These Open-World RPGs are true 10/10, no notes

There is no shortage of it amazing open world RPG are released every year, but very few reach truly iconic status and enter the pantheon of the best of the best, universally loved by multiple generations of gamers. It usually takes more than simply repeating what we've already seen elsewhere on a larger scale with modern technology, so every truly iconic open-world RPG has its own unique hooks that ensure its lasting legacy.

Some games have set the bar so high that they've remained pretty much unmatched in the genre for years or even decades, with their reputations enduring to this day. From true narrative or exploration masterpieces to world-building kings or even RPG battle superstars, here are must-play open-world RPGs for the ages that undeniably deserve 10 out of 10.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Unrivaled in storytelling

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt stands as a truly outstanding achievement in the open world RPG genre; since then, no other game has managed to match the narrative power of this fantasy masterpiece. Its long, epic and branching story, where each new character or quest line is as complex as the last, together with a multi-regional world of rare beauty and a distinct feeling, instantly created The Witcher 3 a benchmark for the genre. Its iconic expansions, each the size of a full-fledged game, did the same for the entire industry.

As CD Projekt Red prepares for the next Witcher trilogy led by Ciri, it's not over yet too The Witcher 3. The coming one Songs from the past the expansion aims to tie both stories together, while keeping Geralt's final chapter even more enduring than it has been for the past decade.

Fallout: New Vegas

Unrivaled in RPG

The oldest game on this list, released nearly 16 years ago, is still cited by many fans as the ultimate Fall-out game, and it's hard to argue. While later entries such as Fallout 4 can be more flexible and rich in content for sandbox exploration, crafting and building, Fallout: New Vegas somehow captured the spirit of this universe perfectly. This is evident in how the game has affected Fall-out TV show, especially in season 2.

On top of that, Fallout: New Vegas is probably most The RPG of them all, offering countless opportunities to create and play as the wildest characters you can imagine, with NPCs, quests and the entire world around you reacting accordingly. While the technical aspect of New Vegas unsurprisingly seems pretty outdated to new players today, let's hope the game gets the remake treatment sooner rather than later as it deserves it no less than Oblivion.

Unrivaled in flexibility

Speaking of The Elder Scrollsit's still impossible not to include the true evergreen icon that is Skyrim on a list like this. It's truly amazing how tens of thousands of players still play the game (even though it's heavily modded, most likely) daily, but here we are. Having emerged as a true RPG blueprint with incredibly flexible potential that continues to be tailored to each fan's personal preferences by modders, Skyrim proves on its own that it's not the graphics or the technology that matter most to the genre, but things far more ethereal.

This is even more evident in how Bethesda has struggled to repeat its absolute magnum opus ever since, with both Fallout 4 and Starfield still obliged to live in its shadow. Skyrim has long become more than just a game for countless players, and it's safe to assume that it will remain so for years to come – at least until The Elder Scrolls 6.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Unparalleled in Immersion

The latest addition to the list of open world RPG masterpieces, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 takes several confident steps forward in every department compared to the AA original and emerges as a strong GOTY contender. As a result, many players agree with it KCD 2 represents this generation's ultimate medieval RPG, fully deserving of standing alongside titans The Witcher 3 or Skyrim.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is also easily the most immersive open-world game since Red Dead Redemption 2delivers its world with uncompromising detail and captures an authentic sense of everyday life. KCD 2 walks this fine line admirably, never resorting to unnecessary drudgery just for the sake of it, instead creating an absorbing RPG experience that allows you to truly embody your character, Henry of Skalitz, as very few titles have ever managed.

Cyberpunk 2077

Unsurpassed in the environment

These days, no one can deny CDPR's status as the modern kings of the RPG genre, as two of the company's latest games have received universal acclaim in the open world RPG space, even if it took Cyberpunk 2077 some time and work to get there. Despite very different settings, camera perspective and game feel, both of them The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 basically share the same strengths: mature themes, complex characters, and memorable hand-crafted quests etched into every player's memory.

While The Witcher 3 established itself as a real narrative powerhouse that even Cyberpunk 2077 couldn't match, the latter won extra points for its unique, richly realized setting of a city in the dark future. There's simply no other open-world RPG out there quite like it, so it's even more interesting to see what comes next for the franchise, which is still full of potential.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Unmatched in Vibrance

Assassin's Creed Odyssey is arguably not as acclaimed as the majority of titles on this list, but it represents one of Ubisoft's best efforts at delivering a true open-world RPG to remember. It's an enticing and epic journey that's a pure joy to play from start to finish, which can be both light-hearted and punchy when it matters. With a truly awe-inspiring world of ancient Greece ripe for land and sea exploration, accessible and flashy combat, and a range of activities and missions to undertake, the game provides an unforgettable experience.

Even several entries later it seems AC Odyssey is only becoming more appreciated, remains popular with open world RPG fans and even surpasses newer releases such as AC Valhalla and Shadows in active players. Additionally, the game shares neat connections with newer titles in the series through the enduring legacy of its protagonist, Kassandra, further reflecting the game's influential status throughout Assassin's Creed franchise.

Fire Ring

Unsurpassed in battle

The only standalone title on the list of true open-world RPG masterpieces, Fire Ring proving how difficult it is to match the long-established franchises in gaming today. Although technically a standalone game, Fire Ring capitalizes on everything FromSoftware has accomplished in its established genre for more than a decade, and feels like the perfect evolution of the soulful subgenre as a whole. With all of this, it's even more interesting to see where the studio goes from here.

In all respects, Fire Ring is an outstanding achievement, blending the best features of the open world formula with rich RPG potential – especially when it comes to character building and the countless ways to defeat every boss in the game. Combining refined combat and unparalleled depth of exploration with one of the most exciting fantasy universes ever created, Fire Ring is a true wonder and one of the biggest influences in the medium this generation.