The debate between realistic graphics vs. Colorful graphics has been plaguing all video game genres for decades, and open-world games are no exception. While it makes sense that most people would prefer to explore an expansive, open world that resembles real life (like Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption, for example), more fantastical and lighthearted adventures also have their place in this genre.
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These open-world games do offer a main story campaign to complete, but their settings are so immersive that exploration almost always takes priority.
Cel-shading has always been a blessing in disguise, as this animation/lighting technique has allowed numerous game studios to create games with more colorful and vibrant art styles. Fortunately, the open-world genre has benefited from it, as there are many high-quality titles out there that let players explore massive maps that were brought to life with cel-shaded graphics, and the following are the most notorious examples.
Borderlands 4
The Latest Entry In The Series Embraces Its Open-World Roots
Borderlands 4
- Released
- September 12, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
The entire Borderlands franchise is well-known for its stylistic, cel-shaded art style that helps it stand out from other first-person shooters on the market. But the older entries in the series are more semi-open-world, whereas the recent Borderlands 4 finally made the jump to a full open world, which was also one of its biggest selling points.
Despite some performance issues (especially on PC), the world of Kairos looks absolutely stunning and vibrant, both in its expansive locations and in its unique characters. Additionally, the more cartoony art style of Borderlands 4 goes perfectly with the series’ signature wacky sense of humor, which was toned down and polished from Borderlands 3 and resulted in a funnier and more palatable experience.
The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker
A Colorful Sea-Faring Adventure That Still Holds Up
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Released
- March 24, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda franchise never really had a realistic art style, but it wouldn’t utilize true cel-shaded graphics until the release of The Wind Waker in 2002. At the time, this artistic decision was highly controversial among fans who wanted the first sixth-generation entry in the series to be dark and gritty, and yet now this game is beloved by many, in part, due to its graphics.
The Wind Waker introduced a smaller and more stylized incarnation of Link that is now known as “Toon Link,” and he quickly became one of the most distinct and popular versions of the character. Gameplay-wise, a huge part of this game’s open world takes place in a vast ocean, and everything in it – from the water itself to the weird creatures residing in it – looks extremely charming. It’s worth pointing out that, even though The Wind Waker received an HD remaster in 2013, the graphics of the original GameCube version have aged very well.
Breath Of The Wild / Tears Of The Kingdom
The Wind Waker Influenced The Two Biggest Zelda Games Ever Made
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Despite the mild controversy, it’s clear that Nintendo liked the cel-shaded art style of The Wind Waker, as it would go on to implement it in multiple future titles, with one of the most famous ones being The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While the character designs in this game do have more realistic proportions, the entire Land of Hyrule was depicted with a vibrant and eye-grabbing art style.
With its addictive open-ended gameplay, Breath of the Wild revolutionized the modern open-world genre and inspired many games like it, but it also stood out from its contemporaries due to how beautiful all of its iconic locations looked. Its direct sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, borrowed the same cel-shaded art style and implemented it in a bigger and more ambitious world with more unique locations and new cool-looking characters. Both of these games are perfect for anybody who wants to experience a deep, open-world game with a distinct look.
Ultimate Spider-Man
One Of The Few Spidey Games That Actually Feels Like A Living Comic Book
Ultimate Spider-Man
- Released
- September 22, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Spider-Man games come in many shapes and forms, but many of them (especially the more recent ones) have used a more realistic art style. There are a few exceptions, however, of which the absolute best one is Ultimate Spider-Man, based on the comic book of the same name.
This game takes the fun and ambitious open-world gameplay of Spider-Man 2 but brings its world to life with an excellent cel-shaded art style that makes it look like something that jumped straight from the pages of the comic book. Not only does Spidey himself look great, but so do the game’s other playable character, Venom, and all the iconic villains they have to confront throughout the adventure, like Rhino or Carnage. This is one that all longtime Spider-Man fans should definitely try out at some point.
