Open world games have been some of the biggest (no pun intended) and most important games that have been making waves with gamers over the past decade, and titles like Skyrim, Grand Theft Auto V and The Witcher 3 have come to define what gaming means to many people.
Some of these titles represent the very best experiences the medium has to offer, and with good reason—they feel vast, immersive, and tangible. While the claustrophobic confines of a corridor shooter or horror game may offer a more intimate experience, open-world titles have the propensity to offer these types of experiences in addition to giving gamers a sense of exploration and presence in a world that just feels real and lived-in.
With the importance of open-world games in mind, we’ve compiled a short documentary exploring the evolution of open-world games, from their simple beginnings to the grand experiences they are today.
