The 2010s marked the shift of games from traditional linear adventures to more open-ended experiences powered by the players’ freedom of movement and actions. The constantly evolving open-world game formula in this golden period has allowed players to experiment in some of the most sprawling worlds set across different genres of games.
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The ranking below picks a single title from each year spanning the period of 2010-2019, based on popularity, legacy, and the innovation of that game to push the boundaries of open-world game design. The ranking for each year also takes note of some noteworthy honorable mentions that just missed out on the top spot.
10 2010 - Red Dead Redemption
Metascore: 95
Red Dead Redemption
- Released
- May 18, 2010
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar San Diego
- Genre(s)
- Open-World , Adventure
- Honorable mentions: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, Fallout New Vegas
Red Dead Redemption was Rockstar Games’ hugely successful attempt at an immersive Wild West experience headed by the compelling narrative of John Marston and his gang. The tale of revenge here, along with all its quirky and bloodthirsty characters, makes the game a memorable experience. There is a keen eye for detail here to portray the most authentic 20th-century American experience, from hunting wildlife to engaging in various gunfights to a host of mini-games at the local gentlemen's club.
For a game released in 2010, the variety of in-game mechanics is technically impressive, to say the least, with the likes of cattle herding, lasso, intense duels, precision shots with deadeye, among others, making the handcrafted world even more fun to explore.
9 2011 - Elders Scroll 5: Skyrim
Metascore: 96
- Honorable mentions: Batman Arkham City
The scale of the rich open-world fantasy setting that Bethesda put on display with Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is unparalleled for the era it existed in. The player freedom here is on a whole different level due to the various paths and storylines that they can choose to engage in. Players can choose to ally with certain groups, launch rebellions, and shape their story as much as they shape the world itself.
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The lore and worldbuilding in Skyrim are very rich, with lots of secrets to uncover and cultures to learn about. Finally, the extensive skill progression system allows the player to fine-tune their class abilities and spells for a playstyle that they enjoy but can also be ready to change on the fly in this massive open-world game.
8 2012 - Borderlands 2
Metascore: 89
- Honorable mentions: Far Cry 3, Sleeping Dogs
Borderlands 2 took the wasteland open-world setting of the original game and kicked things up to 11 with fast-frenzy gunplay, elaborate loot, and progression system, and just an awe-inspiring variety of guns and enemy types. The planet of Pandora is an expansive world with lots of diverse environments and unique encounters that will constantly reward players for taking risks.
Perhaps what makes the world all the more engaging to traverse is the wealth of quirky side-story characters and, of course, the main-story antagonist and the evil prankster, Handsome Jack. All of these fun experiences can be shared with a co-op partner, making the appeal of traversing the open world even more promising.
7 2013 - Grand Theft Auto 5
Metascore: 97
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Platform(s)
- PS5 , PS4 , PS3 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , Xbox 360 , PC
- Released
- September 17, 2013
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
- Genre(s)
- Open-World , Action
- Honorable mentions: Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, Saints Row 4
GTA 5’s scope and scale of the open world at the time was the biggest for a Rockstar game. The vibrant city of Los Santos complements the fun story mission structure and the multi-protagonist narrative, who will drive, fly, swim, and shoot their way through to their goals. The quick swap between these three characters and the dynamic heist system adds a strategic layer to tackling encounters.
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Finally, whether it’s solo-play of the main campaign or the connected fun in GTA Online, players can engage in a plethora of leisure activities, including golf, skydiving, base jumping, yoga, and street races, to name a few. GTA 5 is a perfect blend of real-life simulation and something straight out of an action heist film that makes the lively city of Los Santos a memorable one.
6 2014 - Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Metascore: 84
- Honorable mentions: Infamous Second Son, Dragon Age: Inquisition
Middle Earth is the perfect fantasy setting envisioned by the mastermind, J. R. R. Tolkien, and it is one that is in equal parts terrifying but satisfying to navigate in Shadow of Mordor. The detailed dark and treacherous lands host a number of hostile orcs in an elaborate standout feature, The Nemesis System.
