Summary
- Sea of Thieves offers a variety of professions, including ship combat, treasure hunting, and fishing activities.
- Red Dead Online allows players to become bounty hunters or run moonshine operations, along with other activities to earn money.
- Fable 2 gives players the opportunity to take on odd jobs like blacksmithing, woodcutting, and bartending to make extra money.
Open-world games are some of the most loved due to the freedom they give players. They can explore a vast world that is usually filled with an assortment of activities that don't just include the main story to keep them occupied.
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Besides the usual theme of being an adventurer, there are many other ways to spend time in these open worlds, such as the player being able to get a different profession to perhaps make some extra money on the side or even role-playing in some way. These are some of the best open-world games that let the player experience different professions, ranked.
8 Sea Of Thieves
There's A Lot More To Do At Sea Than Expected
Sea of Thieves
- Released
- March 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Rare
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
While Sea of Thieves may have players focusing on exploring the seas as pirates, there are technically still an assortment of professions to explore within this open-world title. Within Sea of Thieves, players can take on jobs from a variety of trading companies available that each have activities for the player to complete.
Those who enjoy Player vs. Player content may be intrigued to take on more work from the Reaper's Bones, which challenges the player to fight others in ship combat. Players can also go searching for buried treasure, which is commonly tasked by the Gold Hoarders, or even just simply go fishing, which has recently been made more viable for The Hunter's Call.
7 Red Dead Online
Various Legal And Illegal Lines Of Work
Red Dead Online
- Released
- May 14, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
Alongside the open-world multiplayer of Sea of Thieves, some players who are looking for an open-world experience where they can try out plenty of professions may also be intrigued by Red Dead Online. This was originally an online mode in Red Dead Redemption 2. However, due to the popularity of online modes, a player can purchase Red Dead Online separately.
After the player has created their very own outlaw for Red Dead Online, a player can take on plenty of different activities to make money. Two of the most popular professions of Red Dead Online have been becoming a Bounty Hunter to capture NPC outlaws or purchasing their own moonshine shack to make money through alcohol. There are plenty of other ways to spend time in Red Dead Online, too.
6 The Sims 3
Sims Can Start Different Jobs And Hobbies
The Sims 3
- Released
- June 2, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
Although The Sims 3 may not be the latest Sims game to be released, it is one of the best open-world simulation experiences for players looking to create an entirely new life for themselves. Even in the base game of The Sims 3, there are plenty of professions for players to get stuck into from a wide range of regular jobs as well as hobbies, which can be turned into another way to make money.
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With The Sims 3 also having plenty of expansion packs made for it over the years, a player may find that one of these DLCs may have another profession they have always wanted to explore, from those that are somewhat realistic to jobs that border on fantasy.
5 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Become More Than Just The Dragonborn
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
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Classics like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is another great open-world title that has plenty of professions for a player to get stuck into. Since Skyrim is an open-world RPG, there needs to be a lot of activities for the soon-to-be Dragonborn to do when they aren't attempting to save the world from Alduin. Like previous Elder Scrolls titles, this means players will likely encounter various factions, such as the notorious Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild, which each come with their own interesting side quests.
Alongside the new groups introduced with Skyrim, players can even make their own professions come to life through brewing potions or blacksmithing and then selling these to merchants. With so much in store for players that adventure in Skyrim, there is always something to do in the open world.
4 Kynseed
Start A Business Over Generations
Kynseed
- Released
- November 8, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Sims isn't the only open-world life sim that allows players to create a new life for themselves with plenty of profession options, as Kynseed is another open-world game that has intrigued a variety of players. Not only does this handcrafted 2D experience give players the means to create their own family and farm, but it also leads them to create their own business, too.
As players live across various generations, they can create a business of their choice, such as a general store, a blacksmith, or an apothecary. Crafting has its own interesting mini-games to add to the various professions a player can take part in with Kynseed.
3 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Alchemy And Blacksmithing Help To Earn Money
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Released
- February 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Warhorse Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
RPGs continue to be some of the best games with open worlds that provide players with an assortment of professions. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a perfect choice for any player looking for an open world to explore that also provides them with jobs that each have their own unique mechanics that make them rather entertaining to experience.
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Money is one of the most important things for players to collect outside the story in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and one of the easiest ways to achieve any cash is by taking part in activities such as blacksmithing or alchemy. Players may even wish to become thieves if they are looking for more illegitimate work.
2 Fantasy Life
Take Part In An Abundance Of Lives
Fantasy Life
- Released
- October 24, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Level-5
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Life Simulation
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 3DS
As the name of the game suggests, Fantasy Life is a classic Nintendo DS title that allows players to create an entirely new life for themselves in a fantasy world. With a total of twelve lives to experience, there is plenty to get stuck into with Fantasy Life, which encourages the player to try each one of them.
From lives that involve combat, such as Paladin and Magician, to lives that allow players to collect resources, such as Miner and Angler, these lives work together to allow the player to fend for themselves entirely. While Fantasy Life may be quite an old title, with the promise of The Girl Who Steals Time releasing soon, players can start an entirely new fantasy life for themselves.
1 Fable 2
Take Odd Jobs Alongside Being The Hero
Fable 2
- Released
- October 21, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Lionhead Studios
- Platform(s)
- Xbox 360
Out of all the open-world games released over the years, one of the best open-world games with an abundance of professions for players to enjoy is Fable 2. Being a hero is a thankless job in Fable 2, with players only making so much gold from being the hero – or the villain – of their story. Players who are hoping to afford customizable options or better equipment will need to take part in various jobs around Fable 2.
Like many other RPGs, one of the most popular jobs to complete is the Blacksmithing job. This requires the player to create an abundance of swords, and the more the player works, the better money they will make from completing the job. Besides this, players can even go and chop wood or pour drinks in the taverns around Fable 2 just to make some extra money. The arena is another great option, too.
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