The open world genre is a tough one to get down. Some games fail the assignment, creating gigantic open maps that have little to nothing to do in them, but others create worlds that feel like they exist on their own, regardless of our participation.
This can be everything from the people that inhabit it being noticeable and interacting with the world to massive, otherworldly beasts that roam while you play, whether you decide to fight them or not.
10 Best Semi-Open World Games
For players who want to explore, but not be overwhelmed by a world larger than the story.
The best open-world games generally have this type of vibe going for them, and we’re going to check out a bunch of the most lively open worlds to ever exist.
We will be spanning decades of gaming here since the open world has existed for a very long time, so buckle up and let’s explore.
10Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
A World Unlike Any Other
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
You could argue that no open world is better than the one crafted inXenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. It nails the feeling of being on an alien planet better than any game I can think of, and from the moment you step out of New LA into the vast, mysterious open world, you feel both fear and wonder, and that’s exactly what they were going for here.
The best part of the open world is the creatures, as there are tons of different varieties of massive creatures roaming plains, soaring through the sky, or swimming in the sea at all times.
These creatures all exist entirely independently of you, and they feel incredibly real with their movements and sounds, and it feels like you’re exploring an alien version of Jurassic Park.
Things expand all the more when you unlock the Skells, which are massive flying mechs that let you take to the sky to fight these gargantuan creatures, and the exploration in the air proves to be just as wondrous as it is on the ground, making this open world one of the liveliest ones there is.
9The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
This World is Dying, But it’s Very Alive
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Fextralife Wiki
The Witcher 3is a legendary game, and part of that is becausethe open world set the tone for what every other open world game would have to live up tofrom 2015 onwards. Although the land is wartorn, full of horrors and people suffering left and right, it is one of the most lively open worlds we’ve ever seen.
The way it does this is with the people. They are doing daily tasks, you can see them change position throughout the days and nights, and most importantly, they’re all able to be interacted with in some way.
Towns will be bustling, or clearly in need of a Witcher’s help when you walk into them, and the big cities like Novigrad seem to exist in their own little bubble with people walking through markets, singing at bars, dancing, getting robbed, and many other random occurrences that all take place without your participation.
The Witcher 3 ropes you in with its premise, but the reason you stay for the 60+ hours is because the world is alive, and while it can be horrible, it’s also beautiful and lively.
8Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Just a Small Fish in a Big Pond
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2is one of the most realistic worlds in any RPG.It’s a faithful recreation of what medieval life may have been in Bohemia, and the world feels absolutely bursting with life because of that dedication.
The cities are incredibly interesting to explore, with tons of side quests to discover and random activities to take part in. There are blacksmiths at work, people causing trouble in the streets, bathhouse workers walking around, bars that have barmaids going from table to table, taking orders, and you’re just a part of it all.
When you venture outside the civilized areas, you’ll find adventurers on the road, bandits huddled around campfires, murders taking place in front of you that you don’t have to do a thing about, and it’s a wild feeling that this world continues with or without your participation.
This world is so alive that you may follow individuals around, and most people will have a job that they’ll perform all day and then head to bed at night. It’s incredible the amount of depth here.
7Elden Ring
Elden Ring
Fextralife
Elden Ringmight not seem like a game that should be on this list, butits open world is incredibleand more alive than you might think. Now, it might be filled with countless monstrosities and horrific entities, but hey, they’re breathing too, right?
As you travel this terrifying world, you can see remnants of what the world might’ve once been. There are workers in the mine going about their daily tasks, giants dragging massive carriages across expansive fields, while soldiers march in formation, massive dragons roam, and corrupted plant life infests ruins that have been forgotten by time. It’s a fascinating and lively place to be, even if everything that’s alive there is designed to kill you.
I think the best proof of how alive the world is would be the castle sieges you may choose to engage with. Exploring to the south will show you a massive battle going on without your participation, and entering Stormveil Castle will show you a well-fortified fortress that is being consciously protected by a variety of different creatures.
It’s alive in the weirdest and most unsettling way, and that’s part of why Elden Ring is such a fascinating game to explore.
6Horizon: Zero Dawn
The New World
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Horizon: Zero Dawnisone of the more profound visual experiencesyou can have with a game, and part of that is demonstrated by this vibrant, ancient feeling world that is bursting with life in the strangest of ways.
The robot dinosaur-type creatures that roam this world are so organic in their movements, sounds, and overall existence that you believe you’re exploring this mysterious world.
While you won’t see them every step you take, you’re able to feel their presence everywhere and when you’re not sneaking around trying to take one down, you’ll be exploring bustling villages with the last remnants of humanity just trying to survive, cultist hideouts that feel nefarious and calculated and most of all, the terrifying old Farotech marching around.
