The possibility of choosing which quests to do and being able to continue the main story at another time while focusing on exploration is one of the things that attracts the most attention in the best open-world games. This mechanic in games isn't exactly new, but it's been gaining a lot more fans these days with the popularity of games like Elden Ring and Genshin Impact.
In order to cater to lovers of this genre, we decided to create this article with the nine most beloved open-world games in history! With them, you'll be able to savor the taste of freedom characteristic of the genre like never before, in an experience that you'll definitely want to share with your friends! Let's see if your favorite game is among them?
Minecraft
Talking about the best open-world games without mentioning Minecraft is an almost impossible task. The game is one of the most beloved by gamer audiences of all ages and is considered one of the greatest references when it comes to games in this genre of map exploration in a freer way than others.
Here you can follow a fixed objective on your own, such as exploring mines and collecting diamonds, but you can also join friends on servers to create the most diverse things, from buildings to entire stories with a high level of complexity. The game is available for various platforms such as the Microsoft Store, Nintendo Switch and even for Android with prices ranging from R$ 34.80 to R$ 148.25, depending on the platform used.
Baldur's gate 3
Despite being best known for its turn-based RPG elements and D&D references, Baldur's Gate 3 features an exploration system that makes it one of the best open-world games today. The game, released in August 2023, won over a legion of fans in record time and almost everyone wants to play it or has played it.
In this title, the player will control a protagonist who has been kidnapped by an alien race that has implanted a parasite in his body. He and a group of other beings who have also experienced the same problem team up to save the planet from these invaders. Or their own skin. The game is full of options and each player's choice will directly affect the course of the story being told.
The price of this game isn't the friendliest of all and it doesn't have an online mode. However, according to specialized critics and the general public, it's worth spending the full R$ 199.90 ordered on Steam for the PC version or R$ 232.90 on the PlayStation website to experience one of the best open-world games ever made.
The Witcher 3
The Witcher franchise is already well known among gamers, who thrill to each new exciting chapter of this story. The third game in this saga, however, was the one that stood out the most to secure its place among the best open-world games. All the side quests and challenges proposed by the world the player is exploring seem just as well thought out as the main story elements and are well worth experiencing.
This title brings new adventures to the protagonist Geralt of Rivia, a legendary wizard who is embarking on a perilous journey through the Northern Kingdoms. The story can be experienced in a non-linear way and the player can explore the universe around them as much as they like. It is available for PC and PlayStation, costing R$ 129.99 at Steam and R$ 207.90 on the PlayStation Store.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
For many, many years Zelda fans have dreamed of a title like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to call their own. The games in the franchise always had a feel that went very well with the open-world mechanics, but it wasn't until 2017 with the release of this game that this really became a reality. To this day, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is considered one of the best open-world games of all time, with elements of exploration that few other titles have even come close to creating.
As the nineteenth entry in The Legend of Zelda franchise, the story revolves around the well-known protagonist Link, who ends up awakening in the also well-known city of Hyrule, but in a version devastated by evil forces. The city had been destroyed over the hundred years that Link spent asleep and his mission now is to recover his memories in order to restore his city and destroy all the evil caused by the great villain Calamity Ganon.
Despite being highly sought-after by lovers of the best open-world games ever, only those who own Nintendo consoles will be able to enjoy this title. It is available for Wii U and Nintendo Switch, costing R$ 299 on the Nintendo Store.
Far Cry 3
Talking about hunting animals in the open world and creating items in the same style may seem silly nowadays, but it was Far Cry 3 that innovated with these exploration mechanics at its launch in 2012. Ubisoft's game also outdid itself by featuring the story's great villain as its protagonist in an island setting that is far removed from any civilization.
Even though years have passed, Far Cry 3 remains one of the best open-world games ever released. The game used to have a multiplayer system, but it was removed after a few updates, with no plans to return. It is available for Windows, PlayStation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, costing around R$ 59.99 to obtain from their respective stores.
Shadow of the Colossus
Another classic among the best open-world games is Shadow of the Colossus, which, even though it was released in 2005, almost twenty years ago, continues to provide players with very up-to-date entertainment. The game takes great care with every detail and is considered a true work of art by critics, offering just the right amount of content for exploring the open world, never overdoing it or failing to offer enough.
In this game the player will have to experience an epic journey through ancient lands where they will have to search for giant creatures and fight against them. In addition to the battles, the player will also face challenges with puzzles that will make them think hard. It is available for PlayStation and can be found in the console store for R$ 99.50.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Another of the best open-world games that has made a positive impression on the gaming community is Red Dead Redemption 2. Since its release in 2018, the title has marked its players with immersive landscapes and the most diverse missions that are found during the exploration of the open world which is very well programmed and designed so that the content becomes almost infinite for its players.
In the main story, the player controls a gang member who lives in the old west of the United States in the year 1899. His name is Arthur Morgan and he joins a group to gather money and resources after participating in a robbery that went very wrong. Available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and PC, you'll find the game being sold in their respective stores for between R$ 248.90 and R$ 299.95.
Genshin Impact
Now, if it's a quality game that's free that you're looking for here, Genshin Impact might be the perfect choice among the best open-world games we're mentioning. The action RPG from Chinese company Hoyoverse has many elements reminiscent of Zelda mechanics, an open world full of quests and monsters to face and a main story that has been constantly expanding since its release in September 2020. All this with the best "anime" aesthetics for the otaku on duty.
In the plot, the player will have to experience the adventures of one of the main twins in the series who ends up lost in an unknown world after having his other brother kidnapped by an unknown entity. Your mission will be to travel nation after nation in search of clues to your twin and help the local citizens and gods with whatever they need in the meantime.
The game has a wide variety of in-app purchases, but it's free to download and none of the purchases have any direct impact on the game's progress, so it can be considered totally free. It's available for PC, PlayStation, Android and iOS, which makes it very accessible! It also has a cooperative multiplayer system, allowing you to play with your friends and assuming a very high position among open-world online games.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is undoubtedly the gold medal winner among the best open-world games ever released. Since its release in 2022, it has won over a legion of fans around the world with its interesting mechanics, captivating story and considerably difficult gameplay, as is typical of the company that released it, From Software, also responsible for Dark Souls.
The entire game has a mythology created for its world, which is vast and full of new discoveries at every turn of the map. The fantasy setting was created directly by the duo Hidetaka Miyazak and George R. R. Martin, the latter being responsible for the successful Game of Thrones franchise launched by HBO. You can find the game available for PC, Steam, Xbox series and PlayStation, with a price range from R$ 199.95 to R$ 299.90, a considerable price for one of the most popular open-world games.
Conclusion
Surely many other titles that could be considered the best open-world games ever created may have been left off this list and, to make it even more complete, we ask you to leave your suggestions for games in the comments! We also want to know if you've found your favorite game among those listed here, so feel free to let us know!
While you're here, why not also check out the article we created on the best games of the new generation? It might interest you too!
