Open-World RPGs With The Best Stories

Creating a compelling story in an open-world game can be challenging. Some developers prioritize the overall experience and freedom of exploration over a strong narrative. A great example is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which is considered a landmark open-world game, but its main story isn’t particularly memorable.

What open-world role-playing games (RPGs) offer the most compelling stories? We’ll be looking at the best of the best, considering both the main storyline and the game’s overall world. We’ll discuss the stories briefly, but won’t reveal any spoilers.

Diablo 4

Lilith Bringing Peace

One of the strengths of Diablo 4‘s story is its villain, Lilith. Unlike many previous Diablo games where the main bad guy hides in the shadows, Lilith is a constant, looming presence throughout the entire game.

Each area in the game has been uniquely affected by Lilith, corrupting either entire communities or key characters. Combined with strong voice acting, especially from Ralph Ineson, this keeps players engaged and motivated to continue playing to discover what unfolds next.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Rags To Riches

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 doesn’t immediately grab you with a thrilling story or a fantastical setting. Instead, it’s about progressing through medieval society and striving to become a better person, all within a historically realistic world.

Though it doesn’t have fantastical elements, the story is as gripping as Game of Thrones, featuring characters that feel genuinely real and will evoke strong feelings from players. It’s comparable to Red Dead Redemption 2 in terms of role-playing quality, which is high praise.

Fallout: New Vegas

A Debt Paid

The beginning of Fallout: New Vegas is fantastic: you’re attacked by a strange group, and then you wake up in a hospital with no idea what happened. The game kicks off with you trying to find out who shot you and get revenge in a classic post-apocalyptic setting.

The Fallout games are known for their excellent writing, particularly in how they develop the different groups and characters you encounter. While the character designs aren’t the most modern, they’re definitely memorable and creative – like the surprisingly fun gang of Elvis impersonators you might find in the wasteland!

Cyberpunk 2077

Electric Dreams

It’s worth playing Cyberpunk 2077 at least twice because your choices significantly impact both the story and how missions play out. The game lets you begin with three different backgrounds, all converging on a major heist in Night City that sets the stage for the main story involving the character Johnny Silverhand.

Players will encounter me, an AI trapped inside their minds, and must find a way to remove me. Whether they choose to help me or destroy me is their decision. The game tells a bleak and intense story about the consequences of unchecked greed in a futuristic setting, offering a unique cyberpunk experience unlike any other.

Horizon Forbidden West

A Heightened Apocalypse

The first Horizon Zero Dawn game, like many series starters, took its time building the story and featured a protagonist, Aloy, who was initially guarded and distrustful. This created a somewhat bleak atmosphere. Fortunately, Horizon Forbidden West gives Aloy a chance to become more approachable and the characters she encounters are much more engaging.

The story is much more thrilling this time, featuring enigmatic, powerful enemies who seem like gods. The identity of these futuristic villains is surprisingly revealed, and the answer sets up a potentially amazing finale if the series continues with a third installment.

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Getting Wild Overseas

Okay, so I’ve been playing Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and it’s a wild ride! The story gets pretty strange at times, but honestly, it’s full of heart, a really intriguing mystery, and just non-stop action. It starts with me, as Ichiban, somehow ending up in Hawaii trying to track down my mom. But things quickly go south – I’m immediately getting messed with by Yakuza and discovering this whole secret network of homeless people who are basically running the city from the shadows. It’s crazy!

The game also introduces a mysterious cult, and despite the seemingly unrelated elements, it skillfully connects everything together like a well-crafted detective story. Each character plays a significant role, and Ichiban truly shines as the unlikely hero we’ve been waiting for.

Disco Elysium

A Painterly Dystopian Story

If you’re all about the story in a game, seriously, check out Disco Elysium. You play as a detective who’s lost his memory, and while you start out investigating a murder, it quickly pulls you into all the different political stuff happening around the city. It’s a lot of reading, but it’s so worth it if you love a good narrative.

The game uses dice rolls to determine outcomes, which you can see on screen. You can improve your chances of success by improving your character’s abilities or finding better equipment. The story is excellent but quite dark and may not appeal to all players, especially because the game is fairly complex. However, it’s rare to find a game that focuses so much on the choices you make in conversations.

Xenoblade Chronicles

Robots In Disguise

The Xenoblade series is known for its compelling stories, and it all started with the original Xenoblade Chronicles. The game follows Shulk, who embarks on a journey for revenge and understanding after his peaceful village is attacked by machines, following a long history of conflict between humans and machines.

Okay, so at first, this game seemed like your typical fantasy story – humans fighting robots, you know? But honestly, it quickly turned into something way more complex and unexpected, and I was genuinely surprised. The world is huge and a blast to explore in both the Wii and Switch versions, but what’s really cool is that the story never slows down. If you’re looking to play it now, the 2020 remaster is definitely the way to go – it’s a really gripping sci-fi story and the best way to experience it.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Father Seeking Daughter

At its heart, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the story of a father, Geralt, searching for his daughter, Ciri, and protecting her from dangerous foes. The game begins with Geralt reconnecting with his love, Yennifer, and the two of them team up to find Ciri and keep her safe.

Geralt is a serious and pragmatic character, much like a fantasy version of Batman, and Ciri is his opposite – a much more carefree spirit. Their different personalities and how they tackle challenges, combined with their search for each other, lead to a truly heartwarming conclusion – if you get the good ending.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Adaptation Perfection

Any of these games could be considered the best, but for RPG fans who fondly remember playing Final Fantasy 7 on the original PlayStation, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a standout success. It flawlessly revisits beloved moments while also refreshing the experience with new ideas and a vibrant feel.

The Junon section in the original game had Cloud sneak into Shinra on his own, eventually meeting up with his team. The remake takes a much lighter, more playful approach. While it’s filled with humor, it also features surprisingly emotional and dramatic moments between the characters. Ultimately, the game is incredibly energetic and fun, from its story to how it plays.

2026-01-03 02:36