21 Best Open-World RPGs Of All Time

Some of the best games to exist are open-world RPGs, providing players with the best storytelling, characters, and exploration possible. This list may only contain 15, but there are definitely a lot more worth trying. Just this year alone saw the release of some major open-world RPGs such as Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West.

Don’t pay too much attention to the order of this list–they’re all worth checking out.

#21 Dragon’s Dogma 2

Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S
Release Date: March 22, 2024

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

It’s been a long time coming, but, at last, Dragon’s Dogma 2 has come.

The game from Capcom brings back much of the original team to ensure that the game is what fans want it to be, and then some.

You’ll once again be an “Arisen” and venture forth across a fantasy-style land in search of glory, power, freedom, or whatever else you desire. You’ll get to customize your character from top to bottom and then choose how they would interact with everything around them.

Plus, they can bring Pawns into their party to further bolster their power and influence! What will your quest look like?

#20 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Platform: PS5
Release Date: February 29, 2024

PlayStation

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is out now, and that means there’s plenty for gamers to do as they continue the legendary story from Square Enix.

But easily, the biggest thing that the second title in the remake saga offers is the chance to truly explore the world of Gaia! The first title restricted gamers to the various sectors of Midgar, but no more! You’ll have numerous cities, towns, and regions to explore, and you can get across them in various ways! That includes getting some Chocobos so you can ride in style!

With so much to do, you’ll want to partake in every adventure and quest that comes your way!

#19 Palworld

Platform: PC Xbox One XSX|S
Release Date: January 19, 2024 (early access)

Steam | Xbox

Putting Palworld on this RPG list will seem very cliché, and that’s because it is! This is absolutely the kind of RPG you’re thinking of, just with some very dark twists.

The title is indeed a “monster catcher” title where you’ll travel around and get “Pals” for your personal collection. Like many RPGs, you’ll train them and raise them so they can get stronger. You can even breed or fuse these Pals to make even better creatures!

Then, what you decide to do with them is up to you. You can treat them like family, or create an army, or maybe you’ll want to outfit them with guns!

Or, you can eat them.

#18 Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty

Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S
Release Date: September 26, 2023

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

One of the promises of the Cyberpunk title that CD Projekt Red made was that you’d get to explore a robust city and truly see it come alive. While that was only slightly true, the DLC Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty makes up for what the main game didn’t.

In the DLC, V enters the always turbulent mini-town called Dogtown. Here, the police aren’t in control; the militia are, and they’re controlled by someone who isn’t afraid to shoot first and ask questions never.

As you explore Dogtown, you’ll encounter all sorts of unique characters and dive into special quests. So don’t be afraid to see what lurks behind every corner.

#17 Starfield

Platform: PC XSX|S
Release Date: September 06, 2023

Steam | Xbox

Many games nowadays are open-world adventures. Developers revel in the chance to give you lots of space to move around and see what catches your eye as you do so. Bethesda is legendary for their open-world titles, and now, they can add Starfield to that list. But instead of just one world for you to explore, there are thousands of planets that you can visit and see what they have to offer.

Some will have quests for you to do or people and creatures you can fight. Others might have materials you can use or secrets to discover!

Whatever you want to do in the game is fine, as the galaxy is yours to explore.

#16 Hogwarts Legacy 

Release Date: 10 Feb 2023 | Platform: PC PS5 Xbox Series X|S
(PS4 Xbox One April 4, 2023) Switch (July 25, 2023)
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Open World, RPG, Fantasy, Action RPG

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

One of the reasons that past video games in the “magical world” with Harry Potter weren’t as beloved as many hoped was because they didn’t feel open. They didn’t feel like you were truly living out a full-on adventure but rather a scripted one.

Thankfully, Hogwarts Legacy breaks that trend by giving you a massive open world within the magical one to have fun in. As a student, you can attend classes, join clubs, seek out magical creatures, duel with students and full-on witches/wizards, and craft who you want to be.

The options are plentiful, so don’t be afraid to take a risk to see where things go!

