Open-world games started to get big because of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim in 2011. There were open-world games before that, but they increased after Skyrim for better and for worse. Some developers just don’t know how to make good open-world games that are engaging, while others have surpassed Skyrim and helped innovate the open-world game market.
Let’s look back at the past ten years of open-world games and go through what games have helped the industry. It’s not a popularity contest, as the best of the best will not always be chosen. Sometimes, a smaller game can help innovate, too. From a wide array of consoles and genres, here are the game changers.
Assassin's Creed Origins
From Stabs To Stats
Assassin's Creed Origins changed the Assassin’s Creed franchise in 2017 as the first game to include RPG mechanics. Players could now level up their characters, and there was a more extensive loot system. Before this, players could upgrade health and various other elements of gear through crafting, but Assassin's Creed Origins made this series an RPG more clearly, and it hasn’t changed since, except with Assassin's Creed Mirage, which was an attempt to harken back to the good old days.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
The Franchise Evolves At Last
Pokemon Legends: Arceus brought to light changes in the Pokemon series fans had been requesting for decades. Set in the past, the premise is like an Isekai anime wherein a present-day Pokemon Trainer is sent back to a feudal era-like timeline wherein capturing Pokemon is a new concept. In the world, which is more open than ever before, players can catch Pokemon without battling, and then in battle, there’s almost a real-time effect to it. Its spiritual sequel, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, goes further, wherein the combat is more action-like, and these are changes for the better.
Death Stranding
The First Strand Game
Death Stranding is a one-of-a-kind game, featuring a reimagined and exaggerated post-apocalyptic version of the U.S., which can be traversed on foot. Players were a courier, Sam, who delivered packages to underground bunkers and reconnected society to a new network. The coolest thing about the game was the crafting system, as players could use materials to rebuild structures they found in the world, from bridges to highways. With the asynchronous multiplayer, other players could affect the world too, so it was a team effort. Besides the sequel, there’s no other imaginative open-world game like Death Stranding, but hopefully that changes.
Cyberpunk 2077
GTA But Cooler
Cyberpunk 2077 took what Grand Theft Auto 5 did for open-world games set in a city and made it better. It also expanded the ideas introduced in the Deus Ex series, as players had missions that were open-ended.
As a cyborg, players could create their character and then upgrade them as they went along, adding cybernetics to change how they played. Better vision should help with shooting, and hacking skills could get players into hard-to-reach places without the need for conflict. There hasn’t been an open-world city game quite like this, but maybe Cyberpunk 2077 will influence Grand Theft Auto 6, minus the cyberpunk aura.
No Man’s Sky
An Open-Universe Game
No Man’s Sky did not start out as a massive success in 2016, but with full support from the developer, Hello Games, they have upgraded it to be one of the most unbelievable games of all time. Minecraft’s auto-generated worlds were mesmerizing in 2011, but No Man’s Sky expanded that idea and applied it to the universe. Thanks to its internal engine, the game can create limitless planets players can fly to, explore, make homes on, and more. While there are other space sims out there, No Man’s Sky is still in a league all its own.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
