Gwent decks in the The Witcher 3 and playing a few matches can also be great fun.

The Land Of Skyrim Is Home To Many Wonders

Skyrim

Released

November 11, 2011

ESRB

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

• The map in Skyrim is huge and fun to explore
• Dragons, Trolls and Vampires are just a few of the enemies players can encounter

The Elder Scrolls series has been around for a very long time. However, many players agree that The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is the best installment in the franchise due to how many main and side quests are available and the broad range of weapons and armor that they can take advantage of.

Although Skyrim was a bit limited by its time in terms of graphics and a few mechanics, it’s undeniable that traversing through the land of Skyrim is extremely interesting—especially the forest areas.

2

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

An Outstanding Addition To A World-Famous Franchise

Systems

Released

March 3, 2017

ESRB

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

• Many powerful weapons for Link to use
• Players can explore Hyrule in depth

The Legend of Zelda games are, undeniably, one of the cornerstones of both vintage and modern gaming, and this is further reinforced by the vastness of the map in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Not only do players get to explore the entirety of the Kingdom of Hyrule as they meet interesting NPCs, but it’s also possible to use various recipes to prepare foods that Link can use to boost his Stamina and other attributes.

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On top of this, there are also several incredible weapons in Breath of the Wild, which give players more options regarding how they want to play the game.

1

Red Dead Redemption 2

The Wilderness In The American Wild West Is Stunning

Released

October 26, 2018

ESRB

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

• Rockstar Games’ magnum opus
• Great game mechanics, whether it’s hunting, shooting, or horseback riding

Red Dead Redemption 2 is not only the best Western game of all time, but also, arguably, one of the best titles ever released in any genre. The story is compelling, the main and side quests are very interesting, and the combat mechanics are extremely fun, especially during shootouts where Arthur is greatly outnumbered.

One of the greatest things about this title is that it allows players to travel from one town or city to another on horseback, letting them take in the beauty of this fictional rendition of the American Wild West in the 19th century. Hunting is also a key mechanic of the game, so if players want to sit patiently in the wilderness waiting for their prey, they can do so while using some of the best weapons for hunting in Red Dead Redemption 2.

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Best Open-World Games If You Like Giant Open Cities To Explore, Ranked

Players who enjoy the wonder that comes with exploring large urban environments will love what the following open-world games have to offer.