Sometimes you end up playing an open world game that Skyrim and just don't know what to do next. So many of these games have vivid, expansive worlds that immerse you and create a sense of grandeur, mystery, and discovery, which can feel like a loss when they're done. Other times, you're just not feeling the trip and want to move on to the next thing. If you're a fan of open world games, these have probably happened to you.
But it doesn't always have to be this way! With so many great games out in the world, it's easier than ever to find the next masterpiece to sink your teeth into. Maybe your next adventure is a newly released gaming phenomenon, or maybe it's one you've already tried but never quite got around to. From monster-laden wildernesses The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to the foreign oceans Subnauticahere are five open-world masterpieces that prove a game doesn't need a high completion percentage to be a must-have.
“Masterpieces” is subjective and maybe a bit of a stretch for some of these games, but we're basically just talking about great entries in the open-world genre.
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Dragon's Dogma 2
Scale your enemies for an advantage – and a nice view
Although in some ways a step back from its predecessor, Dragon's Dogma 2 is still a sprawling and ambitious open-world action RPG with countless secrets to find and things to do. The game puts a heavy focus on organic exploration, limiting fast travel quite a bit early on and forcing players to go directly to their destination.
The slower exploration and freeform dungeoneering is both immersive and rewarding for those who like to find every little secret in a world, but it can become boring for players who simply want to move from point A to point B. This would explain why fewer than 20 percent of players on Steam have reached the true end of the game, and why an even lower number of dungeons have found 2 to 8%).
Longest Open-World Game
Even the most sophisticated player will be confused by the sheer scale of these games. These are the open world games that take the longest to beat.
Still the feeling of adventure that you get from Dragon's Dogma 2 is almost unmatched. Your options as you explore feel endless, with different paths to take and treasures to find in every nook and cranny. This is further facilitated by one of the most free-form combat systems in an open-world game to date, and plenty of interesting enemies to test your moves on. You owe it to yourself to try it.
Avowed
Discover the vibrant secrets of the untamed living lands
Avowed
7/10
- Released
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February 18, 2025
IN Avowedplayers take on the role of the emissary, sent to the lands of the living to uncover the mystery of the Dreamscourge. While Avowed may not have the largest map of any open-world game on this list, it more than makes up for it with its plethora of unique and interesting dungeons and caves to explore.
The combat ranks among the best in an open world game, with different play styles and options at your disposal, and some great effects to keep things exciting, visually. Additionally, the quests are well written, and every aspect of the game helps to immerse the world of Eora as Avowed takes place in, which is shared with Pillar of Eternity game.
That's why it comes as such a surprise that just 22% of players have completed the game on Steam. It's not as if Avowed is a particularly long game, too, as completing the story only takes between 30-60 hours, depending on how thorough your exploration is – a much lighter experience than anything else on the list.
Don't let the game's association with Pillar of Eternity games discourage you from playing either. While familiarity with the universe can deepen your understanding of the world of Eora, it's certainly not necessary to fully understand this game in particular. Considering how drastically post-release updates have improved the core gameplay, it seems silly to dismiss this title.
Subnautica
There are many wonders to see as you descend into the depths
This game trades the open fields and mountain sides you find in many open world games for the vast, deep oceans of Planet 4546B. Forced to scavenge for resources to survive, the player will navigate dark trenches, build bases, and create diving equipment to get off the planet.
The steps to complete Subnautica are quite involved and require the completion of several endgame missions and advanced crafting. Combining this fact with the more grumpy nature of the back half of the game in general, progressing beyond random exploration can wear people down, as evidenced by the paltry 18.7% completion rate for the final story trophy.
There may also be other reasons for this lack of completion. While Subnautica isn't a particularly long game by open world standards, the 30-40 hours can feel much longer due to the inherently more stressful nature of the survival aspects. The threat of leviathans in the deep and the pressure to navigate these tight underwater spaces can take a toll.
Yet, Subnautica is also a game full of beauty. The atmosphere of swimming on an abandoned ship is unparalleled, and this atmosphere is further enhanced by its neat, tactile mechanics. Swimming through the vibrant reefs or lush kelp is a wonder to behold, and every note of ambient music you listen to along the way enhances the experience. Few games try to do what Subnautica do, and even fewer still succeed.
The 10 Greatest Open World Masterpieces of All Time, Ranked
Let's take a walk in the hall of fame of open world games and appreciate the greatest masterpieces of the genre of all time.
Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire
Sail the sea to confront a God
Although the first Pillar of Eternity was a more traditional CRPG, Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire shakes things up a bit by introducing an open world sailing mechanic. It is through this mechanic that players can freely explore the islands of the Deadfire Archipelago, take on missions, engage in combat, and turn against other sailors in ship-to-ship battles.
The variety of ways in which you can progress through a mission or engage with the world is staggering, but utterly fulfilling Killed can take upwards of 100 hours if you want to see everything, including the phenomenal DLC. Although it is quite short to do the main story alone, to get the most out of it Killed is a big commitment. The players seem to agree, given that only approx 17% of players on Steam have even reached the final confrontation at the end of the story.
The world of Eora is huge and after three separate titles (Pillar of Eternity, Pillars of Eternity 2and Avowed), is one of the most interesting and well-defined universes in gaming. Thanks to KilledWith its eclectic cast of characters, great dialogue, and great choices, it stands as one of the best CRPGs of all time.
The Witcher 3
Track the wild hunt on the road
CD Projekt Red's outstanding work is a true testament to how open-ended RPGs can deliver thoughtful, interesting stories and provide players with massive amounts of interesting and engaging content without compromising freedom. It's also a reflection of the reality that people often don't finish long games, even if they're some of the best ever!
Most players who have played The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt have not seen the end of Geralt's journey, nor have they seen what happens to Ciri when the game ends. On PlayStation, less than 30% of players have completed the main story regardless of difficulty. Steam numbers are still lower, with the achievement “Passed the Trial” being obtained by only 22% of players.
In their defense, The Witcher 3 is a massive game that provides hundreds of hours of content for players to work through, including two expansions that add up to dozens of hours of gameplay themselves. Even if players want to skip all the side content beyond the main story, a full walkthrough of The Witcher 3 can take up to 50 hours. To lower the main story like this would be doing the player a disservice, as it means missing out on some of the best side quests an open world game has delivered to date.
With such a vibrant and full world to explore, interesting characters to meet and terrifying monsters to face, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains not just one of the best open world games ever made, but one of the best games, period. If you haven't had a chance to play it, give it a try!
Free Open-World game with the best exploration
These free open world games offer large and beautiful open worlds, amazing exploration, tons of content; there is almost no catch.
