Behind every successfulopen worldtitle lies an intricately woven lore that turns your game progression into a quest of satisfying discovery.
The lore is often connected to the game’s larger narrative, allowing you to explore their world maps at your own pace and making the journey more immersive and personal.
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Make sure you have some tissues handy.
You can absorb every piece of this mythology by interacting with NPCs, finding collectibles, accessing journals or books, and many different ways depending on the game’s world design.
If that’s your jam, check out the best open world games offering extensive lore to keep you absorbed for endless hours of playtime, leaving an impact even after the credits roll.
10Fallout: New Vegas
What Happens In Vegas, Calls You For Another Run
Fallout: New Vegas
Let’s start things off with one of the oldest ongoing franchises.Fallout: New Vegasis anaction RPGconnected to a universe withnearly 30 yearsof ever-expanding history.
As a spin-off to theFalloutseries,New Vegasleaves a mark with its Las Vegas-inspired barren wasteland setting, showcasing real-world landmarks likeRed Rock Canyon, Goodsprings, Hoover Dam, andappreciably more locations.
You can learn every bit of its lore by reading the terminal entries, listening to the holotapes, and interacting with NPCs.
Itsdeep lore, unlimited player choices, chaotic gameplay mechanics, interesting character companions, and karma system will make you come back for multiple playthroughs, proving clearly why manyprefer it overFallout 4.
However, thisFallouttitle falls short because of technical limitations, excess loading zones, and arelatively smaller world map, thus making it a perfect start for this list.
9Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
When History And Mythology Collide
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Boasting over 100 hours of endgame content,Assassin’s Creed Odysseyimmerses you in thevast world of Ancient Greece, allowing you to explore its glory to your heart’s content.
Unlikepast AC titles, this one goes further by merging real-time history withGreek mythology. The result is an absolute visual treat, filled with astonishingbest-of-both-world locations, from thevalley of Olympia to the depths of the Greek Underworld.
Compared to theother titles in the Ancient Trilogy,Odysseyfeels much more worthwhile due to the freedom of player choices, optional romance options, and lighthearted comic relief.
However, the developers' decision to exclude codex to make the title more immersive is a bummer for those hunting intense Greek lore.
8Horizon: Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden Westis set in apost-apocalypticworld of the Forbidden West,half a year after the events ofHorizon Zero Dawn.
The sequel follows Aloy as she tries to restore Earth and its degrading biosphere while uncovering theworld’s complicated past filled with hidden secrets and rich lore.
You can get an insight into the game’s background history by interacting with the text, audio, and hologram datapoints. Adding to that, you can also check out Scanned Glyphs datapoints to dive into present-day lore.
Like its story-driven predecessor,Forbidden Westdoes a phenomenal job at itsvisually stunning exploration with tons of side quests,diverse biomes, and rewarding loot.
But for me, the narrative falters in making an impact as it shifts its focus to Aloy’s character development rather than saving the world.
7The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Ready For Monster Hunting?
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Bringing extensive lore into play,The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis set in the land ofThe Continentalongside five adjacent islands and villages ripe with deep history.
You can learn about its world by acquiringbestiary entries, listening to folktales through villagers, or simply galloping around the world.
The Witcher 3delves into more than acentury-old conflict between humans and the Elder Races, all accompanied bycritical player choicesthat shape its ending.
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Take those zones. Victory demands it.
As you take control of a monster-slaying Witcher,Geralt of Rivia, you must explore and traverse through these infested worlds to track down Ciri.
The Witcher 3 compels you for multiple playthroughs, due to its stretched-out exploration, accessible combat system, andtons of endgame content.
6Hogwarts Legacy
Wingardium Leviosa On Fan Service
Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacyis set 100 years beforeHarry Pottergot his Hogwarts acceptance letter. Yet, it undeniably is the first title to create the most charming version of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
As a Potterhead, I was initially skeptical when this title was released. However, after visiting myCommon Roomand exploring the game’s magical world, Icouldn’t help butfeel in love again with the overflowing nostalgiait gave me.
Despite its relativelysmaller game map, Hogwarts Legacymasterfully encompasses the Wizarding world and colossal lore of the Harry Potter universe,evenwithout starring the Chosen One.
Its fascinating magical lore is hidden in details, including the background history of certain characters, collectibles, locations, and NPC interactions.
