Summary
- Immaculately crafted open-world games are so absorbing that players find it agonizing to tear themselves away.
- Players invest hours in open-world games like Skyrim, Yakuza 0, and Cyberpunk 2077 due to immersive content.
- Engrossing stories, side quests, and open-world activities in games like Fallout: New Vegas keep players hooked for ages.
Gaming has the uncanny ability to absorb people like no other entertainment medium. It's very common for players to marvel at the sheer number of hours they've spent on their favorite video games, letting time fly by as they lose themselves in immersive fictional worlds.
This is especially true in the case of immaculately crafted open-world games that are in a class of their own. Players will love investing so much time in these games that they will find it downright agonizing to tear themselves away from these titles. Before they know it, players will have hundreds of hours invested in these games.
8 Best Open-World Games With Extensive End-Game Content, Ranked
These open-world games offer near-infinite playtime with content that goes beyond the main quests.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Exploring This Massive World Is A Riveting, Time-Consuming Affair
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
Skyrim is one of the best open-world games ever made, with this RPG's trappings making it downright impossible to put down for many fans. In fact, players will spend a ton of hours just finding and downloading curated mods for this title before even getting into the experience.
The Dragonborn's adventures are in a class of their own and will ensure that players will have a great time with everything this title has to offer. Exploring the Nordic lands and getting immersed in the game's many side adventures will ensure that players will spend a ton of hours in this title before even realizing how much time has passed.
Yakuza 0
The Sheer Amount Of Side Content Will Keep Players Occupied For Hours
Yakuza 0
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
Just like other modern Yakuza games, this prequel takes a while to show its full hand. However, once players become aware of everything that Yakuza 0 has to offer, the sheer amount of hours they can spend in this game is mind-boggling.
The side content is in a class of its own, with players loving the options of working in the telephone club, singing karaoke, racing pocket cars, managing a Cabaret Club, and investing in real estate. Along with all of this, there's a compelling main story that players won't want to leave on the back burner for too long because of how engrossing it is.
Cyberpunk 2077
A Captivating World With Engrossing Stories
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Cyberpunk 2077 took a while to earn its reputation as one of the best RPGs out there. After ironing out the bugs and glitches in this game, CD Projekt Red went to work adding a ton of extra content to wow the masses.
8 Open-World Games With The Best Level Design, Ranked
These open-world games know how to craft memorable levels that compel players to keep coming back for more.
Both the main story and side quests are incredible to make progress in. Players love the open-world activities in this game that don't overstay their welcome. All of this ensures that a single playthrough of Cyberpunk 2077 can take ages to complete, depending on how much players love the experience.
Elden Ring
Every FromSoftware Game Is A Hypnotic Affair, And This Is No Exception
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Elden Ring can be a tough title for FromSoftware newcomers. However, once they attain a grasp of the fundamentals and figure out the best way to gain levels and use their equipment to beat down bosses, players will have a great time exploring The Lands Between.
Combat is so scintillating that players will love slicing and smashing foes in their way, while the amazing design of the open world ensures that players are always nudged in the right direction instead of having to follow map markers. All of this makes Elden Ring an incredible time sink that players can get lost in.
Fallout: New Vegas
The Role-Playing Goodness Is Downright Absorbing
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The beauty of Fallout: New Vegas stems from the amazing role-playing mechanics of this title. Obsidian Entertainment knocked it out of the park with this incredible RPG where every nook and cranny hides something interesting.
Combining this brilliant role-playing with Bethesda's open-world formula makes for an addictive formula that fans can't stop imbibing. Once New Vegas grabs a player's attention, they can spend a disturbing amount of time engaging with this game's mechanics.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Arthur Morgan's Tale Never Ceases To Be Riveting
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
The story of Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the biggest reasons why this game is such a masterpiece. Along with this, the beautiful graphics, incredible open world, and cinematic gunfights ensure that players will never tire of Arthur Morgan's adventures.
The trappings of this world will keep players engaged for hours on end. From emotional conversations to incredible character writing, there's no shortage of things that will convince people to try out one final mission or explore one final location before bringing an end to their lengthy session.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Mastering The Mechanics And Exploring The World Is A Great Time
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
The tools that Nintendo gave players in Tears of the Kingdom are so fun to play with that it's possible for players to spend a ton of time in the Great Sky Island itself. This is just a taste of the sheer joy players can have in this incredible open-world game.
Exploring the surface world, the scattered Sky Islands, and the Depths is so riveting that players will be engrossed for hours on end. They'll hate taking a break from the game, especially if they've just discovered a secret or took down a tough foe that was giving them a rough time.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt's Adventures Will Keep Players On The Edge Of Their Seats
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the greatest video games ever made. Geralt's final adventure in the realm of video games is so fascinating that fans won't get enough of what this title has to offer.
Exploring the game's many gorgeous locations, experiencing the many incredible side quests in this title, and checking out the greatness present in the two DLCs make it clear why players will find it hard to tear themselves away from The Witcher 3 whenever they boot it up.
9 Best Sci-Fi Open-World Games
Open-world sci-fi games can be difficult to get right due to just how vast they can be, but these games manage to nail it.