Open-world video games are a staple of the industry, thanks to the breadth of exploration they offer players, the compelling lore that surrounds the world, the hours of life they can steal, and several other elements. While some may be growing tired of the open-world approach, the fact is it's here to stay. Of course, not all are created equal. Open-world games are sometimes somewhat barren, almost always to their detriment, while others dislike open-world games that are essentially a giant sandbox with icons scattered over every square inch of it.
Elden Ring is one example of an open world that gives players breadth in its various locales, compelling lore such as why Caelid is the way it is, and more. It may have come out last year, but already many look at it as a standard for open-world video games. Others, like Grand Theft Auto 3, Skyrim, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, all moved the goalposts of that standard, while some like No Man's Sky show how certain innovations can work. There are great open-world games every year, if this handful of titles doesn't prove that itself, and 2023 is no different.
The thing to keep in mind with the open-world genre is how loosely it is defined or where it can be applied. For example, Atomic Heart certainly looks like an open-world game in its design, but its developer has called it a closed-world game. Furthermore, a solid sandbox game is basically interchangeable with an open world, but there are a few differences that separate them like, for example, in the classic Assassin's Creed games and the open-world RPGs of Assassin's Creed Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. The general idea of open-world games is predicated on the idea of being able to go anywhere someone wants, with as few barriers to that as possible. That doesn't mean players are ready for some areas, with Elden Ring's Caelid being another good example of that, but they can cross into it should they wish. However players define the genre, here are the major open-world games confirmed for 2023 (in alphabetical order).
Open-World Video Games of 2023
Assassin's Creed Mirage will put players in Basim's shoes as he joins the Hidden Ones, with the game taking place in Baghdad. Its sandbox/open world is much smaller than Assassin's Creed Valhalla, as Baghdad is composed of four major districts. Furthermore, the focus on one city allows the game to bring back its more complex parkour system, with that, stealth, and assassination all playing a major role in the upcoming game.
Forspoken takes place in a fantasy open world known as Athia, one that Forspoken protagonist Frey has somehow been transported to. What's interesting is also how the game is designed to give Frey some magical parkour abilities, hopefully making exploration thereof as exhilarating as it can be.
Hogwarts Legacy gives fans something they've wanted for years: a bonafide open-world take on Hogwarts Castle and its surrounding areas, including Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest. Some areas such as the Common Rooms of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw are only available if the player chooses that house, but otherwise, they should be able to explore the grounds, complete the story, and discover any other secrets hidden in Hogwarts Legacy's titular castle.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is set for release in Fall 2023, although it has only received one trailer to this point. In other words, very little is confirmed, but players seem to be returning to New York to contend with new enemies. Marvel's Spider-Man 2's take on Venom seems to be a key figure, while Kraven the Hunter was also seemingly teased. It remains to be seen how the sequel iterates and innovates on the original's open-world approach, but fans will be swinging along before the year ends.
Skull and Bones throws players into the reaches of the Indian Ocean, as they work their way up and forge their own Pirate legacy. They'll explore a huge open world at sea, with Skull and Bones' map size being around 625 kilometers in-game. This is because it's also a shared open world, with up to 20 players on each server, and it's a multiplayer-first vehicle game. The added size is thus needed to make its world as compelling as can be, especially with its focus on story and its minor, story elements strewn throughout.
Starfield is a brand new IP from Bethesda and arguably one of its most ambitious. It's not just the Wasteland or Tamriel that serves as a player's stomping ground, but the entire galaxy. Each of Starfield's planets is procedurally generated with some added fine-tuning, meaning fans should expect a plethora of different experiences.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League puts the titular group of anti-heroes into an open-world Metropolis. The marketing so far has focused on the Justice League and the game's story instead of gameplay and the world around them, so it's uncertain what to expect right now. But with Rocksteady helming it, it's no doubt one of the most exciting open-world games on the horizon.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the highly anticipated sequel to Breath of the Wild, taking place in the same Hyrule players visited before. It'll be interesting to see how the ground world is innovated upon, but Link won't just be limited to Hyrule but also be able to explore above it. The handful of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailers out there now have shown islands and locations in the skies above Hyrule, showing that sometimes innovation really is just looking up.
It remains to be seen how each of these innovate and how they leave their marks on busy genre, but whether it's a new IP like Forspoken, a sequel like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, or licensed IP like Suicide Squad, what's clear is just how influential the genre has been since its inception.