Horsin' Around Its Beauty
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2is a prequel to the first one and offers one of the most immersive open-world experiences in the gaming industry. The game isset in 1899 during the decline of the Wild West.
You playArthur Morgan, an infamous outlaw bound to make tough decisions for your camp while working out all sorts of criminal activities with the Van der Linde gang.
While playing, you can take in RDR 2 massive lore by paying attention to its realistic environmental details, interacting with journals or photographs, and running intorandom encounters. Above all, you can alsoread Arthur’s journalto learn more about his world perspective.
Take it from someone who has spent over 50 hours exploring the world ofRed Dead Redemption 2; you won’t run out of uncovering itsintriguing references and Easter Eggs.
What sets this game apart from otherWestern-inspired titlesis its catalog of NPCs andcharacterswith realistic dialogue, making it feel genuinely lifelike.
4Ghost Of Tsushima
Kamikaze Samurai Action
Ghost of Tsushima
Taking most of its inspiration from Akira Kurosawa’s filmography andhistorically accurateevents,Ghost of Tsushimaoccurs in1294infeudal Japanduring the first Mongol invasion.
You take the role of Jin Sakai,a samurai forced to abandon his code of honor to save Tsushima Island from the ruthless armies of Mongols. To do so, JIn mastered stealth tactics, thus becoming a Ghost.
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Ghost of Tsushimauncomplicates its lore by brilliantly employing a simplistic narrative aided by fictional history.
To learn more about its lore, you may complete the differentMythic Talesand theTales of Tsushima, which are side-quests that reveal the stories of Tsushima’s ordinary people.
Gradually, you learn more about the steep country hills, vibrant cherry blossoms, and soulful waves of Tsushima’s coastal shore. Undoubtedly,Ghost of Tsushimaoffers one of the most visually pleasing experiences set against thebackdrop of Japan.
3The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
A Breath Of Freedom
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Hyrule has been the setting of every title inThe Legend of Zeldaseries, butBreath of the Wildis the first one to create aworld design that feels breathtaking and contemplative.
We again play as the knight Link in a journey to retrieve his memory and rebuild Hyrule by beating the Calamity Gamon before he destroys the world.
Although this Zelda entry is allergic to handholding,its narrative and the sense of mystery resonate perfectly with the non-linear progressionas Link tries to learn about his past.
You can enjoyBreath of the Wild’s lore byfinding Link’s memories, exploringhidden locations, interacting with NPCs, and completing certain side-quests that tell the history of Hyrule.
WhileTears of the Kingdomfeatured a bigger map,Breath of the Wildrelies more on cohesive lore without using retcon devices, spoiling us with environmental and visual storytelling.
2The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim Only Belongs To The Dragonborn
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Released over a decade ago,The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimcontinues to fascinate players with its expansive lore,hidden locations,numerous NPCs, and abundant content in every corner throughout its world map.
After diving intoSkyrim’s world, you take on the role of the LastDragonborn,a prophesized dragon-slayer destined to defeat the dragon Alduin and restore balancethat has been deprived of for centuries.
There are several reasonswhySkyrimis so loved, with the lore being one of them. Its lore captivated me, with itssubjective storytelling limitlessly broadening my sense of discovery and exploration.
If you’re curious to know detailed Tamriel lore, you can read the 337 in-game books at your leisure to expand your knowledge.
This makes thegameplay much more personalized, as there’s no urgency to approach its open worlddespite its linear story progression.
1Elden Ring
Rise, Ye Tarnished!
Elden Ring
Coming out on top,Elden Ring’sThe Lands Between continues to be one of the most unforgettable places, with itsmysterious loreintrinsically threading its every nook and corner.
From the magical dungeon of Raya Lucaria Academy to the Scarlet Rot-infested lands of Caelid,Elden Ringboasts a punishing yet rewarding explorationas you traverse its open world.
Thanks toGeorge R.R. Martinforcrafting the detailed lore of its enchanting world, the title features close to ahundred NPCsapart from the main bosses, each having an overlying story connected to the larger narrative.
You can discover more about its lore by exhausting NPC dialogues, paying attention to the visual symbolism, and reading item and equipment descriptions.
This ambitious FromSoftware title also doesn’t shy away from incorporating manyreferences, enough to lure aBerserkfan and aSoulsveteran like me into investing more than 700 hours.
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