What better way to spend time than dive deep into a game’s world? It’s the perfect escape any gamer could hope for. With so many incredible open-world titles out there’s plenty to choose from, depending on the genre and type of story.
However, even the biggest open-world games can feel empty if they’re not paired with immersive lore. World-building is one of the main concerns of many game designers these days as it’s what can make or break a game in the eyes of players. These 10 open-world games absolutely nailed lore and immersion, which is why they continue to dominate in popularity.
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Updated on May 19th, 2021 by Anastasia Maillot:A few new games have surfaced since the first quarter of 2020. Several big titles in particular have introduced a ton of lore, even if their releases were filled with controversy (such as Cyberpunk 2077).Moreover, some games that didn’t make the cut originally also deserve to be mentioned, even if they aren’t necessarily brand-new games. Story and immersion can be hard to find in newer games at times, which is why it’s important to appreciate older titles as well.
15Dark Souls: Remastered
Some players might disagree with the inclusion ofDark Souls, but it checks out in many ways.Dark Soulsgives players the freedom to roam the twisted world they’ve been dropped into, and there are plenty of hints and interactions that allow people to discover more about the setting.
Lordran is simply unique.Dark Soulshas inspired so many other developers and open-world titles, which is why it deserves its spot here. Although the game can be quite punishing, it gives a real sense of reward to the player when they outwit the world and its enemies.
14Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The Legend of Zeldais one of the oldest ongoing franchises in gaming, and as such, it benefits from a deep lore thanks to its longevity. Newcomers to the franchise can still easily grabBreath of the Wildand get sucked into its in-depth story.
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The story is nothing surprising, but still effective, as it focuses on Link who sets outto beat Calamity Ganonand save the kingdom once more after awakening from a very long slumber. With a world open for discovery and adventure, lore is hiding around every corner.
13Ghost Of Tsushima
An absolutely breathtaking game in graphics, gameplay, and story,Ghost of Tsushimais to many fans the uncrowned king of video games from 2020. Taking inspiration from theSoulsgames, it focuses on the story of Jin Sakai, tasked with defending his island of Tsushima.
The world is absolutely gorgeous andfilled with the historical lore of its time period. It’s one of those games that players get lost in despite the challenge it poses in its combat system, which is known for being difficult to master.
12Death Stranding
Released in 2019,Death Strandingwas another highly anticipated game, coming from the artist himself, Hideo Kojima.Death Strandingis one of those games that is both incredibly immersive and bizarre at the same time, with that trademark Kojima signature at the end.
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In terms of story, Sam Bridges' adventure is full of hints, lore, and strange sights that give insight into the new world players find themselves in, a world plagued by what is known as the Death Stranding. For a different kind of world and story,Death Strandingis the perfect lore-heavy game.
11Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain
TheMetal Gear Solidfranchise is best known for its emphasis on stealth rather than aggressive combat. In its fifth installment, Snake’s primary mission is to get his well-deserved revenge after the events that took place in the prologue,Ground Zero.
While theMGSuniverse isn’t similarly heavy as a fantasy medieval RPG game world would be, it makes its mark as one of the most detailed and immersive worlds in gaming history thanks to its well-defined characters and long history.
10Cyberpunk 2077
The most highly anticipated game of 2020,Cyberpunk 2077’s promise was foiled by a sloppy release. That being said, and all bugs aside, CD Projekt Red is actively pumping resources to ensure the game will be playable for everyone. This is good because, in terms of story depth and lore,Cyberpunk 2077really delivers.
Cyberpunk 2077derives much of its lore froma tabletop RPG known asCyberpunk 2020, and fans of that genre will know just how incredibly lore-heavy these titles tend to be. Shards, dialogues, and all sorts of logs found on terminals as well tell the story of the year 2077 in Night City, and how humanity got there in the first place. Even if the player doesn’t read it all, the game still manages to suck anyone in for hours upon hours of dystopian fun.
9Fallout 4
The fourth installment in theFalloutseries takes the player to the Commonwealth, where the Sole Survivor awakens after being in cryostasis for 200 years. Their only goal is to go out and find where their son Shaun was taken.
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Much like any other series,Falloutbenefits from being able to tell the story of an alternate future thanks to the numerous installments in its franchise. Each game depicts a different side of the United States in the post-nuclear world, with tons of small quests andgreat charactersto fill in the details.
8Mass Effect: Andromeda
Mass Effectas a series is incredibly popular, mainly thanks to all the intelligent world-building that has solidified its universe in the hearts of fans. However,Andromedadidn’t quite reach expectations with all of its bugs and flaws.
That being said,Andromedaemphasizes exploration in its open-world and gives the player so much to work with. The game is essentially all about finding a new home for humanity, and with so much lore already from the previous games, it’s stock full of content.
7Elder Scrolls Online
Most open-world games are known to be single-player experiences. It’s unfortunate but true that there aren’t any significantly good multiplayer games with incredible lore and an open-world — except, of course, forElder Scrolls Online.
All of its caveats aside,Elder Scrolls Onlinecomes from a long tradition of medieval fantasy RPG. All the lore from previous games likeMorrowind,Oblivion,andSkyrimhold very much true. For anyone wanting to share a lore-filled adventure with friends, this is the best experience.
6Dragon Age: Inquisition
If sci-fi doesn’t sound appealing, a franchise likeDragon Agehas just the right mix of RPG and adventure. Its latest installment,Dragon Age: Inquisition, is particularly entertaining with a vast open-world environment and rich, vibrant lore.
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With a classic fantasy plot involving defeating a dark force that has opened a Breach over the continent of Thedas, the game takes the player across an incredibly detailed world with one of the most colorful and inclusive cast ofcharacters and enemies.
