10 Unforgettable Open World Experiences

Open-world games are popular, and many feature stunning environments that are a joy to explore. Getting lost in these worlds is often the most fun part of the experience.

Some open-world games are great to replay, but it feels different once you’ve already discovered everything. If you’re no longer driven to explore and just want to get things done quickly, the game can become less enjoyable.

There are some games so good, we’d almost want to forget them just so we could experience the joy of discovering their amazing open worlds all over again.

10. Dark Souls

Brutal Hardship

At the start of Dark Souls, you begin as a weak, lost soul, imprisoned in a cell, barely existing. But hope arrives when a key drops into your cell, giving you a chance to escape.

You begin your adventure in the Undead Asylum, where you learn the basic controls and get used to the game. Soon after, you encounter the Asylum Demon – the first of many challenging bosses you’ll face.

After finally escaping the initial challenge, you’re carried away on a bird to the world of Lordran. The feeling of freedom and discovery when you first enter Dark Souls is unforgettable. The struggle to break free from the asylum and the subsequent relief of reaching Lordran is a unique experience you can’t recreate.

9. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

An Expansive Journey

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt boasts a huge, open world brimming with secrets. It’s a massive game – you could easily spend hundreds of hours exploring everything it has to offer, and we’ve definitely lost count of how many hours we’ve played!

That said, a game that takes a long time to finish is especially enjoyable the first time you play it. When everything is fresh, it’s exciting to discover all the monsters and find hidden secrets.

Once you’ve invested a lot of time in a game, replaying it just isn’t as enjoyable. It makes you miss the feeling of experiencing it for the very first time.

8. Fallout 4

Stepping Out Into the Wasteland

Fallout 4 starts with a very quick opening. Almost immediately, nuclear bombs begin falling, forcing you and your family into a vault for safety. Sadly, your son is taken from you. You then wake up confused and unsure of how much time has passed.

You explore your former neighborhood, chat with Codsworth, and start to think about your future. Soon after, you venture out into the wider world of the Commonwealth, and those first steps into the wasteland, leaving Sanctuary Hills behind, are truly unforgettable.

It’s like saying goodbye to your home, because that’s exactly what you’re doing in the game. The world your character used to know, and the normalcy you felt at the beginning, is lost forever. Replaying Fallout 4 just doesn’t recreate that initial sense of loss.

7. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Leaving the Great Plateau

At the beginning of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you start on the Great Plateau. It’s a good place to learn the basics, but the area itself isn’t very large or exciting.

After roughly an hour of climbing, you reach the church’s peak, where the old man hands you a paraglider. This lets you leave the starting area, the Great Plateau, and begin exploring the vast world of Hyrule.

We’ll always remember the incredible feeling of gliding down from the plateau, and going back just isn’t the same. It was a truly special moment, and we wish we could experience it again exactly as we did the first time – it hasn’t felt the same since.

6. Ghost of Tsushima

Japan is Beautiful

Ghost of Tsushima is a truly special game – the kind that’s hard to replicate, even with a follow-up. It reimagines feudal Japan with stunning fantasy elements, and uses spirit animals to help you navigate its beautiful world.

Ghost of Tsushima doesn’t immediately overwhelm you with its beauty, but it slowly captivates you as you explore – whether you’re riding through flower-filled fields or relaxing under cherry blossoms. Each location is stunning, and the game’s cinematic presentation enhances this, using clever camera angles and lighting to perfectly match the surroundings.

Once you’ve uncovered all the secrets of this world, revisiting it just isn’t the same as experiencing it for the first time – it’s a feeling we wish we could recapture.

5. Cyberpunk 2077

Relive Night City

Cyberpunk 2077 boasts one of the most immersive open worlds in recent gaming, and many players find themselves returning to it again and again. Night City is a vibrant and gritty place where ambition can be rewarded, even if it means making tough choices.

The game starts with a short tutorial, and then you’re free to explore. But the best part is definitely getting behind the wheel of a car and driving around – it’s the perfect way to really experience the city.

Night City is full of bright lights, excitement, and a mix of comfort and danger – everything is on display. While revisiting Cyberpunk 2077 is enjoyable, nothing compares to that initial experience of exploring the city, knowing where you want to go and what you want to find.

4. Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth

Amazing Fantasy

Final Fantasy 7 is the standout game in the series for us, thanks to its unforgettable characters – Cloud, Tifa, and Barrett – and stunning locations like Midgar. While the original game is beloved, the technology of the time did hold it back in some ways.

We were happy when Final Fantasy 7 Remake came out, but Rebirth really surpassed it. It expanded the game beyond the city of Midgar, letting players experience the stunning landscapes of Gaia for the first time.

There’s nothing quite like experiencing something for the first time in a game – whether it’s riding a Chocobo or visiting a place like Costa Del Sol. The developers clearly put a lot of effort into creating the game’s world, and it really shines. However, revisiting it later on just doesn’t feel the same as that initial, special experience.

3. Horizon Zero Dawn

A Post-Apocalyptic Masterpiece

I was hooked on Horizon Zero Dawn the moment I saw the first trailer. Seriously, robot dinosaurs? That’s not something you see every day, and I needed to know what the story behind them was.

The game starts with you playing as a young Aloy, excitedly finding ancient technology. It felt like watching someone take their first steps – a truly adventurous beginning.

Once the story expands and you venture out on your own, the world truly opens up – it’s an incredibly powerful feeling. While the game remains enjoyable on repeat playthroughs, you never quite recapture that initial sense of wonder.

2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Why Can’t We Go Beyond Whiterun?

I have fond memories of first playing Skyrim – it really made an impact when it came out. Stepping into the world felt amazing, and it was great to be able to explore without a lot of hand-holding.

Exploring old ruins and hidden underground tombs filled with skeletons was an incredible rush, and we loved finding all sorts of treasures. It felt like every turn held a new discovery.

Having spent so much time in Skyrim, it’s hard to recapture that initial thrill of surviving the opening sequence. Once you reach Whiterun, the game often loses its appeal, and you just want to rush through everything.

1. Elden Ring

Stepping Into The Lands Between

Elden Ring is a truly exceptional open-world game, widely praised by critics and players alike, and has drawn gamers into its immersive world, The Lands Between.

You start the game by being defeated by the first boss, but you quickly recover and ride an elevator upwards. Once outside, you’ll be amazed by the vast world before you, which you’re now free to explore at your own pace.

You begin your journey in a vast, open world with minimal guidance, leaving you free to explore. There’s nothing quite like your initial experience – discovering the landscape of Limgrave, finding secret paths, or defeating your first challenging enemy. While each time you play is enjoyable, it never quite matches the feeling of liberation you get when you first emerge from that initial tomb.

2026-05-15 15:41