The last five years have been quite uneven for Open world RPG fans. The rising costs of development and long production times for games of this magnitude, along with constant delays and the lack of new IPs due to the risks, have resulted in gamers getting about 2-3 notable titles each year. While some over-delivered, other highly anticipated titles proved to be quite divisive and launched with much less impact than expected. However, the not-so-distant future looks particularly promising, as many highly anticipated open-world RPGs are gearing up for release, including Fable and The Blood of Dawnwalker.
Before we fully focus on today's list topic, let's quickly establish our basic criteria to eliminate any confusion. There's a pretty broad definition among gamers of what an RPG actually means, so for this list the focus is on open-world games like prioritize growing and customizing your characterbut not only that. Deep progression as well some form of role-playing and player agency is a must. With all that out of the way, here's ours ranking of the best open-world RPGs released in the last five yearsor then 2022.
Considering how often I still get this exact comment, let me highlight it again Crimson Desert is not listed because it is not an RPG, but rather an action-adventure game described by developer Pearl Abyss.
5
Tainted Grail: The Fall Of Avalon
An AA Open-World Sleeper Hit worth discovering
The sleeping encounter no one saw coming, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon ended up being more impressive and more fun to play for many open-world RPG fans than anything produced in recent years by genre masters like BioWare, Bethesda, and Obsidian. Sure, it's an AA game that may lack some of the production value of the bigger titles below and the extensive polish even a year after launch, but the most important aspect, its true RPG heart and soul, is definitely there.
Due to its first-person camera perspective and a world based on the freedom to go anywhere, Tainted Grail is often compared to Skyrimwhich fans say is the closest thing you can find in the genre from this generation. The central story is also surprisingly strong and refreshing, with an original world and lore (a reworking of Arthurian legends) backing it all up. Coupled with tactical combat and rich character-building opportunities, this old-school RPG should not be overlooked despite some rubbish, and may well end up being your new personal obsession in the current relatively quiet summer gaming season.
4
Dragon's Dogma 2
Unafraid to approach each aspect in his own way
Dragon's Dogma 2 could definitely use a stronger opening act, with Capcom itself putting a spoke in the wheel with poor performance and an abundance of microtransactions on top. Not only that, the game feels and plays pretty much exactly like the original with a new coat of paint. It is not to undermine Dragon's Dogma 2's clear strengths, but rather to highlight how over time the game ended up in a much better condition thanks to major updates, a reduced price, and paid DLC removed. It's about to get even better in the coming months, like the massive one Darkness arises the expansion promises to breathe new life into the game with tons of new content. To put it simply, the best time to experience DD2 may still be ahead.
That's especially true given that Dragon's Dogma 2 is a truly special open-world RPG driven by exploration and combat, and it can be a pure joy to play once you accept the rules of its world. From fast travel restrictions to the hidden Dragonsplague mechanic and a surprise endgame twist, the game keeps its secrets close and reveals them to great effect if approached blindly (or not, as I've only spoiled a few of them). Combat is as strong as it gets in the genre, with each profession (class) feeling very different, and DD2s unique Pledge systems that work to their advantage by creating unscripted emergent game scenarios that you simply won't experience anywhere else.
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3
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Passion and ambition backed by enormous resources
In many respects, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is too much of a good thing. As the second chapter of FF7 remake trilogy, the game is so big and ambitious, and its world so full of things to see and do, that it requires a lot of dedication from its players to beat it. Many admit to being burned out by the sequel regardless of its strengths, which could indeed be a problem given that the third chapter, Revelationcomes out just three years later and seemingly shows no signs of dampening its scope and ambition.
With all that said, the passion behind the entire project is evident, and we rarely get this level of commitment from AAA teams, backed by Square Enix's vast resources to ensure that the modern version of FF7 lives up to the groundbreaking original. Rebirth is easily among the most emotional open-world RPGs of the generation, pulling the right strings at the right moments without feeling overly dependent on nostalgia. From graphics and combat to missions and mini-games, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is an admirable effort that can grab you and not let go for over a hundred hours.
2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
The definitive and uncompromising medieval RPG
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If the original was an ambitious but flawed attempt to do more than what Warhorse Studios was equipped for back in the day, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the same studio working at the height of its abilities, a truly uncompromising open-world RPG, which immediately put the developer on the map of modern genre masters. Because the studio is now working hard on both The Lord of the Rings Open world RPG and Liberation 3 (potentially named Salvation), all of this was made possible due to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's huge success in every respect, sets a new bar for immersive medieval RPGs for the most demanding fans of the genre.
KCD 2 is a story-rich, character-driven narrative RPG that shines whether approached for story content or just to calmly “live” your daily life in the compelling and reactive world of 15th-century Bohemia. One of the most admirable attempts to combine the best of two very different RPG styles, Liberation 2 strikes the perfect balance in its depth without being too alien, and offers a truly epic, sprawling story without losing its authenticity. At the end of the day, KCD 2 is more than worthy of standing among the definitive games of the current generation.
1
Fire Ring
An open world masterpiece for the ages
Praising this game almost feels boring at this point, since you already know everything about it. Ever since 2022, no other open world RPG has been able to touch Fire Ring in all its glory, achieving worldwide acclaim from critics and gamers alike, and standing as one of the biggest bestsellers of the PS5 generation – which is especially impressive considering it's a new IP. Some may prefer a more traditional character-driven story and argue that KCD 2 is the best in the genre this generation, but even for them, it's impossible to deny Fire Rings global impact.
Fire Ring captures everything a perfect open world RPG should be: a huge map ripe for hands-free exploration, flexible character building to bring your wildest ideas to life, combined with lore and world-building as strong as The Lord of the Rings one. I absolutely love Fire Ringbut it's time for the five-year-old king to be overthrown in his own genre. Despite how impossible it may still sound, hopefully the next few years will deliver open-world RPGs that are at least comparable to Hidetaka Miyazaki's greatest masterpiece to date, even if it's the master's next game.
