Open-world games usually offer plenty of reasons to keep playing, whether it's a lengthy story, a beautiful world, engaging exploration, thrilling combat, or memorable characters to meet and spend time with. It's not unusual for an open-world RPG to provide over a hundred hours of playtime, yet some games are so good, even that feels hardly enough to enjoy them fully.
Open-World Games With The Fastest Movement
There's absolutely no need to use vehicles or mounts to move fast in these open-world games.
Even without considering additional reasons for a second playthrough, like branching narratives or multiple endings to unlock, the open-world games below are more than worth revisiting. Players are unlikely to be disappointed and will probably appreciate these titles even more the second or third time around.
NieR: Automata
Built With Replay Value In Mind
NieR: Automata
- Released
- March 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
An open-world game with legendary replay value, NieR: Automata is designed for multiple runs, getting better each time and enriching the overall experience. The game is also simply fun to play on its own, offering equally strong exploration, combat, and a stunning world full of interesting stories.
Once players beat NieR: Automata for the first time, they realize they've only scratched the surface of its complex and emotional narrative. Two additional playable characters provide their own perspectives on the game's events, alongside a wealth of endings (26 in total) to unlock and discover. It's truly a one-of-a-kind journey within the open-world genre.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Once Started, It's Too Hard To Put Down
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Even after a decade, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains strong, with an impeccable atmosphere and engaging gameplay. Over the years, the game hasn't lost any of its charm and has even received several content updates for an even richer adventure. Anyone replaying it in 2025 would be instantly drawn back into its harsh world, finding it incredibly hard to put down.
Best Open-World Games That Are Hard To Put Down
A well-designed open world can keep players hooked for countless hours, sucking them into an immersive world they don't want to leave.
With a cast of familiar and memorable characters, multiple solutions to nearly every main and side quest, far-reaching consequences, and two massive expansions, The Witcher 3 deserves to be replayed—and there's a good chance players will enjoy the second playthrough even more.
Red Dead Redemption 2
A Perfect Blend Of Narrative And Freedom
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Red Dead Redemption 2's legacy is indisputable in 2025, with nearly everyone agreeing it remains Rockstar's best work to date. Combining an ambitious narrative with a reactive open world unlike any other, and NPCs that genuinely feel alive, RDR 2 adds even more nuance to its story and complex characters through a subsequent run.
Experiencing the story a second time feels like peeking behind the curtain, as players gain a deeper appreciation for the slow buildup to major events and the early-game moments that carry far-reaching consequences. On top of that, Red Dead Redemption 2's Wild West setting is so alive and full of surprises that players are still discovering new details and events more than seven years after its launch.
Fallout: New Vegas
No New Run Is Like The Previous
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
Fallout: New Vegas stands as a true gem both within the iconic series and in Obsidian's vast RPG catalog, offering a deeply branching narrative and unmatched freedom of roleplay. With its intricate faction and companion systems, and quests that can be approached in countless ways that encourage creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, New Vegas remains the epitome of old-school RPG design philosophy. It's long overdue for a proper remaster, or even a full remake.
Best Open-World Games You Need To Play Before You Die
These are the absolute masterpieces that any player keen on open-world games should try.
No matter what wild character builds players create, Fallout: New Vegas fully supports them, allowing complete freedom to embody whatever hero (or antihero) they choose to be. It's one of the few open-world RPGs that truly delivers on the promise of each new playthrough feeling completely different.
Cyberpunk 2077
A Fascinating Setting Worth Returning To
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Players who experienced Cyberpunk 2077 at launch would hardly recognize its current state, given the stream of patches and content updates CD Projekt Red has released over the years. Yet even newcomers to the game's final edition might find it difficult to leave Night City after just one playthrough.
And it's easy to see why. Cyberpunk 2077 is built like a true RPG, with a robust character creator, gender and backstory options that influence certain quests or even unlock new ones, and the developer's trademark branching narrative featuring multiple endings and the ability to shape the fate of nearly every key NPC. On top of that, the flexible character-building system makes each subsequent run feel fresh by offering entirely new ways to approach combat, stealth, and dialogue.
Elden Ring
There's Always Something New To Discover
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Unlike traditional RPGs such as Fallout: New Vegas or The Witcher 3, Elden Ring takes a different approach, with fewer NPCs and side quests hiding around every corner. Despite offering several endings, some of which can be difficult to obtain, Elden Ring may not feel drastically different on a second playthrough, but it still provides plenty of reasons to keep playing.
Open-World Games With The Best Stories Shaped By You
In these games, players themselves can shape personal narratives that truly adapt to their actions – be it wins or failures.
Elden Ring's secret lies in its unparalleled variety, from enemies and bosses to weapons, spells, and abilities. That's why players continue returning to it years later, experimenting with different builds, collecting gear they missed before, and uncovering hidden areas and entire questlines that are easy to overlook on the first run.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Replaying It Is Always A Good Idea
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
- Released
- October 28, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Skyrim is a game that RPG fans have been steadily playing for years, often starting a new playthrough right after finishing the previous one — or simply spending time in its unique, familiar, and beloved world. For many, Skyrim represents the epitome of a gaming second life, made easier by its availability on nearly every platform.
On PC, Skyrim can be customized to anyone's liking thanks to its thriving modding community and thousands of mods that alter every aspect of the game, ensuring each playthrough feels distinct. Even for those who stick to the vanilla version, Skyrim delivers everything expected from an epic fantasy adventure built on freedom.
Best Open-World Games Where You Can Go Wild
Sometimes you just need to let off some steam, and these open-world titles could be the perfect destination.