#15 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

• Release: 2012 / 2020
• Platforms: PS4, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
• Genre: Action RPG, Hack and Slash

PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

Developed by 38 Studios, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a 2012 action RPG. It was recently remasted for current-gen consoles, with the new release titled Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. An expansion also launched in 2021 called Fatesworn prior to the game’s tenth year anniversary. This hack and slash title features five distinct regions, four playable races, and three class trees with 22 abilities per tree. The game is set in the Faelands, home to the immortal Fae of the Summer and Winter Courts, where players can travel throughout the open world, fighting a collection of unique and fantastical enemies.

#14 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

• Release: 2002
• Platform: PC
• Genre: Action RPG

PC | Xbox

Bethesda released this action RPG in 2002 as the third installment to the popular Elder Scrolls series. Morrowind takes place in Vvardenfell, an island in the Dunmer province of Morrowind. The central story focuses on the demigod Dagoth Ur who seeks to gain power and break Morrowind free. This fantasy game is designed with an open-ended, freeform style of gameplay. It’s still considered to be one of the best games ever made, and not just in the RPG genre. It is definitely worth checking out for any gamer.

#13 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

• Release: 2018
• Platform: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
• Genre: Action RPG

PC | Xbox | PlayStation

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is great for fans of the medieval era. Developed by Warhorse Studios, this action RPG is set in the Kingdom of Bohemia, an Imperial State of the Holy Empire. The game aims to provide historically accurate content, taking place during a war in Bohemia in 1403. Kingdom Come: Deliverance follows the son of a blacksmith who seeks revenge against the perpetrators of an unjust massacre of his village. On his journey, the man leads a resistance movement against the king and attempts to restore the rightful leader to the throne.

#12 Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

• Release: 2022
• Platform: PC
• Genre: Strategy, Action RPG

PC

Fans of strategy RPGs are sure to be intrigued with Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Developed by TalesWorlds Entertainment, this game is a prequel to Mount & Blade: Warband, an expansion to the first game, Mount & Blade. Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord takes place 210 years before the original and is inspired by the historical Migration Period that saw the decline of the Western Roman Empire. It is currently available in early access, with a full version due to release this year. Check out Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord on Steam!

#11 Genshin Impact

• Release: 2020
• Platform: PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch (TBA)
• Genre: Action RPG

PC | PlayStation

Developed by miHoYo, Genshin Impact released in 2020 and was an instant hit on iOS, Android, and PS5. The game features an anime-style open-world environment and an action-based battle system using elemental magic. This RPG is free-to-play and monetized through gacha game mechanics where players can obtain new characters and weapons by spending real-world cash. Genshin Impact has proved so popular, it received a PS5 version in 2021. The game is also on its way to Nintendo Switch sometime in the future.

#10 Nier Automata 

• Release: 2017
• Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
• Genre: Action RPG, Hack and Slash

PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

PlatinumGames developed NieR: Automata as a sequel to 2010’s Nier. The game is set during a proxy war between alien-created machines and human-crafted androids. The story requires multiple playthroughs in order for players to unlock key story elements and progress through the game. NieR: Automata combines role-playing with hack-and-slash action, as well as elements of the shoot ’em up genre. The game has been praised for its story, gameplay, and music.

#9 Xenoblade Chronicles

• Release: 2017
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Genre: Action RPG

Nintendo

This Nintendo Switch exclusive was released in 2017 and is the third installment in the Xenoblade Chronicles, as well as the seventh main entry in the Xeno series. Developers aimed to create a story-driven game in the style of the original Xenoblade Chronicles. The game takes place in Alrest, a world covered in a sea of clouds. Humans live on top of and inside large living creatures known as Titans. Players control the character Rex who comes into contact with a legendary blade and his adventure begins. Nintendo Switch owners definitely need to try out Xenoblade Chronicles!

