The Best Open World Games Set in the Future

It can often seem as though open-world games are a dime a dozen these days, with new ones being released all the time. Most tend to take place in the present day, but there are also plenty of open-world games set in the past and a fair few that take place in the future.

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By  Tom Bowen

Most of the best open-world games that are set in the future tend to fall into two main categories: post-apocalyptic or science fiction. Their worlds are either bleak and dreary or drenched in neon, providing players with plenty of contrast to the one they know and love.

5 Death Stranding

Death Stranding Takes Place in the United States at Some Unknown Point in the Future

Despite the mountains of exposition that players are expected to navigate as they make their way through Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding, the game never actually reveals when its story takes place. With a little bit of napkin math, we can deduce that the main story probably plays out somewhere between the years 2050 and 2070, although we may never know this for sure.

In a lot of ways, it doesn't really matter, as Death Stranding doesn't place too much emphasis on the when and how of it all. Instead, Kojima chooses to focus on the importance of human connection and what it means to be alive: two concepts that the influential Japanese developer perfectly captures. The Social Strand system makes traversing the game's desolate open world a truly unique experience and one that's well worth checking out.

4 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Place in Prague in the Year 2029

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided' s open world may be a little on the small side, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in vibrancy. To be clear, the game's world is more faux-pen than open, with the narrative built around a central hub area based on Prague rather than one giant interconnected world. However, this arguably makes for a much more streamlined experience for players.

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The idea of bigger being better holds true for a lot of things, but map size isn't always one of them. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a great example of how quality can prevail over quantity, providing players with a densely populated playground in which to explore. The level of detail packed in is incredibly impressive and helps to enrich the game's story rather than distract from it.

3 Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West Takes Place in the Southwestern United States in the Year 3041

A lot of video games take place in the wake of some cataclysmic event, teasing their players with an idea of what the world may someday be like once civilization finally collapses. Most choose to focus on the period immediately after the apocalypse kicks in, but the Horizon games are set in a world where efforts to rebuild are already well underway.

From its beautiful locations to its fascinating lore, the series offers something that few other games can: a world in which flora and fauna have reclaimed the planet in humanity's absence, rather than one that's been destroyed by some huge explosion or deadly zombie outbreak. Aloy may not be all that interesting, but the futuristic world in which she resides definitely is.

2 Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout: New Vegas Takes Place in Las Vegas in the Year 2281

Fallout began life as a traditional RPG series with top-notch storytelling and wonderful world-building. Over time, though, the franchise has evolved into an open-world series with more of an emphasis placed on combat than role-playing. Thankfully, Fallout: New Vegas sits somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, allowing its players to enjoy the best of both worlds.

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As the name might suggest, the events of Fallout: New Vegas take place in what remains of Las Vegas in the year 2281. The writing is a cut above and the game is packed full of meaningful choices, making this a must-play for fans of the RPG genre. Players will need to think carefully about how they build their character, though, as they'll be limited to just 25 Perks at Level 50.

1 Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 Takes Place in Night City in the Year 2077

When it comes to open-world games with futuristic settings, they don't come much better than Cyberpunk 2077. Granted, the 2020 title got off to an incredibly rocky start, but now that it's all patched up, the experience on offer is truly breathtaking, as too are some of the awe-inspiring locations that players can find as they make their way around Night City.

It's difficult to pinpoint what it is exactly that makes Cyberpunk 2077 such a compelling game, as it excels in many areas. It could perhaps be argued that it's a combination of factors, which result in a living, breathing world that's able to draw players in and envelop them with its gritty realism and neon-soaked visuals. The future that the game paints is bleak and depressing; but it sure is nice to look at, and a lot of fun to explore.

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