8 Open-World Games That Will Sink Hundreds Of Hours Of Your Life

by

Summary

  • Yakuza 0 offers a mind-boggling amount of side content, ensuring players stay engaged for hours.
  • Cyberpunk 2077, with DLC, provides numerous ways for players to extend playtime in its beautiful world.
  • Fallout: New Vegas, with expansions, offers a long, captivating gameplay experience, making it easy to invest hundreds of hours.

In present days, open-world gaming has become extremely popular, as numerous games are attempting to entice players to invest hundreds of hours into their games. However, achieving this goal can be challenging due to the vast array of open-world games available. Yet, some sandbox titles have found ways to distinguish themselves effectively.

Engrossing content, enjoyable side missions, amusing mini-games, and intricate mechanics that reveal fresh activities keep players captivated, leading them to invest significant amounts of time. If an open-world game resonates with players, they often find themselves invested for hours, striving to perfect their skills in the game, even following the conclusion of the main narrative.

1. Yakuza 0

The Sheer Amount Of Side Content In This Game Is Mind-Boggling

In terms of sheer content, Yakuza 0 might be the richest game in the series. Characters Kiryu and Majima have their own separate activities aside from their main stories, and these aren’t just tacked on – they’re fully fleshed out. Plus, there are numerous side-stories and minigames that are a blast to play individually.

Playing Mr. Shakedown numerous times, eventually mastering real estate in Kamurocho, transforming Club Sunshine into the premier cabaret club in Sotenbori, and delving into the poignant tales of both characters promises to keep gamers engrossed for quite some time. For those who enjoy optimizing their characters, this could result in gameplay sessions lasting over a hundred hours.

2. Cyberpunk 2077

With The DLC, There Are A Ton Of Ways Players Can Extend Their Playtime In This Game

Cyberpunk 2077 stands as one of the most visually stunning open-world games, and fans were pleased when CD Projekt Red continued their dedication to this game by rectifying many major bugs and performance problems, while also adding more content. Moreover, significant updates effectively enhanced the gameplay mechanics, providing players with yet another reason to delve into the captivating landscape of Night City.

Playing this game could easily consume several hundred hours of your time, and that’s before you even get to Dogtown. This intricate and multi-layered district, known as Phantom Liberty, is not only one of the main attractions of the game but also significantly increases a player’s playtime.

3. Fallout: New Vegas

Completing The Base Game And Its Expansions Will Take A Long, Long Time

Fallout: New Vegas stands out as one of the most enthralling open-world role-playing games for fans, offering a rich base game filled with content. To keep players engaged even further, Obsidian Entertainment developed four expansion packs that each offer their unique appeal.

In the rich array of role-playing possibilities offered by New Vegas, it’s no wonder that players can enjoy themselves extensively over numerous playthroughs. This game holds such captivating appeal that one could easily sink hundreds of hours into it without ever growing weary, a clear indication of the greatness of Obsidian’s masterpiece.

4. Red Dead Redemption 2

The Open World Is Massive And Becomes Even Bigger In The Epilogue

Rockstar astonished fans with their outstanding creation in Red Dead Redemption 2, constructing one of the most captivating sandboxes that enthusiasts would eagerly delve into repeatedly. Following a prolonged introduction, gamers will eventually gain access to the expansive open world, left awestruck by the abundance of features they encounter.

In a more relaxed and conversational tone: Red Dead Redemption 2 leans heavily towards realism, which can sometimes make the gameplay feel a tad sluggish. Yet, this deliberate pacing enriches the game’s ambiance and encourages players to lose themselves in this breathtaking world for countless hours.

5. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Players Can Spend Endless Hours Messing Around In The Game World

In contrast to certain similarities it shares with its predecessor, “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” compensates by offering intricate gameplay systems that motivate players to invest substantial time in crafting distinctive gadgets, which are delightful to play around with. Players might find themselves spending numerous hours just experimenting with Ultrahand alone, demonstrating the versatility of this power.

The tale has never been more expansive, enabling players to delve into both the Underworld and the Floating Islands, with the ultimate goal of making Link as powerful as possible. If you wish to fully immerse yourself in this world, uncovering all the hidden mysteries scattered throughout every nook and cranny, then spending numerous hours on Tears of the Kingdom is as straightforward as it gets.

6. Elden Ring

Honing One’s Skills And Experimenting With Different Builds Is Time-Consuming But Extremely Compelling

Elden Ring offers such an abundance of content that gamers might effortlessly sink hundreds of hours into it across several playthroughs without yet reaching the Shadow of the Erdtree add-on. This speaks volumes about the game’s expansive universe, which provides players with endless chances to delve into novel locales, uncover distinctive weapons and gear, scavenge for precious Runes used for character progression, and much more.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, the gradual advancement in strength as my character grows and I customize my build never fails to excite me. Sure, encountering the same minor dungeon bosses now and then might lessen their initial impact, but that certainly doesn’t diminish Elden Ring’s knack for keeping me engrossed and entertained for countless hours on end.

7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Base Game Is Massive Enough As Is, And The Expansions Add To The Runtime Considerably

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” is a massive and highly ambitious open-world video game that offers countless hours of enjoyable gameplay for fans. The core game itself can lead players to invest hundreds of hours as they explore the numerous storyline branches, but CD Projekt Red didn’t settle for that. Instead, they added more content, ensuring an even richer experience.

In addition, they introduced two extensive expansion packs, named “Hearts of Stone” and “Blood & Wine”, which are as long as numerous standalone video games. This just goes to show the immense enthusiasm players have for this game, as they can easily invest hundreds of hours into it without ever feeling bored.

8. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

The Remaster Gives Players An Excuse To Jump Into Cyrodil For Hundreds Of Hours Once Again

Enthusiasts were taken aback yet thrilled when an unexpected re-release of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, dubbed a remaster, appeared out of the blue. This new version invites players to journey through the diverse landscapes of Cyrodil once more. The effort put into remaking this Elder Scrolls game was remarkable, and it has significantly improved Bethesda’s reputation.

As a gamer, stepping back into the world of Oblivion feels like reuniting with an old friend whose quirks you can’t help but adore. The janky allure and accidentally hilarious dialogues are still intact, adding to the nostalgic charm as I roam through Cyrodil once more. Kudos to Bethesda for finding the perfect balance in remastering this classic, giving it a fresh coat of paint without losing its timeless essence. The updated systems may be a nod to modern gaming, but they never detract from the endless fun of getting lost in this beloved and extraordinary open world.

Read More

2025-04-27 13:44