Open-World Games You’ll Play for Hours Without Realizing

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Few experiences are as captivating as losing yourself in a video game. While any type of game can be immersive, open-world games are especially good at drawing you in and keeping you hooked for hours. I’ve spent countless days enjoying these games, and they’ve created some of my best memories. Whether you’re following the main storyline or simply exploring, open-world games are fantastic at letting you lose track of time, and that’s a good thing!

It’s easy to get tired of open-world games if you play them often – that’s true of any game genre, really. But when you do want that kind of freedom to explore, nothing else quite hits the spot. With so many open-world titles available, choosing one can be overwhelming. So, I’ve put together a few recommendations that I think you’ll really lose yourself in. They certainly had that effect on me!

You probably already know that games like GTA 5, Breath of the Wild, and Skyrim are great. Since those recommendations are pretty obvious, I’m focusing on open-world games that are a little less well-known or have gotten mixed reviews. Hopefully, you’ll discover something new here.

Forspoken

A Magical Open-World Game With Awesome Traversal, Combat, And Side Quests

Let’s be honest, I mainly wanted to write this to talk about Forspoken! I know it got a lot of criticism when it first came out, but if you have access to it through a service like PS Plus Extra, and you’re looking for a fun, open-world game where you become a really powerful mage, you should definitely check it out.

Forspoken begins a bit slowly. The story follows Frey, who is unexpectedly transported from New York to the realm of Athia after discovering a mysterious bracelet. Athia was once a thriving land protected by four powerful beings called Tantas, but it’s now in ruins, plagued by a corrupting force that has turned many inhabitants into monsters. With the help of Cuff, a talking bracelet, Frey learns magic and sets out to defeat the corrupted Tantas and save Athia.

Seriously, Forspoken is a zombie game. Don’t worry, Athia is home to plenty of other monsters.

The first few hours of Forspoken aren’t bad, but they’re filled with unremarkable conversations and short fights interrupted by frequent cutscenes. The game hints at its impressive movement and combat, which really shine later on, but you won’t fully experience how satisfying they are until you finish the first 6–10 hours. After that initial arc, Forspoken truly comes into its own. You’ll unlock a second set of spells, letting you easily switch between different combat styles. By this point, you’ll have around a dozen useful and visually appealing spells to play with – and that’s just the start!

Forspoken features strong, constantly improving gameplay, and its story pushes you forward with a steady stream of main missions. Getting to each destination involves traveling across large areas, which naturally leads you to discover and complete optional side content. Completing this extra content is key to getting better gear, unlocking and improving your magical abilities, boosting your stats, and finding helpful companions.

Aside from a large number of insignificant treasure chests, most of the optional activities in Forspoken are enjoyable and worthwhile. The Labyrinths, for example, offer new cloaks and challenging boss battles. Plus, the side quests are generally quick to finish, making it easy to find yourself wanting to complete just one more.

Kenshi

A Realistic Survival Open-World Game That Lets You Create Your Own Legacy

If you’re a PC gamer who uses Steam, you’ve probably heard of Kenshi. But it’s hard to understand just how good it is unless you’ve played it. While the graphics aren’t amazing, it’s incredibly impressive that one developer spent over ten years creating it. Today, Kenshi has a dedicated community that continues to improve the game, making it a truly unique experience. It’s not for every gamer, but most PC players should give it a try.

It’s tricky to explain Kenshi to new players without scaring them off! It’s a unique blend of real-time strategy and RPG where you have complete freedom to play however you want. Imagine a Mad Maxstyle world where you can build a powerful army and take on major groups, or just wander the wasteland, survive on your own, and forge your own story. Be warned, though: Kenshi is a tough game. The world is harsh, realistic, and unforgiving, and your characters can permanently die. You can* reload saves if you prefer, but the game is designed to be challenging.

