Open-world games with magic systems aren’t as common as one may think beyond the big examples. There are games with magic that aren’t fully open-world, like Baldur's Gate 3, with tons of classes and characters all gifted in magic from the great depths of Dungeons & Dragons lore.
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While not exactly magic, the open-world Pokemon games, like Pokemon Legends: Z-A, have the titular Pokemon performing moves like Water Gun or Flamethrower that are like elemental spells. So, while those games don’t incorporate everything in an open-world RPG with magic, these games do. They will be ranked based on how good the magic is and the overall quality.
Cat Quest 2
Spellcasting Dogs And Cats
Cat Quest II
- Released
- September 24, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
Cat Quest 2 lets players swap between two different characters, a cat and a dog, or they can play a co-op campaign. In the beginning, players will get a starter fire and ice spell for their fuzzy heroes and can then learn and grow other spells as they visit vendors.
Players can explore the world map, fighting enemies along the way, or they can dive into dungeons. The spell and combat system is not that complex, and the overall game is meant more for a younger audience, but there’s no denying the charm in playing an open-world game with these swappable pets.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
A Mage Of All Vocations
Dragon's Dogma 2
- Released
- March 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Dragon’s Dogma 2 lets players choose a class, called a Vocation, and the basic set of starters includes an Archer, Fighter, Mage, or Thief. Vocations can evolve into Advanced or Hybrid classes, and a Mage evolutionary example is the Sorcerer. Mages have the advantage of most magic types that RPG fans should be familiar with.
They can cast offensive spells like fire, defensive spells to boost elemental resistance, imbue weapons with the elements, or heal party members. A Mage should definitely be in the party, but whether players should play as one is debatable, as Dragon’s Dogma 2 exceeded more as a melee-based action RPG.
Hogwarts Legacy
Back To Books
Hogwarts Legacy
- Released
- February 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter game fans dreamed about ever since the first game appeared on the PS1. It’s a magic open-world that is inviting to explore with many spells to learn from classes and quests, but they aren’t as varied as something more fantasy-based.
Players won’t be casting a large amount of elemental spells and will instead learn more practical magic, like the ability to lift objects. Wizards and Witches aren’t devoid of offensive magic in the game, and the spells available do make combat interesting, especially if players decide to learn some dark spells.
Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning
Enhancing Combat
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
- Released
- February 7, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Magic in Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a good accompaniment to the melee-based strikes players can create combos with in combat. Players could go full mage and focus on a wand weapon as well, but this game is better played as a melee RPG like Dragon’s Dogma 2.
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That said, the available spell list is nicely varied, and ending a combo with a sharp lightning strike or an earth-shattering split can make all the difference. Spellcasting area magic is also good for leveling the playing field if there is a larger number of monsters approaching. With no set classes, players are free to design their character how they like, from melee skills to spells.
Elden Ring
From Spells To Summons
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Elden Ring is another RPG without set classes, even though players do have to start out with a preexisting build. For magic enthusiasts, an Astrologer or a Confessor will give them a good bit of gear to start spellcasting on the double.
Using ranged weapons or spells is one of the easiest ways to stay alive in the game, as getting too close can often be dangerous for those bad at blocking or dodging attacks. Spells come in all forms, from attack magic to curative magic to summon spells, the latter of which are some of the strongest magic in Elden Ring.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
I Saw The Sign
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Players will switch between Geralt and Ciri in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with Geralt having the wider net of spells. Magical signs can be summoned to do everything from shoot blazing infernos to knocking enemies back with a gale force, and magic is the only form that can spruce up what is otherwise a normal hack-and-slash game.
Brewing potions is a good way to go into big hunts with advantages, which is another form of magic. All of Geralt’s upgrades are tied to skill trees, so players can decide how melee or magically gifted they want their Witcher to be.
Forspoken
Practical Parkour Magic
Forspoken
- Released
- January 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Forspoken has its flaws, but the core reason to play the game is its impeccable magic system. As a girl trapped in a fantasy world, Frey must defeat the Tantas, leaders, who are holding the land and its people hostage.
With each Tanta defeated, players will unlock a new set of spells that they can then enhance as they see fit. Players can create wind storms, blazing arches, metaphysical whips, icy blasts, and more. Plus, players can move like the wind, making getting around the world and battle arenas a breeze.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
A Broad Spell System
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- 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
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim stands in for The Elder Scrolls series as a whole. It doesn’t have the best magic system, but it does have the most magic. Being able to dual-wield spells is something that players got addicted to early.
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On one hand, they could have a fire spell and on the other a healing spell. Dual-wielding the same spell would create a more effective wave. With spells leveling up as players use them, and skill trees to enhance them further, spellcasting is the way to go in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
Diablo 4
Dominating Demons
Diablo 4
- Released
- June 5, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
Diablo 4 started with five classes, and now there are six. Of those six classes, three of them use magic effectively with wide branching skill trees so that no two builds of one class would look the same.
The Sorcerer, Necromancer, and Druid are all talented magic users, but for a core experience, the Sorcerer is the class to main. From fire spells to ice spells, players can easily dominate the playing field alone or with friends. The higher the level, the stronger the spell, and reaching the Sorcerer’s limits in Diablo 4 will be like reaching godhood.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Materia-Based Combat
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Released
- February 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
The magic system in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is similar to other games in the Final Fantasy 7 compilation, as it relies on Materia. Each party member can equip Green Materia to use elemental spells like Fire or Blizzard, or even cure damage. Pink Materia can enhance characters like HP+, which can increase health, while MP+ can increase how much MP players get to cast spells.
Yellow Materia can add new weapon skills, while Blue Materia can be combined with Green Materia, like Magnify, which can make Fire spells attack every enemy instead of one. With an amazing story, impressive world, tons of mini-games, and an engaging combat system thanks to the flexibility and ease of use of Materia, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth stands.
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