Dorothy Jones
Open-world games, while stunning, require a certain investment of time when you play them. But as Phantom pointed out after finishing Red Dead Redemption 2, these kinds of games have so much to offer. Exploring spectacular worlds from back in time or a designer’s imagination is one of the biggest pleasures of gaming. So, if you have time, do check out these 4 amazing open-world games:
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Many critics of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt notes that it is close to perfect with its great story, exceptional gameplay, and interesting characters, and stunning visuals. On that front, the fantastic locales of Novigrad, Velen, and Skellige, just to name three, are a start. In this game, you’ll reprise your role as Geralt, the powerful monster hunter of Rivia, and explore the visually stunning world of Continent in search of the Child of Destiny, Ciri. Along the way, you’ll encounter elves, dwarves, monsters, werewolves, and similar magical creatures, all rendered in amazingly fine detail. Completing the game might take you 200+ hours, but given just how exceptional this game is, we’d say it’s truly worth your time.
Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
Assassin’s Creed is one of the highest-selling franchises of all time. But Ubisoft may have outdone itself with Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, the 11th instalment of the Assassin’s Creed main series. HP’s list of PC games with the best graphics details how Odyssey‘s massive open-world takes players back to Ancient Greece in 431 BCE, where they can experience the time of the Peloponnesian War between the city-states of Athens and Sparta. Whether you’re playing as Alexios or Kassandra (the virtual descendants of the real-life King Leonidas), this acclaimed title will leave you awed by the grandeur that is Greece. The renderings of Delphi, Olympia, and Agora, to name a few, are not only spectacular and finely detailed, but are also accurate and authentic thanks to Ubisoft’s team of historical advisors. No wonder the franchise is so beloved.
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Guardian describes this game as astonishing to look at, as Rockstar took great pains to make sure you enjoy and soak in all the scenery of America’s great Old West. And the virtual worlds Rockstar conjures here are ‘close to miraculous’ — faithful, detail-obsessed depictions of true-to-life American landscapes set in the fictional Southern state of Lemoyne. The narrative is quite stirring as well: a small gang of outlaws trying to outrun both their past transgressions and the coming of American modernity. Having said that, Red Dead Redemption 2‘s world — ‘relentlessly beautiful’ and ‘lifelike’— is the absolute star of this game.
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Middle Earth: Shadow of War‘s predecessor, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, is acclaimed for its stunning rendering of J.R.R Tolkien’s fictional realm of Mordor, along with its unique Nemesis System. Shadow of War is the same way, only better. The Telegraph hails it as one of 2017’s finest games, and praises it for bringing back the Nemesis System, along with an increased complexity of the gameplay itself. Just as important, the game expanded the Middle-earth universe immensely, adding volcanoes, snowy vistas, and lush forests to Mordor’s iconic barren wastelands. With the dynamic duo of ranger Talion and the wraith form of Elven Lord Celebrimbor returning to explore the gigantic universe of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Monolith Production has created a more-than-worthy sequel to its 2014 masterpiece.