Depending on the player’s actions and interactions, orcs will go on to forge alliances or hold grudges, dynamically evolving enemy troops’ strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, the tactical stealth gameplay, coupled with the free-flowing combat options, gave players a reason to keep taking on more difficult challenges by exploring the vast lands of Mordor to upgrade their abilities.
5 2015 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Metascore: 92
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Platform(s)
- PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Switch , PC
- Released
- May 19, 2015
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Honorable mentions: Metal Gear Solid 5: Phantom Pain, Batman Arkham Knight, Yakuza 0
Geralt’s ultimate adventure in Wild Hunt is also a peak of CD Project Red’s effort in meticulously crafted open-world games. The Northern Realms will put the player in Geralt’s shoes as they are forced into morally gray dilemmas and emotionally complex situations. Every decision counts as the narrative and character relationships unfold in many branching ways giving the whole world and its characters a very dynamic feel, ever-changing based on player agency.
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While many side-quests in open-world games can be limited to the fetch-quest formula, every optional quest in The Witcher 3 is meaningful and can have an impact on the final outcome. After all, there are a staggering 36 different endings to the game.
4 2016 - Forza Horizon 3
Metascore: 91
- Honorable mentions: No Man’s Sky, Final Fantasy 15
2016 may not have been a big year for large open-world adventure games, but Forza Horizon 3 still presents a sprawling fictional recreation of Australia that is as exhilarating to race in as it’s visually striking to just sit back and behold.
Forza Horizon 3, above anything else, shows the consistency of Playground Games, with a huge roster of cars, impeccable sound design, nuanced driving controls, and diverse terrain, all making the races very immersive and engaging. The festive setting and social features just add to the experience by bringing the community together for a shared fun racing experience.
3 2017 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Metascore: 97
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U , Switch
- Released
- March 3, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Genre(s)
- Action , Adventure
- Honorable mentions: Horizon Zero Dawn, Assassin’s Creed: Origins
It is no exaggeration to say Breath of the Wild was a game changer for Nintendo and open-world games in general, with never-before-seen physics-based interactions and player freedom in a game of that scale. Burning grass, rolling boulders, creating bridges, and other player-driven actions feel rewarding, while the Rune abilities and puzzling shrines really test the player’s problem-solving skills.
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The non-linear path toward the objective, cooking recipes for stat bonuses, and utilizing every resource in the Kingdom of Hyrule creatively make for a one-of-a-kind emergent open-world game design.
2 2018 - Red Dead Redemption 2
Metascore: 97
- Honorable mentions: Monster Hunter: World, Marvel’s Spider-Man
Red Dead Redemption 2 is not only Rockstar’s biggest open world to date but also its most detailed one yet. There’s an eye for detail in every mechanic and system in the game, from the robust horse-driving mechanics to gun maintenance to the dynamic NPCs’ routines and behaviors, all of which add a layer of realism and immersion, unlike any other open-world game.
The mature storytelling and side stories to flesh out the characters in Arthur Morgan’s camp, along with the honor system, make every kill or act of mercy feel more impactful and memorable.
1 2019 - Death Stranding
Metascore: 82
- Honorable mentions: Metro Exodus, The Division 2
Probably the most unique open-world setting in the sense of what it accomplishes within the game’s constraints, Death Stranding is more than just delivering cargo from point A to point B. The creative narrative of bridging societies is finely integrated into the gameplay loop thanks to the Strand System, which allows players to build structures, leave useful items, and share tips in a collaborative asynchronous multiplayer fashion.
The post-apocalyptic setting takes nothing away from the lush forests, the serene beaches, and the picturesque mountains which players can experience first-hand as they plan their routes to overcome environmental challenges in their quest to reconnect and reconstruct an isolated, destroyed world. Death Stranding is an unconventional open-world game with a slower pace and heavy emphasis on route planning than actual resource gathering, but it is nonetheless a refreshing open-world experience.
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