Open-World RPGs With Total Freedom in Playstyle and Progression

Many open-world RPG players value having complete control over their game experience. They enjoy creating highly detailed characters, customizing everything from appearance and backstory to skills and abilities. This level of personalization is key, and for many, it’s what makes a classic game of Dungeons & Dragons the ultimate RPG experience.

If you love RPGs but don’t necessarily want the super detailed, ‘game master’ style of tabletop games where everything’s up to you, then open-world RPGs are a fantastic option! They let you feel in control without all the responsibility. Honestly, some of the best games out there fall into this category, and the best part is you can usually find them on pretty much any console.

Cyberpunk 2077

Your Cybernetic Fantasy

For RPG fans interested in sci-fi, Cyberpunk 2077 is a great game to start with. You can fully customize your character’s appearance and then upgrade their abilities with cybernetic enhancements – things like improved vision or hacking skills – by earning money in the game. These upgrades let you tackle missions in a variety of ways. Plus, beyond the main city, there’s a large wasteland area to explore, offering plenty to do in this immersive cyberpunk world.

Elden Ring

Classes Without Class

Similar to other games made by FromSoftware, like those with a roguelike structure, Elden Ring lets you fully customize how your character looks. You also pick a starting class, but it’s more flexible than in games like Diablo 4. Your class doesn’t lock you into a specific playstyle; it just provides initial equipment and stats. This means you can begin as a close-combat fighter and later develop into a powerful magic user. The game world is vast and largely open for exploration, with few barriers to hold you back.

Fallout 4

Become The Wanderer

Fallout 4 lets you personalize your character quite a bit, starting with creating both a husband and wife character before you decide who to play. Even their name matters – your robotic butler, Codsworth, will actually say it! After a short introduction, you’re free to explore a huge, open world based on the Boston area. As you level up, you’ll unlock perks that add to the fun, letting you create unique weapons and customize your own Power Armor.

Starfield

Space Fallout

Starfield is a lot like Fallout, but set in space. Both games were created by Bethesda, and while Fallout takes place in a world recovering from disaster, Starfield lets you explore the galaxy and uncover its secrets.

Players can create unique characters and improve their abilities with various stats and perks as they gain levels. They can also customize their spaceships. While the game features smaller planets and feels more divided than some open-world titles, it offers a rare RPG experience.

Avowed

Great If You Like Magic

Avowed features a world broken up into distinct sections, with each area locked until you progress the story. However, these areas are quite expansive and varied – the starting zone, for example, includes a large city, tall cliffs, oceans, caves, and a forest. The game also offers excellent character customization, even letting you choose quirks that feel almost divine. While many character builds are viable, playing as a mage is particularly enjoyable due to the satisfying magic system, though melee and ranged combat are also well-implemented.

Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning

Kung Fu Hustle

Despite being released over a decade ago, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning boasts what many consider to be the best combat system of any open-world action RPG. The game allows for deep character customization without restricting players to specific classes – you can build a warrior wielding massive swords or a powerful mage, or mix and match. It’s a unique blend of influences: the fast-paced action of Devil May Cry, the character style of World of Warcraft, and the expansive world of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. This combination creates a truly memorable RPG experience.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Look Geralt, No Hair!

Unlike some role-playing games, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt doesn’t let you create your own character. You always play as Geralt, but you can shape his personality through dialogue choices and customize his appearance with different clothing and hairstyles. While character customization is limited, the game offers a lot of depth in how you develop Geralt’s skills with magic, potions, and combat. Plus, the game world is massive and the story branches in so many directions that most players won’t even notice the lack of extensive character creation options.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

Pawns To Checkmate

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is an enhanced edition of the original Dragon’s Dogma, and includes additional content. Like many games, it lets you create and customize two characters: your main hero, and a Pawn – an AI companion who fights alongside you.

Players can also recruit Pawns created by other players to join their party – a unique and engaging multiplayer element. The world of Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is notably darker and more dangerous than many other games, featuring brutal enemies, which ultimately makes the combat feel more impactful and rewarding.

The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind

Bethesda’s Crown Jewel

While Skyrim is often considered the most well-known and successful Elder Scrolls game, many fans prefer Morrowind for its complex RPG elements. Like Elden Ring, Morrowind lets you fully customize your character without being tied to a specific class from the beginning – a warrior could easily become a thief with the right effort. If you enjoy truly living out a role, Morrowind‘s Guild questlines offer some of the most engaging stories in the entire series, allowing for complete immersion in its world.

Outward

A Smaller Classic

While the graphics aren’t top-of-the-line, Outward proves that strong gameplay is what truly matters. This updated version offers a larger and more expansive adventure than the original, but what really stood out from the beginning was the incredible freedom it offers players. The need to physically travel everywhere enhances the feeling of being immersed in the world. If you’re looking for an RPG that throws you into a strange land with minimal instruction, Outward delivers an experience similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It takes time and effort to level up and find powerful equipment, but dedicated players will discover a truly unique adventure in Outward.

2025-12-27 20:10