As the world experiences a major global pandemic that is forcing almost all of us to remain indoors, it’s not surprising to miss the experience of going outside. It only makes sense to search for other ways to fulfill our escapism needs, either through reading engrossing books, watching entertaining movies, or listening to good music. Of course, nothing else can beat the satisfaction of exploring miniaturized open worlds in video games, which are great sources of wonder in the midst of quarantine. If you are looking for your next great interactive adventure, here are some of the best open world games available to play now.
Rockstar Games has always been highly regarded for their masterful production of fully-realized open world titles, and this game is essentially the epitome of that. Red Dead Redemption 2 weaves an amazing narrative with deeply nuanced characters living in a dynamic and evolving open world set during the final days of the Wild West. As a sequel to the original, Red Dead 2 has upped the ante in terms of just about everything while keeping what made the series such a hit in the first place: a world that players can fully immerse themselves in.
Red Dead Redemption 2 tells the story of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw who is part of the Van Der Linde gang, one of the last great groups of outlaws in an America that’s in the beginnings of its modern age. Players will find that their need to explore can be fully sated here, as the in-game map features a fictionalized representation of the Western, Midwestern and Southern United States at the turn of a new century. This huge map is loaded with many sights to see and activities to do, and you can easily lose yourself for hours and hours if you’re not careful. Red Dead Redemption 2 is available to play on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Stadia.
This one should hit a bit closer to home thanks to the troubled times we are experiencing, and is sure to please those who still pine for the zombie genre. Days Gone is a look into a fictional post-apocalyptic Oregon after it has been hit with a global pandemic that killed most of the world’s population and turned millions into undead zombies. Days Gone works at its best when taken as an open-world survival title for zombie nuts to put their chops to the test, featuring a dynamic in-game map with an impressive weather and day-night cycle.
Days Gone’s narrative focuses on an outlaw-turned-drifter named Deacon St. John as he goes on a quest to find out if his wife Sarah is still alive, and find her if that’s the case. Although critics have cited Days Gone’s story as one of its weaker points, the narrative is still a decent companion piece to what is arguably the main attraction, which is the fictionalized Oregon. It’s fraught with danger at every turn, be it from the game’s ‘Freakers’ (this world’s name for zombies) or the many gangs that have formed out of desperation and need for survival. Players who love a good open world with tons of zombies in it will feel right at home with Days Gone, which is available exclusively on the PlayStation 4.
Depictions of the vast reaches of outer space have differed a lot in media, but if you want something that’s a little bit more lighthearted while still incredibly satisfying to explore, Astroneer might be worth a shot. Developed by System Era Softworks as their first title, Astroneer is a colorful and whimsical take on space and planetary exploration, with special focus on resource collection and base management. It’s the perfect open-world experience for those who want their Minecraft fix in space, with Astroneer’s in-game solar system boasting a multitude of different weather, day-night cycles and other important systems.
Astroneer features a very minimalistic story, letting players write out their own scenarios either solo or along with other players. That said, the game’s basic narrative follows a space program with the so-called ‘astroneers’ exploring a brand-new solar system. Besides the usual space stuff of diverse flora that may or may not be dangerous, as well as underground caves every few meters or so, the space program’s goal is to figure out the solar system’s greatest secrets – and it just may lie at the deepest part of the planets’ cores. Astroneer is a fantastic game for those looking for their planetary exploration fix, and it’s available to play on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Check out Player.One’s review of Astroneer here.
Ubisoft’s latest entry to their long-running Far Cry series was the fastest-selling and most controversial, but in spite of that it’s still a damn good open-world game. Far Cry 5 places its players deep in the heart of Hope County, a fictional region in the non-fictional state of Montana. Far Cry 5 is for players looking for a more action-oriented experience in their open-world titles, as the game’s first-person perspective bleeds gunfights left and right in its modern setting.
Story wise, Far Cry 5 revolves around a doomsday cult called Eden’s Gate, which has successfully taken over Hope County at the order of its powerful and charismatic leader, Joseph Seed. It’s the first game in the series to place players in the perspective of an unnamed character, a junior deputy sheriff who’s one of the last bastions of law and order in a region now fraught with religious extremists. Immediately after a short tutorial sequence, players can freely explore the entirety of Hope County and plan their missions accordingly. Far Cry 5 is available to play on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
A bigger open world to explore doesn’t necessarily mean it is better, and there is no better example than last year’s Outer Wilds, the biggest surprise of 2019. An independent title from a first-time developer, Outer Wilds takes its players on a rather personal and amazingly complex journey set in a compact solar system filled with rich backstories and lore. It’s a universe that has successfully merged proper exploration with a moving narrative, and is easily a shoe-in for one of the best games of 2019.
Outer Wilds takes place in a far-off solar system featuring a space-faring alien species with their own burgeoning space program. Players take on the role of an unnamed rookie astronaut as they try to uncover the mysteries of a civilization that came before them. However, before the astronaut becomes accustomed to space travel, a supernova happens and the solar system is vaporized, but not without a twist – the player rewinds back the events of the past 22 minutes in an endless loop, always ending in the death of the solar system’s sun. Using knowledge derived from past loops, the player must now uncover how to get out of this conundrum while figuring out the secrets of the solar system. Outer Wilds is available to play on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Check out Player.One’s review of Outer Wilds here.
So, what do you think? Which of these expansive open-world titles will you be picking up? Let us know and stay tuned for more recommendations from us for the best deals on the best things in gaming, from peripherals and hardware, to toys and various accessories.
