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When you think of the open-world RPG genre, chances are pretty high that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the first game to come to your mind. For many, Skyrim was their introduction to the genre, and arguably is one of the most influential of its kind ever to be made.
While Skyrim certainly was a defining force in the open-world RPG genre, saying that it’s the best of its kind is definitely a stretch. The impressive effect Skyrim has had on the genre is undeniable, but there are plenty of titles that came before and after that impressed players way more than Skyrim ever did.
7 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
User Score: 8.7
You really can’t argue against Kingdom Come: Deliverance II being the ultimate realism-focussed medieval RPG, capturing life in Bohemia in 1403 with a downright impressive level of realism. Alongside that realism comes brutal, stance-and-parry-based combat, realistic armor that actually prevents your body from being hit, and filth mechanics that prevent you from impressing a tavern maid if you’ve been on horseback too long without bathing.
This more recent title can easily be called one of the better open-world RPGs of all time, even if the focus on realism can feel brutally punishing at times. While two games here have User Scores of 8.7, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II’s Metascore of 88 keeps it seventh on this list.
6 Fallout
User Score: 8.7
Not Fallout 4, and not Fallout: New Vegas (surprisingly), but the original 1997 Fallout takes the place as the highest rated game in its franchise and one of the best reviewed open-world RPGs of all time. This post-apocalyptic roleplaying game set the tone and defined the world for one truly incredible RPG series, which happens to be the franchise that introduced me to the genre to begin with.
Though it is very different from the games created by Bethesda, Fallout is still a classic RPG that modern Fallout fans are sure to love, if they can handle the gritty tone and isometric camera.
5 Red Dead Redemption
User Score: 8.9
Red Dead Redemption was Rockstar Game’s first exploration of the gritty, crime-filled life of a western cowboy. It left a very real impression on those who played it with its shockingly brutal tone and heartbreaking storytelling. To this day, I still have not recovered from the tear-jerking ending of this game that I witnessed as a little boy.
The game’s open-world map was absolutely massive for its time, and still holds up today both for its sheer size and attention to detail. For reference, the map is nearly double the size of Skyrim’s, measuring at about 29 square miles of land compared to Skyrim’s 14.
4 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
User Score: 8.9
Link returned to Hyrule in 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which many argue is the first truly open-world game in the franchise. Though non-liner story structures have been present in The Legend of Zelda games since the beginning, Breath of the Wild was the first time the map was made truly open for players to explore.
The Legend of Zelda is one of the most beloved fantasy franchises of all time, and it’s not hard to see why. Breath of the Wild felt like an especially fresh take on the series, and has introduced new and reimagined characters that remain incredibly popular among the fans.
3 Red Dead Redemption 2
User Score: 8.9
The release of Rockstar’s sequel to Red Dead Redemption was received with universal praise at the time. Even those who weren’t fans of the game were blown away by the stunning attention to detail in the game’s massive map.
Red Dead Redemption 2 set an impossibly high bar to beat when it comes to simulating a real, immersive world for players to explore. While it’s Metascore actually puts it below Breath of the Wild, I’m breaking my own rules here and placing it a slot above to acknowledge this achievement.
2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
User Score: 9.1
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is rightfully considered by many to be one of the greatest open-world RPG titles of all time. The title puts you in the heavy (and slightly bloody) shoes of Geralt of Rivia as he navigates a massive war, constant battles with monsters, and a looming apocalypse, all to save his adoptive daughter who is being pursued by interdimensional wraiths the entire time.
When you compare the impactful decisions you can make in The Witcher 3 to Skyrim, one feels much more like a real roleplaying game… and it’s not the one where your sweetrolls get stolen.
1 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
User Score: 9.1
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 what Grand Theft Auto 5 has been for the last… three generations of consoles. Many would argue, however, that the story in San Andreas was much better.
Rockstar has always told incredible stories in their games, but something about San Andreas hits especially hard, touching on themes of gang violence, systematic corruption, and systematic racism, while also highlighting the importance of family while criticizing the culture of the ’90s and the so-called American Dream. Far older than Skyrim, it deserves its place so high in this list of incredible open-world RPGs.
