Best Sci-Fi Open-World RPGs – Investment Policy

Great science fiction games aren’t always about distant futures, spaceships, and aliens. Some of the most compelling ones offer insights into our current world or reimagine the past in creative ways. For instance, fans of open-world games might appreciate the stealth gameplay of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain or the bleak vision of the world in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – both created by the talented Hideo Kojima.

These games offer fantastic open-world experiences with science fiction themes, but they aren’t role-playing games. If you’re interested in sci-fi open-world titles, these are worth checking out. We’ll be ranking them based on how creative they are, how well they’re made, and their overall quality, covering everything from shooting games to those featuring tanks.

Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

At Long Last

The original Avatar film captivated audiences with its world of Pandora. While a game was released alongside it, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora offers a much more immersive experience. Players create their own Na’vi character and embark on quests in a style similar to other popular online Ubisoft games.

Players can hunt monsters, battle enemy soldiers, find treasure, and enjoy a stunning world filled with vibrant jungles and unique creatures. The game features both familiar faces from the films and entirely new creations, which should excite fans.

Sand Land

Tank Boy

Sand Land was the final project from manga artist Akira Toriyama before his passing. It’s a creative blend of fantasy and science fiction, taking place on a ruined, desert planet where demons and humans battle for control of scarce water resources.

Honestly, anything Toriyama touches looks amazing, and this game is no different – the character, monster, and machine designs are top-notch. I’m really enjoying playing as Beelzebub and getting into the fast-paced fights, but the coolest part? Piloting tanks and mechs that seriously give me Dragon Ball‘s Capsule Corp vibes. It’s a blast!

Tom Clancy’s The Division

Battle Royale

Tom Clancy’s The Division presents a gripping, though unsettling, premise for an action-packed shooter. Set in New York City after a devastating viral outbreak triggered by a Black Friday scheme, the game follows a specialized task force called The Division. Their mission: restore order and prevent various groups from seizing control of the chaotic city.

It’s surprising how quickly the city fell, especially with this hidden group of elite soldiers operating behind the scenes. The snowy, confined environment feels like a stronger setting than the one used in the sequel, though the action sequences were improved in that installment.

Nier: Automata

A Haunting Look Into The Future

A big part of what makes Nier: Automata so popular is its surprisingly somber and thought-provoking story, combined with the fast-paced, polished combat developed by PlatinumGames. The game takes place far in the future, where humans have fled to space and rely on android soldiers to reclaim Earth from the machines that now inhabit it.

The game takes place on a revitalized Earth populated mainly by robots – some friendly, some not – all grappling with memories of the past. The environment is beautiful and wildlife flourishes, even allowing players to ride animals like moose across a large, explorable world. While the world-building is impressive, the game isn’t a true open-world experience, which holds it back from being truly exceptional.

Borderlands 4

The Vault Hunters Of Tomorrow

Borderlands 4 continues the story of the Borderlands series, building on the universe Gearbox Software created back in 2009. The game is set in a world where powerful corporations, primarily those dealing in weapons and defense, control everything.

Players take on the role of Vault Hunters – think treasure hunters – searching for riches left behind by ancient civilizations, hoping to strike it big and escape a chaotic life. While the setting – a universe controlled by corporations amidst constant war – might seem grim, the game’s lighthearted tone keeps it from being depressing. Plus, the fast-paced, first-person action of collecting countless guns is incredibly engaging.

The Outer Worlds 2

Money Makes Space Go Round

Like the first Outer Worlds game, The Outer Worlds 2 takes place in a world dominated by corporations. However, this time, you won’t be caught in the middle of the corporate struggle – you’ll play as a soldier tasked with bringing order to planets overrun by their influence.

Players can choose to support different corporations, allowing for a highly personalized experience – from how their character looks to the conversations they have. The game’s art style, featuring buildings, ships, outfits, and weapons, is inspired by the classic, adventurous science fiction stories of the 1960s and 70s. You can explore this galactic role-playing game from either a third-person or first-person perspective.

Horizon Forbidden West

A Destroyed West Coast

Horizon Forbidden West is the second game in the series, set on a future Earth overrun by machines that resemble animals. While humanity has been largely defeated, small communities still survive, primarily in what used to be the United States, and likely elsewhere. With nature reclaiming the world, it’s one of the most visually stunning post-apocalyptic games available.

The original Horizon game took place in Colorado, but the new sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, sends the main character, Aloy, to the West Coast. It’s a fantastic open-world adventure on the PS5, featuring familiar landmarks and exciting robot battles fought from a third-person perspective.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Fantasy Mechs

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the newest game in the Xenoblade series, famous for its beautiful worlds and complex, futuristic technology. The story starts with a never-ending conflict between two groups, but soon expands into a much larger adventure.

The main characters discover they can transform into powerful, mech-like forms called Ouroboros, giving them the ability to battle the game’s primary enemy, Moebius. Players will explore diverse environments – from lush forests and arid deserts to peaceful beaches – while enjoying fast-paced, visually stunning combat reminiscent of MMOs. Similar to Sand Land, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 expertly blends science fiction and fantasy elements.

Cyberpunk 2077

From Tabletop To Console

Cyberpunk 2077 is a fantastic example of science fiction, and CD Projekt Red successfully adapted the tabletop game into an engaging cyberpunk world. It’s similar to Grand Theft Auto, letting players explore the gritty underbelly of Night City and work their way up from the bottom.

The game features a wide variety of vehicles for getting around, and a cool arsenal of customizable guns that are enjoyable to use. Players can also extensively modify their own bodies, allowing for creative approaches to completing missions. It’s a fantastic take on the cyberpunk genre, and hopefully just the beginning of a larger game series.

Fallout: New Vegas

War Never Changes

We’ll be using Fallout: New Vegas to represent the entire Fallout world because its setting is considered one of the best ever created. The game uniquely blends a retro 1950s style with futuristic technology, creating a truly distinctive look.

Honestly, blasting mutants and bandits while listening to classic 50s music never gets boring! But what really stands out to me is Fallout: New Vegas. Obsidian Entertainment nailed the whole post-apocalyptic Nevada setting – it’s a really bleak world, but also full of these weird, interesting groups, like people obsessed with ancient Rome or Elvis. And the writing? It’s fantastic. It all comes together to create a vibe that, for me, no other game has ever matched.

2026-02-08 08:35