The best upcoming open world games of 2023

Open world games are a genre of computer games that allow the player to freely move around the virtual world, without strictly defined paths or plot lines. The player usually has many quests and missions to choose from, as well as the opportunity to explore the environment, gain experience and develop the character.

Open world games are often characterized by large, expansive worlds where you can spend hours exploring new areas, collecting items, and fighting enemies. Examples of open world games include Grand Theft Auto, The Elder Scrolls and Red Dead Redemption.

Do open world games combine different genres?

Yes, open world games combine different genres such as action, adventure, RPG, shooters, etc. Within one game, the player can encounter a variety of gameplay elements such as combat, exploration, crafting, trading, character development and many more. Open world games frequently offer freedom of action, allowing players to perform various tasks and actions in any order and at any time, which makes the gameplay very diverse.

What are the types of open world games?

There are at least a few types of open world games, including:

  1. Sandbox – these are games in which the player can freely explore the game world and do whatever he wants. Examples are: Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto V, Just Cause 4 or Cyberpunk 2077.
  2. RPG – games where the player creates his hero and interacts with NPC characters. Examples include: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Forbidden West.
  3. Survival – games where the player must survive in a dangerous open world by gaining food, water and other resources. Examples include: Ark: Survival Evolved, Rust, Don’t Starve.
  4. Action-Adventure – games in which the player must guide the main character through an open world and defeat enemies. Examples include: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Red Dead Redemption 2, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
  5. Racing – games in which the player races against other players or computer opponents in an open world. Examples include: Forza Horizon 4, Need for Speed Heat, The Crew 2.

These game categories are often interconnected, leading to hybrid genres. For example, Far Cry 6 is an open world game that combines elements of first-person shooter, survival, and RPG. Even the aforementioned games could be assigned to several categories at the same time.

What are the advantages of open world games?

Here are some of the advantages that open world games offer:

  • Freedom: Players have a lot of freedom and freedom to explore the game world. They can move around it however they want, complete quests in any order, and make decisions that affect the story.
  • Long playtime: Open world games often offer many hours of gameplay. Because a player can do many things in any order, each player spends different amounts of time in the game and has a different way of progressing through the game.
  • Gorgeous Visuals: With plenty of fresh air and stunning visuals, open world games offer a stunning setting that can take your breath away.
  • Multiple gameplay options: Open world games offer multiple gameplay options, including exploration, combat, interacting with NPCs, character development, trading, and much more.
  • Updated Frequently: Open world games frequently have updates that add new content to the game or tweak it to fix bugs.
  • Character Development: Players can see their characters develop over time as they discover new skills, abilities, and weapons.
  • Multiple ways to solve problems: In open world games, there are many ways to solve problems, depending on the player’s preferences, which gives more freedom and creativity in the approach to the game.
  • Reputation: Open world games have a large fan base, which means they are popular and often receive high ratings from critics.

Of course, each game has its pros and cons, but open world games offer many possibilities and hours of fun. Sometimes it’s hundreds of hours of playing and exploring the world.

What are the disadvantages of open world games?

Despite their advantages, open world games also have a few disadvantages. Here are some of them:

  1. Too many side quests – While many side quests can be beneficial to players, it can also cause overload and fatigue, especially if they are repetitive and do not require creativity.
  2. Lack of storyline – Some open world games focus on offering players freedom of action, which regularly leads to the lack of a clear storyline. This can be frustrating for players who expect a strong and thoughtful narrative.
  3. Technical Issues – Due to the size and complexity of the world, open world games may experience performance and stability issues. There may be bugs, performance drops, and even crashes.
  4. Too much content – While many games offer rich and varied worlds, this can lead to a situation where players feel compelled to delve into every element of the game. This can lead to fatigue and frustration.
  5. Balance issues – Often, open world games offer different ways to gain experience and level up characters, which can lead to balance and fairness issues. Sometimes, players who spend more time playing the game will have an advantage over other players, which can lead to frustration.
  6. Lack of intimacy – Due to the size of the world and its complexity, some players may feel a lack of intimacy and connection with the characters or the game world. In such situations, the player may feel lost or isolated in the game world.

What platforms are open world games coming to?

Open world games come out on various platforms such as:

  • PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GoG)
  • Console (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo)
  • Mobile (Android, iOS)

Some open world games are also available on VR platforms such as Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR2. Many open world games are cross-platform, meaning they are available on different platforms at the same time.

However, not every open world game is released on all platforms, as developers sometimes choose to be exclusive to a specific platform or group of platforms, such as new Horizon games.

What open world games are worth waiting for in 2023?

These are exciting open world games titles that offer a unique experience for players and are worth keeping an eye on as they release over the next few months of 2023.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Link returns in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed Breath of the Wild. Once again, Hyrule is in peril, and it is up to Link to save it. His quest takes him to new heights, as he explores levitating islands high up in the sky.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores

After the events of Horizon: Forbidden West, the fierce warrior Aloy returns as the protagonist in Burning Shores. Her mission takes her to a volcanic archipelago that was once the city of Los Angeles, where she confronts a fresh wave of machine threats and other perilous obstacles. Aloy forges alliances with new characters she meets on her quest, gaining valuable support as she navigates the treacherous landscape.

Starfield

Taking place in the distant future of space exploration, Starfield is set in 2310, where the human race has colonized various regions of the Milky Way. A violent conflict between two opposing factions, the United Colonies and the Freestar Collective, had left a lasting impact on the Settled Systems, a region located 50 light years from the Solar System. The conflict resulted in an uneasy truce and rendered the Settled Systems a dangerous and inhospitable place.

Twenty years later, players assume the role of a member of Constellation, an organization that aims to unravel the mysteries of the Milky Way through exploration. With nearly the entire galaxy available for exploration, players will uncover humanity’s biggest secrets while navigating the dangerous and volatile Settled Systems.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Avatar is set in the 22nd century on Pandora, a moon that orbits one of the gas giants in the Alpha Centauri star system. The moon is home to the Na’vi, an intelligent alien race, and boasts a lush and diverse ecosystem.

However, corporate interests from Earth seek to exploit the moon’s valuable resources, setting the stage for a conflict between the Na’vi and the greedy colonists. As players journey through the game, they will have the opportunity to explore the breathtaking landscapes of Pandora while taking part in the ongoing conflict.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Assassin’s Creed: Mirage is the latest addition to the long-running series of hooded assassins games launched by Ubisoft in 2007. Unlike the previous three installments in the series, AC: Origins, AC: Odyssey, and AC: Valhalla, Mirage has a much smaller production scale, with the game world resembling a single region from any of those games.

As a result, it is considered a spin-off of the series, allowing the developers to shift the focus away from the RPG genre that the series has moved towards in recent years and return to its stealth-action roots. The game heavily features stealth elements, with the use of the iconic Assassin’s hidden blade taking precedence over traditional weapons. The parkour mechanics are also extensive, allowing players to traverse the environment with ease. The game’s storyline is inspired by historical events and is richly detailed.

Diablo IV or Star Wars Jedi: Survivor could be added to this list, as they also have features of open world games.

Open world games continue to attract players. Many of these games are very popular and sell well. Examples of such games include Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The open world in games allows players to move freely and explore the game world, which is very attractive to many. In addition, many games of this type offer a variety of gameplay options, which attracts players with different preferences.

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