Honestly, there’s no set story or main quest here, which at first felt weird. But it quickly became amazing! You basically make your own goals and just live in this world as it evolves. It’s seriously one of the most immersive open-world experiences I’ve ever had – it feels like building a whole second life, totally on your own terms.

Elex 2

Be A Sci-Fi Killer In A Fantasy Open-World

The term ‘Eurojank‘ might sound negative, but it’s actually used affectionately, and no studio embodies it more than Piranha Bytes. Their games, especially the original Gothic titles and Risen 2: Dark Waters, are incredibly engaging, though they’re not without their flaws and aren’t for everyone. While not their best work, Elex 2 is a good starting point for those looking for a new open world to explore. The story and characters aren’t the focus, and that’s okay – a compelling open world doesn’t need a perfect narrative.

Elex 2 uniquely combines science fiction and fantasy in a post-apocalyptic world reclaimed by nature. You play as a character equipped with a powerful exoskeleton, letting you fly with a jetpack and wield both futuristic guns and traditional weapons. Exploring the world is incredibly enjoyable thanks to the jetpack, and the combat is a significant improvement over previous games from the developer, offering diverse options for both close-range and long-range fighting. While the quests aren’t always amazing, they’re generally good and show the developer’s dedication to classic RPG storytelling and player choice. Best of all, the main story doesn’t become overly intrusive, letting you focus on enjoying the freedom of being a powerful character in a world where magic and technology collide.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

An Open-World Game With Addictive And Accessible Hack And Slash Combat

It sounds strange, but I actually find games more relaxing—and can play them for much longer—when the fighting isn’t overly complicated. If a game demands constant, intense focus, I quickly get mentally tired, and my play sessions end up being short, even if they’re fun. Many open-world games try to balance challenging gameplay with easy-to-pick-up action, and they could learn a lot from Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which does a great job of finding that sweet spot.

The game’s fast-paced combat was groundbreaking for open-world games when it launched in 2012, and it remains enjoyable today. While the gameplay isn’t overly complicated, it offers a lot of depth through different character builds and tough boss fights. You have plenty of options to customize your playstyle and strategically overcome challenges, but you can also simply power through weaker enemies if you prefer a more direct approach.

The world of Kingdoms of Amalur is bright and full of life, making it enjoyable to simply explore. While the map isn’t massive compared to today’s games, it’s filled with plenty to do and will likely take around 30 hours to complete.

The best way to experience the open-world game Kingdoms of Amalur is with the 2020 release, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. In fact, it’s currently the only way to get it, as the original version is no longer sold new and is only available as used copies for consoles.

Outward

Hard-As-Nails Survival Open-World Game That Is Incredibly Immersive

Looking back at the games covered in this article, it’s funny how it ended up showing such different experiences! Some of them really let you feel like a total god, just smashing everything in your path. Others drop you in as a complete beginner, practically naked and vulnerable to even the weakest enemies. Elex 2 falls somewhere in the middle, but it definitely leans towards letting you feel powerful.

I think Outward might be even more hardcore than Kenshi – it’s the kind of game that will either totally frustrate you or completely consume your life! There is a story, but honestly, it feels like just a reason to get you out into the world and exploring. The game doesn’t hold your hand at all. You have to figure out where to go and what to do yourself, and plan every trip. At first, that means a lot of failed expeditions – you’ll die a lot! But even those failures teach you something, and each attempt helps you get a little further on your next adventure.

The world of Outward is massive and varied, though you really start to appreciate its diversity as you’re able to travel further. Combat is challenging and can be frustrating, but it’s rewarding for players who take the time to improve their skills and properly prepare for each fight. Plus, Outward is a survival game where you need to manage your character’s needs like hunger and thirst, which adds to the immersive experience.

Okay, I’ll be honest – I’m not very good at Outward, and I’ve never actually finished it. But I kept playing for a good number of hours because I really wanted to improve, and more importantly, the game always made me feel like my time wasn’t wasted, even when I was struggling.

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2025-11-22 23:39