Greatest Open-World Journey Games Of All Time, Ranked

Many games offer exciting exploration, but lack a strong, central storyline. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a prime example – it’s fantastic for its exploration, dungeons, and world design. However, instead of a detailed journey, Link simply has a mission: to rescue Zelda.

Games like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor really focus on the journey itself. Let’s explore other open-world games that do this well and rank them, judging both how good they are overall and how compelling their journeys are.

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10. Pokemon Pokopia

Trying To Find Lost Pokemon

In Pokemon Pokopia, the game begins with Ditto discovering their Trainer has disappeared. To take their place, Ditto transforms into a human. As they search for their Trainer, they encounter other Pokemon and explore a ruined version of the Kanto region – the setting of the original Pokemon games – which appears to have suffered a catastrophic event. Players can attract Pokemon to abandoned houses and overgrown areas along the way.

Whatever happened to the people and their cities? The Pokémon witnessed something, but they’ve lost their memories of it. It’s a small, intriguing mystery with a warm and inviting feel.

9. Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor

Stopping The Return Of Sauron

At its core, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a story about both getting revenge and saving the world. The game starts with Talion, a Ranger, being killed by orcs, but he’s brought back to life by Celebrimbor, the elf who originally crafted the Rings of Power. Together, they journey across Mordor, dismantling orc strongholds and eliminating their leaders to defeat Sauron’s army and prevent his return.

Set before the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the game focuses heavily on combat with orcs, with limited interaction with other characters. What makes it unique is the Nemesis System: the game tracks how you treat each orc. If you don’t kill them, they might come back later as stronger enemies, seeking revenge on Talion for letting them live.

8. Fallout: New Vegas

Return To Sender

Like many stories, Fallout: New Vegas centers around revenge. It begins with the player character, a delivery person, being shot and left for dead just outside New Vegas. After being saved by a helpful doctor, the player is sent on a journey to uncover what happened and ultimately seek retribution.

Returning to New Vegas, the characters will attempt to understand the events that unfolded. The game is an open-world experience set after a catastrophe, allowing players to explore freely, complete optional tasks, or battle creatures and outlaws in the wasteland. However, the main storyline is particularly engaging, especially considering its strong beginning.

7. Ghost Of Yotei

Another Quest For Vengeance

“Ghost of Yotei” is the final story focused on revenge, and it’s a truly remarkable one. It opens with Atsu, a wandering samurai, arriving in a village and defeating a powerful crime boss in a brutal fight. The story then flashes back to reveal that Atsu’s family was murdered by a masked group called the Yotei Six, who also left her for dead.

Players will journey through ancient Japan, hunting down and eliminating the Yotei Six one by one. After each battle, Atsu ritualistically wipes the defeated enemy’s blood onto a sash she wears – a visually rewarding moment.

6. Horizon Forbidden West

Trying To Reach A New World

In Horizon Forbidden West, the main character, Aloy, journeys from Colorado to the West Coast hoping to uncover the truth about her origins and the mysterious robotic creatures that inhabit the post-apocalyptic world. Essentially, the game is about Aloy broadening her search for answers.

Compared to games like Fallout: New Vegas, this world is remarkably lush and green, a refreshing change for the post-apocalyptic genre. The story follows Aloy as she encounters a mysterious, technologically advanced enemy trying to control the robotic creatures. While familiarity with the first game, Horizon Zero Dawn, enhances the experience, newcomers can still easily get immersed thanks to helpful context and the game’s overall depth – from its satisfying archery combat to Aloy’s fluid movement.

5. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Are You My Mommy?

The latest installment, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, begins a little slowly. We find Ichiban Kasuga, a former Yakuza member, working a temporary job. After a public scandal, he unexpectedly finds himself in Hawaii – and without any clothes! – with only one goal in mind: to locate the mother who left him when he was a child.

I’m really getting into this game! You meet all sorts of people – some tough gangs who want to silence you, but also locals who are happy to help Ichiban. It’s cool to see some familiar faces too. What starts as helping out a small-time mafia group quickly spirals into something much bigger – a dangerous cult trying to control Honolulu! You fight using a classic turn-based combat system, and through it all, Ichiban is trying to uncover the truth about his mom and save the city from all the street brawls.

4. Red Dead Redemption

Getting The Old Gang Back Together

Red Dead Redemption tells a story about facing the consequences of your past, set in the classic Old West. John Marston is an ex-outlaw trying to live a peaceful life with his family, but the government forces him to hunt down his old criminal companions.

John will systematically find these people, not to get revenge, but to bring them to justice. He doesn’t intend to kill them himself; he wants to help the authorities capture them and let the legal system handle the consequences. However, like classic Westerns, the game will feature plenty of gunfights and violence.

3. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Linking Up The World Yet Again

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, similar to the original game, centers around rebuilding a world shattered by a catastrophic event. The first game followed Sam Porter Bridges as he traveled across the ruined United States, linking isolated settlements together. Now, in the sequel, Sam’s mission expands to Mexico and includes a connection to Australia through a special gateway.

Players will receive supplies to rebuild abandoned bunkers. While the game involves delivering those supplies, it’s actually a story about loss, revenge, and healing. Ultimately, it’s a beautiful journey across a vividly realized part of the world.

2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Where Is Ciri?

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt concludes the first series of games based on The Witcher novels. While previous games centered on Geralt’s search for Yennifer, this installment begins with them reunited, only to face a new crisis. Ciri, who Geralt and Yennifer consider family, has disappeared and is being pursued by a dangerous, supernatural enemy.

At its heart, the game’s story is a race against time to find Ciri before the Wild Hunt does. You play as Geralt, a fantasy detective and bounty hunter, who investigates clues in cities across the land. The story also lets you play as Ciri herself in flashback sequences, showing her facing her own challenges. Thanks to its excellent writing, this game is among the best open-world experiences available.

1. Shadow Of The Colossus (2018)

A Mysterious Journey

Though Shadow of the Colossus features minimal dialogue, it powerfully conveys its story. The game begins with Wander, a young man, laying Mono on an altar. He then receives instructions from mysterious voices to defeat massive creatures, and a magical sword guides him to each colossus he must face.

Wander battles massive creatures, taking their power in hopes of bringing a girl named Mono back to life. The game takes place in a beautiful but desolate world, full of ruins that create a powerfully emotional atmosphere without relying on extensive storytelling. It’s a game focused on the experience of exploration, and it culminates in a truly unforgettable ending, even more impactful than its already impressive boss fights.

2026-05-01 01:36