Summary
It’s no secret that theopen-worldgenre has become the dominant genre in AAA gaming, with some of the biggest and most expensive games in the industry constantly trying to up the ante in making some of the best open worlds of all time. In that effort, they’ve also created some trulyiconic open worldsthat aren’t just great, but have come to embody everything that’s special about open-world gaming and serve as inspirations for other designers moving forward.
Whether it’s the indomitable work of Rockstar or the intimate streets of a Tokyo Red Light district, there are plenty of iconic worlds to experience in gaming. This list ofthe most iconic RPG open worldsis ranked not just by the quality of the game, but by how inseparable the open world has become in gaming culture at large.
For most ofThe Legend of Zelda’slifetime, the Kingdom of Hyrule mostly existed in the abstract rather than as a truly explorable Kingdom (though there are some notable exceptions, like some more open areas inOcarina of Time). However,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildblew the doors off the open-world genre by introducing the entirety of Hyrule for players to roam at their leisure and making it into a fully-fledged RPG. While the modernZeldagames are typically thought of as Action-Adventure games, they feature more than enough RPG elements to warrant a mention here.
With beautiful rolling landscapes, more secrets than most players could ever discover, and a true apocalyptic beauty, this version of Hyrule has quickly become the most iconic vision of the franchise’s central kingdom, andTears of the Kingdomonly made it deeper and better by exploring Hyrule’s skies, offering amassive roster of side quests, and it’s deep dark underbelly.
It’s hard for indie developers to break out into the open-world RPG world given just how expensive it is to make these games, but ZA/UM broke every preconception and delivered one of the very best RPGs ever made in 2019, following in the footsteps of other CRPG royalty likeBaldur’s GateandPlanescape: Torment.
One major reason whyDisco Elysiumworks so well is the world of Revachol, a post-Communist, somewhat modern cityscape drowning in filth and despair. It’s a near-apocalyptic city full of crime and misery, but little kernels of humanity make the whole place feel so tangible and lived-in that it feels barely divorced from the real world that inspires it.
6Yakuza - Kamurocho
Tokyo Nightlife
Though theYakuzagames roam all around Japan, inevitably, they always find their way back to Kamurocho, a series of small streets nestled in central Tokyo bustling with nightlife, neon signs, and more gangsters than players know what to do with. It’s an iconic set of streets that has shaped the sensibilities of the entire franchise.
Kamurocho has become iconic not just as the main setting of theYakuzagames, but also as a shining example of how a little can go a long way. Kamurocho isn’t big, but it is dense and full of character, making it one of the most iconic open worlds ever made.
It’s no secret thatCyberpunk 2077had a rough launch. Yet, the sole factor that united its fans and detractors was Night City itself, the dystopian city where the majority of the game’s action takes place. It is, single-handedly, the best cyberpunk open-world ever seen in a video game and is a stunning achievement in creating a digital environment that will be remembered for decades to come.
Each area of the city truly feels like it is inhabited by distinct cultures, vibes, people, andapartments for V to chill in, which is further expanded upon with thePhantom Libertyexpansion and Dogtown, a little fascist state plopped right in the middle of it. For fans of the genre, Night City is a dream come true, and it’ll define how designers make city-based open worlds from now on.
These days,The Elder Scrollsfranchise is probably the biggest fantasy franchise in all of gaming, but it wasn’t always like that.The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowindmade the bold decision to focus the open world away from the entirety of Tamriel, like the previous two games, and just center on the volcanic island of Vvardenfell, home of the dark elves.
The result is one of the strangest, most alien, and singularly compelling fantasy open worlds ever made. Gamers from all over remember its striders, strange cities, and blasted wastelands because it was so strikingly different than traditional fantasy open-worlds. It has become iconic for that strangeness, and has become the high watermark that everyElder Scrollsgame is held to going forward.
From the very beginning of its life, the goal ofWorld of Warcraftwas simple. Render the world of Azeroth as seen in theWarcraftgames, and let players explore all of it. This titanic effort resulted in the most popular MMO of all time, and one of its greatest open worlds, filled with distinct biomes and nostalgia so powerful for oldWarcraftplayers that it feels like a second home.
A significant reason why Azeroth stands out is its distinct, cartoony style, which isn’t afraid to exaggerate to make areas distinct. Every biome and questing area has a unique visual language, making it feel like home for players who spend hours grinding mob drops. It’s easily the most iconic fantasy MMO open world ever made, and it’s hard to imagine how it could ever be surpassed.
ThoughSkyrimmay not be the most beloved game inThe Elder Scrollsfranchise for many series veterans, the sheer scale of influence that the frosty tundras and deciduous forests of Skyrim have had on open-world gaming as a whole is undeniable, feeling like home for entire generations of gamers.
It’s a testament to Bethesda’s world design team that a map that, by modern standards, is pretty small is so full of detail and secrets to discover, with distinct regions that feel irreplaceable. Skyrim has cemented itself as one of gaming’s most iconic worlds not just for is depth, but for how recognizable it is for the millions of gamers who have explored it.
TheFalloutgames have an interesting problem when it comes to making an iconic world. After all, their open worlds are defined by the apocalypse that makes the setting possible, meaning the majority of the world is a blasted hellscape with little more than Radroaches and dead trees to make it interesting.
Yet, games likeFallout: New Vegasprove how areas like the Mojave Wasteland are perfect for crafting an iconic world. The world of the Mojave is strange,fraught with faction conflict, and full of secrets and stories in even the most boring of places. Everything is motivated, every building considered, every outpost meaningful. It’s intentional world design at its absolute height, and most fans of theNew VegasMojave could navigate it blindfolded, even today.