#8 Dragon Age: Inquisition

• Release: 2014
• Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
• Genre: Action RPG

PC | Xbox | PlayStation

Developed by BioWare, Dragon Age: Inquisition is a sequel to 2011’s Dragon Age II. The game follows a character known as the Inquisitor on a journey to settle civil unrest on the continent of Thedas. Dangerous demons are unleashed on the world and this is where the adventure begins. Additionally, players control both the Inquisitor and their companions during gameplay. This open-world RPG was nominated for Game of the Year and received a good deal of praise from both critics and gamers alike. The next installment, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, was officially announced in April 2022.

#7  Monster Hunter: World

• Release: 2018
• Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
• Genre: Action RPG

PC | Xbox | PlayStation

Monster Hunter: World was met with skepticism when it was first announced, as it heavily diverted from the Monster Hunter formula that made the series one of the biggest in Japan. However, the title turned out to be a massive success for Capcom. Not only has World made the series a huge success in the west, it caught on in Japan as well, influencing the series going forward. Monster Hunter World is definitely the best way to get into this incredibly successful series. We’d recommend playing with some close friends–this isn’t an easy game.

#6 Fallout 4

• Release: 2015
• Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
• Genre: Action RPG

PC | Xbox | PlayStation

The Fallout games are the retro sci-fi cousins of the Elder Scrolls series, and anyone who likes those kinds of games will love Fallout 4. The game is set in the year 2287, hundreds of years after a nuclear war practically destroyed the planet. As a vault dweller, the protagonist survived the war by gaining access to a nuclear bunker at the last minute. Cryogenically frozen, the protagonist wakes up hundreds of years later to find that his son has been kidnapped and the vault abandoned.

#5 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

• Release: 2011
• Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
• Genre: Action RPG

PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

Skyrim is so good it has been re-released on seemingly every device that has a screen–and those without in the case of Amazon’s Alexa. The Elder Scrolls V is so influential that a number of games on this list can trace their roots back to it. That’s not to say it feels outdated–Skyrim plays better today than it ever has due to the number of upgrades and rereleases it’s recieved. This fantasy open-world game is so good it’s arguably the reason that Bethesda hasn’t released The Elder Scrolls VI. If that doesn’t make it worth playing, nothing will.

#4 Monster Hunter Rise

• Release: 2021
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PC
• Genre: Action RPG

PC | Nintendo

Capcom released Monster Hunter Rise in 2021 on the Nintendo Switch, with the PC version launching in 2022. The sixth mainline installment in the Monster Hunter series, it follows many of the conventions established in World. The game also introduced many new features including an animal companion called a Palamute that players can use to travel across the map. Monster Hunter Rise has shipped over 8 million copies worldwide making it the second most successful game in the series.

#3 Bloodborne

• Release: 2015
• Platform: PS4, PS5
• Genre: Action RPG

PlayStation

Developed by the company that brought gamers Elden Ring, Bloodborne follows a Hunter making its way through the decrepit Gothic city of Yharnam. The locals are afflicted with a blood-borne disease and players must unravel the mystery of where the plague started, all while fighting various beasts and cosmic beings. Bloodborne focuses on strategic weapons-based combat and exploration, and fans of a challenge won’t want to pass this one up.

#2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

• Release: 2015 / 2022 (Next-Gen)
• Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
• Genre: Action RPG

PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

The Witcher 3 is arguably one of the best and most influential RPGs of all time. The game was released in 2015 and kept getting better with time as CD Projekt Red continued to add DLC and updates post-release. CD Projekt Red has promised a free next-gen update for the game coming later this year that will make it worth getting into for the first time or even playing again. If swordplay, magic, and monsters are your jam, The Witcher 3 is a must-play RPG.

#1 Elden Ring

• Release: 2022
• Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Genre: Action RPG

PC | Xbox | PlayStation

There’s a reason Elden Ring is the highest-rated game ever on Opencritic. The game received perfect or near-perfect reviews across the board upon release, and as the first open-world Souls game, it also adds a lot to that already popular franchise. Hours upon hours can be lost exploring the world of Land’s Between, and barring any major surprises, it’s likely to be the Game of the Year for 2022, and with good reason.