Summary
- Open-world games stand out with diverse and visually appealing weapons that enhance the combat experience.
- Games like Zelda, Witcher, and Cyberpunk showcase unique and well-designed armaments that fans love.
- From Dragons Dogma to Elden Ring, each game offers a wide variety of weapons with stunning visual designs.
Most open-world games take the simplest route to keep fans engaged for hours on end: a combat loop that remains fresh and varied courtesy of the many different weapons and techniques players can use to freshen up the experience. This is something that many games experiment with, helping them stand out as quality titles fans will love.
It helps if the weapons players get to wield are amazing to look at. Sure, fans can complain about the odd overdesigned weapon or two, but the vast majority of armaments in these games look great and are a blast to wield in combat.
8 Best Open-World Games That Let You Use Vehicles As Weapons, Ranked
Vehicles aren't just for getting from A to B in these iconic open-world video games.
8 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Weapons Mesh Perfectly With The Game's Art Style
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
The Fuse mechanic in Tears of the Kingdom meant that the game didn't exactly need handcrafted weapons. The onus is on the player to find various materials and combine them with the weapon of their choice to heighten its power.
This is why its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, boasts a more diverse array of well-designed weapons that look and feel great to use. From the unique weapons of the Champions to other blades added via content packs, it's easy to see why fans would prefer to preserve certain weapons instead of using them against whatever basic enemy came their way.
7 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Swords Look Varied Despite Following A Certain Template
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Given the look and feel that had to remain constant for most of Geralt's weapons in The Witcher 3, it's easy to see why CD Projekt Red couldn't go all out in this department and create mammoth-sized swords. However, they made the most of what they had to let players enjoy diverse and pretty weaponry.
Both the steel and silver swords that Geralt can get his hands on during his adventures are just different enough to stand out. Some of them look so breathtaking that players won't mind taking some time to hang them in Corvo Bianco when they get the time.
6 Dragon's Dogma 2
Boasts A Wide Variety Of Cool-Looking Weapons
Dragon's Dogma 2
- Released
- March 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Dragon's Dogma 2 is one of the best games fans can check out if they want to enjoy a unique combat loop. Climbing on top of foes and wailing on them never gets old, especially if fans are using a powerful weapon to dish out some serious damage.
8 Best Open-World Games With No Weapons
Love open-world games, but find combat stressful? These titles involve no weapons at all, emphasizing exploration and puzzle-solving instead.
There are various weapon types in Dragon's Dogma 2, with the equipment found in the mid-to-late game looking absolutely breathtaking. This visual design alone rewards players for coming so far as the Arisen and regaining the strength they'd lost at the start of the game.
5 Elden Ring
Upholds The Tradition Of FromSoftware Games' Amazing Weapon Design
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
The shift to an open world worked wonders for FromSoftware, who delivered one of their greatest and most successful games in the form of Elden Ring. Given how this title is basically open-world Dark Souls, it's easy to see why the title boasts a vast array of unique weaponry.
The best part about Elden Ring is how unique every weapon feels, allowing players to check out a diverse arsenal as long as their stats are in tune with their preferred weapon's scaling. The design of these armaments, coupled with their immense power at high levels, makes it clear why FromSoftware fans will love everything that Elden Ring has to offer.
4 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Daedric Weapons Will Always Look Incredible
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's weapon progression may feel basic now compared to the handcrafted experience most modern titles opt for, but that should take nothing away from the epic look of its weapons. At the start, players get lowly iron and steel weapons that look boring, but do a decent job of protecting players.
Over time, the material changes, and players are able to use Glass, Daedric, and Ebony weapons against their foes. Not only do the base forms of these weapons look amazing, but players can also find unique weapons scattered across the world that are pretty useful in their own right.
3 Cyberpunk 2077
The Futuristic Weapons Look Amazing
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
Most games with firearms don't tend to go all out with the weapon design, but CD Projekt Red clearly didn't get the memo. One look at the futuristic weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 will make it clear why fans go gaga over a title that had to put in some serious effort to turn its reputation around.
5 Open-World Games With Realistic Weapon Maintenance
Weapon maintenance and durability may annoy some players, but to those looking to maximize realism, these open-world games offer just that.
From powerful shotguns that look the part to sleek katanas that can dice enemies to ribbons, it's easy to see why Cyberpunk 2077's weapon designs are in a class of their own. In fact, the visual design of this game is astounding in every department, and goes a long way in elevating the experience.
2 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
The Classic Square Enix Weapon Design Is On Full Display
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Released
- February 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Square Enix is known for designing weapons that look positively ludicrous, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is no exception. Fans love how beautiful the game looks, with the developer's passion for this title being clear as day.
From Cloud's iconic Buster Sword to the numerous alternate weapons that players can equip on other party members, fans will be amazed to see how imaginative every weapon looks. Even the so-called boring weapon designs look great in their own way, showing how visually evocative Final Fantasy 7's arsenal is.
1 Monster Hunter Wilds
The Weapons And Their Looks Are In A Class Of Their Own
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Released
- February 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
A series known for its wide variety of weapons, fans were glad to get their hands on a Monster Hunter game that fully embraced the open-world design. This freedom gives players even more opportunities to face off against a beast that will chomp them up in a single hit and make the inferiority of their equipment clear as day.
Players should be smart about the monsters they encounter and harvest the resources they need to craft bigger and better weapons. Eventually, the player's increase in power is reflected by the amazing designs of the weapons they wield, making for a satisfying sight as players cut down the many massive monsters that stand in their way.
6 Best Open-World Games That Blur the Line Between RPG and Simulation
These open-world games do a fine job of blending RPG and simulation genres together into a cohesive whole.