Unlock Epic Worlds: Top RPGs for Thrilling Third-Person Exploration!

Summary

RPGs with a third-person view offer immersive exploration experiences, showcasing vast environments and characters’ appearances.
Outward, Kenshi, and Gothic provide unique RPG experiences by focusing on ordinary travelers, freedom, and harsh settings.
Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring excel in making players feel small in breathtaking worlds with imposing enemies and massive landscapes.

Adventuring forms a vital aspect of Role-Playing Games (RPGs). It’s those titles that frequently leave players awestruck by stunning landscapes, or richly compensate them for investigating hidden gems like the secret cave behind the waterfall, which tend to resonate most vividly in our gaming memories.

Enthusiasts of gaming often gravitate towards first-person RPGs for an immersive experience during exploration. However, switching to a third-person perspective can offer similar benefits. By observing their character from this viewpoint as they traverse virtual landscapes, players gain a sense of scale, realizing the immense size and grandeur of these environments in contrast to their character. Moreover, this angle allows them to appreciate the stylishness of their armor more clearly.

1. Outward

Perfect Adventurer Fantasy

In contrast to most Role-Playing Games (RPGs), Nine Dots Studio’s “Outward” sets itself apart by not casting players as destined heroes or chosen ones. Instead, they embody ordinary travelers navigating the challenging landscape of the game’s fantastical universe, simply striving for survival.

In Outward, players traverse expansive, awe-inspiring terrains, uncovering hidden dungeons and magnificent cities while ensuring they stay hydrated and well-rested. Although it may not have as many NPC interactions as some might prefer, the game compensates with its distinctive mix of challenging survival elements and immersive fantasy adventure.

2. Kenshi

Carving Your Own Path

Just like games such as Outward, Kenshi features players taking on the roles of everyday people instead of the legendary heroes often found in RPGs. In the open-ended world developed by Lo-fi Games, players have the freedom to shape their characters – whether that’s a ruthless warlord or a peaceful farmer.

In Kenshi, the primary charm lies in its freedom, but what’s equally captivating is the joy of simply exploring its vast world. On its Steam page, it brags about having “the largest single-player RPG world since Daggerfall,” which means there’s a wealth of fascinating sights and locations just waiting to be discovered by players.

3. Gothic

Trapped In A Colony-Sized Prison

In the game known as Gothic, adventurers begin their fantasy journey within the boundaries of a colossal prison-like settlement. Consistent with such an environment, the world in Gothic can be unforgiving and doesn’t hesitate to knock players back multiple times during its early stages.

The hostility and gloomy setting of Gothic create a dense atmosphere that permeates not just the game’s narrative and missions but also its exploration. As you traverse the Colony, you’ll find yourself immersed in Gothic’s grim world, making escape a challenging endeavor.

4. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

Mech Exploration

Some individuals might find themselves with a complex mix of affection and frustration towards the game Xenoblade Chronicles X. Certain elements within the gameplay, such as the prolonged 30-hour delay to unlock mechs, can appear rather monotonous. Additionally, its narrative – which depicts humanity’s escape to the planet Mira amidst an interstellar conflict – may seem somewhat simplistic.

Yet, the game truly shines in its intricate combat and exploration. Mira is teeming with hidden secrets and a diverse population of alien creatures, each displaying unique behaviors that players can uncover. Furthermore, when gamers eventually obtain their mechs, offering an outstanding view due to the third-person perspective, traversing Mira’s desolate wastes or luminescent forests becomes incredibly engaging.

The enhanced version of Xenoblade Chronicles X, titled “Definitive Edition,” addresses several quality-of-life concerns found in the original game and provides extra narrative material as well.

5. Dragon’s Dogma 2

A World Full Of Fantastical Dangers

Discovering Dragon’s Dogma 2’s fantastical realm is an enjoyable adventure from start to finish. As soon as players enter the game’s verdant wilderness, they find themselves amidst a panorama of places to discover and creatures to vanquish. The uncertainty of what lies ahead – be it the entrance to a maze-like dungeon or the mouth of a freshly encountered monster – keeps the journey thrilling and unpredictable.

The exploration in Dragon’s Dogma 2 becomes even more captivating due to the presence of pawns, artificial intelligence companions who join the player. These pawns frequently share their observations about the environment or pass on knowledge they’ve gathered from exploring different players’ game worlds.

6. Horizon Forbidden West

Mechanized Nature

Following a devastating robot uprising that almost annihilates the world, the setting in Horizon Forbidden West becomes a post-apocalyptic terrain, characterized by towering overgrown cities and the distinctive machine creatures native to the game.

In Horizon, the striking contrast between its environment’s abundant greenery and robotically engineered creatures adds an intriguing layer to its exploration. As players rotate their camera around Aloy, they find themselves admiring the lush jungle landscape, but suddenly a Maximal leaps from foliage to attack. The game creatively intertwines the machines into the exploration experience, such as enabling players to ascend giraffe-like Tallnecks to uncover more of the map.

7. Dark Souls 3

Exploration That Leaves You Feeling Small

In the series of games known as Dark Souls, and across FromSoftware’s entire collection, a recurring feature is the gameplay that instills a sense of insignificance in the player. This sentiment certainly applies to Dark Souls 3.

In Dark Souls 3, individuals take on the character known as The Ashen One, venturing across a decaying world in an attempt to locate and reinstate the ancient Lords of Cinder to their thrones and ward off the looming Age of Dark. Along this perilous journey, players face formidable and colossal adversaries, including enemies and bosses, within the vast, crumbling ruins of a world nearing its end. The immense size of the game’s elements, as seen from the third-person perspective, makes each minute spent exploring both awe-inspiring and intimidating. Additionally, FromSoftware excels at encouraging players to be inquisitive, frequently concealing hidden treasures, items, or even traps at the conclusion of various branches in the path.

8. The Witcher 3

Exploring A Land Ravaged By War

In “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” the world is bleak and grim, yet this very quality makes it an exceptional place for players to delve into. The narrative unfolds amidst the third Northern conflict, with the once prosperous lands of Temeria now scarred by war. Everywhere you look, there are battlefields and gravesites, teeming with various monsters.

As I step into the role of Geralt, the seasoned Witcher and monster hunter, I find myself immersed in a world that’s grim yet captivating. The freedom to roam this desolate landscape, getting lost in its raw beauty, is truly exhilarating. The third-person viewpoint offers an advantage when Geralt’s on his horse, allowing me to rotate the camera at will, taking in the wilderness as it rushes past me.

Over this battle-scarred terrain, you’ll find more than just typical dungeons and crumbling structures for adventurers to explore. There are numerous intriguing subplots hidden here as well, waiting for players to uncover and embark on. In fact, the quality of these side quests often matches, if not surpasses, the main storyline in terms of narrative excellence.

9. Elden Ring

The Endless Lands Between

The game Elden Ring amplifies the feeling of vastness compared to other titles by FromSoftware, as it immerses players in an expansive open world. Encountering dragons becomes a common occurrence, making them seem like minor obstacles on your journey. The game’s primary setting, The Land Between, appears infinite, leading players to believe they have discovered everything, only to find there is still much more to uncover. Viewing the world from a third-person perspective, where you can see how minuscule you are compared to these enormous locations, reinforces the game’s immense scale.

The world in Elden Ring isn’t merely vast; it’s shrouded in mystery. Numerous extensive regions within the game are concealed along secret passageways, which can elude less observant players. Delving deeper into this world is not only rewarded with hidden treasures and snippets of lore, but also encourages further discovery, making every new find thrilling.

2025-05-01 09:34