What is the best open-world RPG of all time?
Open-world RPGs have given us countless worlds to lose ourselves in — but which one is the greatest of all time? From The Witcher 3 to Elden Ring, vote for your favorite.
1The Witcher 3: Wild HuntCD Projekt Red's 2015 masterpiece set the gold standard for open-world storytelling with its richly drawn characters, morally complex quests, and stunning world design.
2Elden RingFromSoftware's 2022 collaboration with George R.R. Martin created a hauntingly beautiful open world that married soulslike challenge with unprecedented exploration freedom.
3The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimBethesda's 2011 open-world epic became a cultural touchstone, offering near-infinite freedom to forge your own legend across snowcapped Nordic mountains.
4Red Dead Redemption 2Rockstar's 2018 cinematic achievement built the most breathtakingly detailed open world ever made and wrapped it in a deeply emotional outlaw story.
5The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildNintendo's 2017 reinvention of Zelda and open-world design itself gave players total freedom to approach every challenge with creative problem-solving.
6The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomNintendo's 2023 follow-up expanded the sky and depths of Hyrule while adding physics-based building tools that let players craft solutions from imagination.
7Grand Theft Auto VRockstar's 2013 crime epic created a living, satirical Los Santos packed with three distinct protagonists and a persistent online world still thriving over a decade later.
8Cyberpunk 2077CD Projekt Red's 2020 neon-soaked RPG redeemed itself through extensive updates to become one of the most immersive and visually stunning open worlds in gaming.
9Ghost of TsushimaSucker Punch's 2020 open-world samurai adventure delivered Kurosawa-worthy visuals, fluid sword combat, and one of the most beautifully realized game worlds ever created.
10Dragon Age: InquisitionBioWare's 2014 epic RPG offered sprawling zones, a deep companion system, and morally weighty decisions that made the player feel like the leader of a world-changing organization.
11Horizon Zero DawnGuerrilla Games' 2017 debut open-world featured robotic dinosaurs, a gorgeous post-apocalyptic world, and one of gaming's most compelling mysteries to unravel.
12Fallout 4Bethesda's 2015 post-nuclear open world married base-building with classic Fallout exploration and dark humor across a lovingly detailed post-apocalyptic Boston.
13Assassin's Creed OdysseyUbisoft's 2018 entry fully embraced RPG mechanics across an enormous recreation of Ancient Greece, delivering dozens of hours of mythology-soaked adventure.
14Monster Hunter WorldCapcom's 2018 accessible entry into the Monster Hunter series opened the franchise to millions with a lush, interconnected ecosystem and deeply satisfying hunt loop.
15Crimson DesertPearl Abyss's acclaimed 2025 open-world action RPG drew rave comparisons to Elden Ring and The Witcher 3 for its polished combat and richly crafted dark fantasy world.
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Comments
Grand Theft Auto is the outsider on this one: everyone else brought a character sheet: https://youpick.best/articles/grand-theft-auto-ranked-many-ways
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