Okami
A Beautiful Adventure With An Art Style Inspired By Classic Japanese Paintings
Okami
- Released
- September 19, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
When it comes to video games that take full advantage of cel-shaded graphics, Okami is the first one that comes to most people’s minds, and for very good reason. This game is famous for having a beautiful and colorful art style that’s inspired by classic Japanese paintings, and it works extremely well.
Okami’s cel-shaded graphics and visual identity are a feast for the eyes, and everything and everyone in this ambitious action-adventure title – from the main character, Amaterasu, to all the terrifying monsters she has to fight — looks great, while also fitting perfectly within its story, tone, and theme. While the open-world map is not as expansive as more modern games, it still allows players to run around in a beautiful overworld while controlling a mythical white wolf, and that’s all that matters. Hopefully, its upcoming sequel will take a page from Breath of the Wild’s book and feature a more open-ended approach to its open-world gameplay.
One Piece: World Seeker
Perfectly Encapsulates The Bouncy Art Style Of The Original Manga/Anime
One Piece: World Seeker
- Released
- March 14, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Video games based on iconic anime/manga almost always use cel-shaded graphics to replicate the look of their source material. One Piece is well-known for having one of the most colorful and absurd art styles in the industry, and it has been repeatedly translated into many good-looking games, but One Piece: World Seeker is the only one that falls into the open-world genre.
Best One Piece Games, Ranked
From Musuo to lengthy JRPGs and even an open-world, the best One Piece games have a lot to offer fans of the manga and anime.
In this adventure, players take control of Monkey D. Luffy after he and his crew arrive at the mysterious Prison Island, and can use all of his iconic rubber-based abilities to explore an expansive map and fight all the powerful enemies and bosses that can be found in it. World Seeker is, without a doubt, the most ambitious One Piece game to date, and it does an excellent job at adapting the sense of adventure and wonder this series is known and loved for (despite some minor flaws). Needless to say, One Piece fans who also enjoy open-world video games need to check this one out.
Genshin Impact
An Open-World Gacha Game With A Distinct Anime-Like Art Style
Genshin Impact
- Released
- September 28, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action, Adventure, Gacha, Open-World
Genshin Impact is one of many games that were inspired by the popularity of Breath of the Wild, and it ended up being such a massive success that it basically changed the world of gacha games forever. Not only does it have a massive open-world that players can explore at their own leisure, but it also has a colorful art style that looks surprisingly beautiful for a free game. Additionally, subsequent updates added more unique locations that gave the world of Teyvat some much-needed variety.
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But, of course, Genshin Impact’s biggest selling point is its huge cast of playable characters that players will spend money trying to unlock, and its anime art style perfectly complements and elevates their striking designs. Newcomers should be aware of the fact that Genshin Impact is a free-to-play gacha game, and while players can definitely explore huge chunks of its open world without spending a single penny, they will eventually have to open their wallets if they don’t want to grind their characters’ levels for countless hours.
No More Heroes 3
Santa Destroy Never Looked So Good, Nor Felt So Alive
No More Heroes 3
- Released
- August 27, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Action
Visionary game director Suda51 is well-known for implementing unique and striking art styles in most of his games, with No More Heroes being one of the most famous examples. All the games in this series have colorful cel-shaded graphics that contrast with their raunchy sense of humor and their over-the-top violence, but the only one that actually feels like a true open-world experience is also the most recent: No More Heroes 3.
Previous No More Heroes titles were heavily criticized for having empty open worlds, so Suda51 clearly tried to rectify that in No More Heroes 3 by creating not one, not two, but six interconnected areas, all with their own themes and atmospheres. All of these areas can be explored quickly and efficiently with Travis Touchdown’s Demzamtiger motorcycle, and their respective maps are full of quirky characters to meet and various side-missions to complete, some of which bring some variety to the gameplay. Needless to say, the hardware of modern consoles has allowed Suda51 and his team to create the best-looking version of Santa Destroy to date, and hopefully, fans will get to explore it again in a future installment.
Best Anime Open-World Games, Ranked
These games do a fine job of blending anime aesthetics into the open-world format. Here are the best open-world anime games, ranked.