It’s not a game that relies on stocking every inch of the world with life, but the life you do find feels real, and it makes the world feel real because of it.
5Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Concrete Jungle That Games Were For
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2brings New York City to life in a way that no game has done before.The city feels so alive, and you’re a part of it. The streets are packed with people, and there is constantly something to check out, from crimes being committed by criminals to citizens looking for help from their friendly neighborhood Spider-Men.
Soaring past the buildings, seeing rooftop parties happening, carnivals with people all over who will soon need saving, it’s all so incredibly well-realized and makes you want to save people in this city because it’s so believable that they’re real.
The passersby who see Spider-Man swinging around will acknowledge his presence with cheers and yells, and there’s constantly traffic moving around, firetrucks blaring. As a resident of the city in question, I can say this was a pretty accurate representation of it.
The amazing contrast in the game once the Symbiote invasion happens shows just how alive the game world is, because in the endgame, it feels devoid of life.
4The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
This Fantasy is Real
Despite being 14 years old at this point,Skyrimis still one of the best and most alive-feeling open worlds there is. There are tons of places to explore here, from cities to towns to dungeons, and the places where people exist here are just amazing to witness.
There is so much energy here, as bars are full of people ready for you to converse with or recruit, the streets are full of interesting and sketchy people on occasion, and guards are always maintaining their posts.
At the End of the Day, There’s Still Skyrim
Despite being bleak and cold, Skyrim has a warmth unlike any other world in gaming.
Perhaps the best example of this world being alive is when a dragon attacks. In any game before Skyrim, this would just be an awkward situation where you and the dragon face off one-on-one in a town while NPCs go about their daily lives. But not here.
In Skyrim, the whole town reacts, with people screaming, running for cover, and others running to defend their homes. It’s an action-packed dance that’s one of a kind, as people left and right start launching arrows, fighting next to the guards, and overall feeling as alive as you’d expect anyone to be in the face of certain doom.
3Assassin’s Creed: Origins
Bringing Ancient Egypt Into Your Home
Assassin’s Creed Origins
While there are a handful of games in the RPG quadrilogy of Assassin’s Creed, onlyAssassin’s Creed: Originscreated a believable and lively world.
The way Egypt comes to life here is still one of the coolest things I’ve seen in the long-running series. I’m not sure why they slacked on this aspect for future titles, but everything feels so real here, from the crocodiles gliding through the water to the locals running around the marketplace or the Roman soldiers standing guard; it’s one of the more believable and lively worlds you can find.
I think the way the world reacts to you is particularly great. From side quest givers to random people you pass in the street, you can easily be a passenger if you’d like, but if you choose to engage with the world, it definitely is noticeable.
The crocodiles are vicious and react to your presence, as are the hippos, and you can find all kinds of interesting things happening throughout the world, from women preparing salves for the wounded, or engaging with the arena while a crowd roars in the background. It’s a wildly energetic atmosphere.
Living in the Old West
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2refined what an open world could be in 2018, creating a world so realistic that it made Hollywood directors look to it for inspiration.
The way the Old West is crafted here is deeply serious, witha mature tone and vibe that gives us a great look at what life might’ve been like back then.
Roaming the countryside is a beautiful experience, and you might pass campfires with people singing songs, roaming bandits, someone tied to a train track, someone looking for help, or just the various animals running around throughout the game.
While that’s great, it’s in the towns and cities where the game really feels alive. There are entire shows happening completely independent of you in theatres, huge poker games, bustling bars, and general everyday tasks are being carried out by the citizens of the world.
You can interact with anyone, and the world reacts accordingly. Something as simple as bumping into someone in a bar could start a brawl, a duel on the street could cause the sheriff to come after you, or a kidnapping could send a bounty hunter after you. It’s one of the most reactive and lively worlds to exist.
1Cyberpunk 2077
The Sights and Sounds of Night City
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077might’ve had some big issues when it came out, but these days it’s as good an RPG as you’re able to find. One reason is the credible world of Night City that you have to explore.
I’ve put hundreds of hours into this game, and I am still finding new things to find. That’s because this feels like an actual city. There are tons of people on the streets, police looking into murders with areas taped off, gangs roaming their territories, and anything you can think of, you can find it in Night City.
The Ripper Docs have people showing up to get operated on, the various food stands are full of people, and you can even find a bunch of lively areas in the desert areas outside the city, where you’ll find a different group of people just going about their lives, trying to survive any way they can.
There is an authenticity to the world here that feels disturbingly plausible for our near future, and it’s because of how lively the world is.
10 Open World Games With Amazing Side Quests
These games have such immersive universes that the optional content ends up being just as good as the main campaign.
