There are quite a few excellent open-world games out there today. I have poured countless hours into games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Breath of the Wild, but there are a lot of older open-world games that are still worth your time.
Some of them may be a bit aged these days in terms of visuals, but I firmly believe these open-world experiences are games you should jump into. And some of them are still lookers, if I’m being completely honest.
Open world game design has come a long way, with environments that feel more lifelike than ever before. But if you just take a second to look at what came before, you can find some vintage open-world games here that just may become your next favorite.
10
Arcanum: Of Steamworks And Magick Obscura
Open World CRPG Is A Timeless Classic
I tend to go through cycles where I find myself heavily invested in PC gaming to the point of obsession, then cool off. Thankfully, back in the early 2000s, PC gaming was everything to me, which meant I was able to play Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura on launch date.
Directed by Tim Cain of Fallout fame, Arcanum is one of the many games developed by Troika during an exceptional time for CRPGs. It is similar to a lot of the best games in this genre in that it drops you into the world, then tasks you with exploring its many depths.
Arcanum is still one of the best CRPGs I’ve ever played, utilizing a fanciful steampunk world that existed well before the overwrought proliferation of that style.
If you haven’t played this absolute classic, Arcanum is easy to find today. In addition to being quite cheap, it also runs quite well on modern hardware.
9
Urban Chaos
Grit And Grime
The PS1 era is often associated with a dingy, almost grunge-like aesthetic that still speaks to me all these years later. And there are a few PS1 games that exemplify that more than any other, with one of them being 1999’s Urban Chaos.
One thing that Urban Chaos does with the genre is something I wish more games would do. I greatly admire the expansive, continuous open worlds of games like The Witcher 3, but the way Urban Chaos constructs its world is outstanding.
Each world is like a mini open-world game on its own, with its own distinct flavor and style. Roaming the world feels excellent, and combat actually feels quite fun for a game of its age.
It has the energy of a mid-1990s action movie, akin to something like Demolition Man. Urban Chaos is rather easy to play today, which is always a good thing.
8
Driver
GTA Competitor Lost Its Identity After Debut
Grand Theft Auto is one of my favorite franchises, but personally, I was always more of a Driver girl growing up.
It had its own unique sense of style and charm, which was a far different beast than GTA. What made Driver so much fun to me was that it was focused purely on the cars, and the rebellious attitude that goes with them.
The original Driver on PS1 was an intense, highly complex game that didn’t care if you didn’t get it. If you couldn’t get out of the parking garage, the game had no sympathy for you.
As Driver tried to compete with GTA, they started to lose the identity that was so apparent in the PS1 game. It started to focus more on getting out of the car, and sadly lost the appeal of the PS1 original.
The freedom that’s presented to you in Driver on the PS1 is outstanding. The world is a freeform sandbox, prompting creative play and an intricate knowledge of the map.
7
Body Harvest
The Precursor To Grand Theft Auto 3
I feel like it’s common knowledge these days that DMA Design, the developers of Body Harvest for the Nintendo 64, eventually became Rockstar North after being sold to Take-Two.
Unfortunately, nobody actually talks about how good the game is, with a goofy charm and dark atmosphere that is so unlike other games on the N64.
The worlds are impressively large for an N64 game, and the wide-open feeling to them is mighty impressive. The worlds are also impressive in how you can traverse them, as well.
It isn’t just miles of empty space either. The game actually has NPCs, vehicles, and buildings you can enter. What would be set dressing in other games of the time is interactive here.
6
The Legend Of Zelda
One Of The First Genuinely Good Open-World Games
I didn’t play the original Legend of Zelda game until I was a teenager, well after beating Ocarina of Time. The expansive 3D world of Hyrule in Ocarina was something special, but I find the 2D world of the franchise’s debut title to be just as impressive.
Hardware wasn’t just limited back in the 1980s; it was nearly impossible to create something that wasn’t simplistic and plain. These limitations are what made talented artists rise to the occasion.
The feeling that it creates by simply dropping you into the world and letting you go is magical. It’s even possible to miss the sword at the beginning, as dangerously wandering into the other screens will lead to certain death.
Zelda didn’t have this element of danger for a long time after that, not until Breath of the Wild. In this game, Hyrule feels like a sinister death trap, and going recklessly into areas you aren’t ready for is doomed to fail.
5
Grand Theft Auto 2
The Best GTA Game Of The 2D Era
While I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about video games, I hadn’t even heard of GTA before playing the third entry on PS2. Thanks to how impactful that game was on my life, it encouraged me to revisit the older games.
And I’m glad I did. Because while GTA 2 doesn’t have the cinematic flair or huge 3D world of its successor, it’s a ridiculously fun time filled with absolute chaos and some quirky English grit.
The top-down perspective actually adds so much. Having a bird’s-eye view of your murderous spree through the streets of fictional Anywhere City is fantastic.
I’ve replayed GTA2 multiple times at this point, far more than any of the 3D games. A part of me wishes Rockstar would go back to this format, as their witty satirization of Americana and the real world just hits differently when looking at it from afar.
Cliff Racers. Why Did It Have To Be Cliff Racers?
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind was my very first exposure to the series, as I wandered into GameStop with my brother as he was searching for an Xbox copy.
It was easily one of the best exclusives for the original Xbox, and convinced me to get one of my own back in the early 2000s. It was everything I could have dreamed of in a video game back then.
The Elder Scrolls series would expand far beyond the scope of Morrowind moving forward, but this game still has a lot to offer.
It’s a much darker, more sinister experience for one thing. The land feels almost haunted, and exploring it comes with its own horror stories. Every player has a Cliff Racer story.
Morrowind also doesn’t feel as aged as games from this era. It still feels good to play, and it is also quite easy to access these days.
3
Shenmue
Still Just Looking For Sailors
While Yakuza has picked up the ball that Shenmue dropped and taken off like a rocket, it’s hard to deny just how good the first game is.
This slow-burning revenge tale has something truly special about it. And a major part of that is how natural and alive Shenmue’s world feels.
The world of Yokosuka is brimming with personality and honesty, but in a way that inhibits player progress in fun ways. You’re intended to live in the world like it’s a real place, and remembering what street places are on without a map is some of the most fun you can have in a game.
It’s not for everyone, and most people tend to bounce off it early. But if you stick with it, you’ll get rewarded with an absolutely incredible second half that makes your life in Yokosuka worth it.
2
Tail Of The Sun
Surreal Open-World Cave Man Game
There’s something to be said about a game feeling no shame about being weird. I personally love it when a game realizes just how offbeat it is and just explores that. It’s why some of my favorite games come from creators like Suda51 and Hideki Kamiya.
Tail of the Sun more than fits that description. It almost feels like a modern indie game got sent back in time, complete with its own bizarre systems and unique mechanics that permeate that scene today.
You are dropped into the world with absolutely no guidance other than which cave person you choose, which also seems somewhat random.
After this, you’re tasked with building up a settlement of sorts, with your end goal being to reach the sun itself. It’s one of the most insane PS1 games you’ll ever find, and it is one that you should absolutely track down today.
1
Mizzurna Falls
The Twin Peaks Game That Never Existed
I grew up during a time when conspiracy-based shows like The X-Files and Twin Peaks were all the rage. And in that time, I’ve consistently looked for games that capture that spirit.
Aside from something like Alan Wake, there may not be a game that does that as well as Mizzurna Falls.
This absurd, completely unhinged open-world investigation game is one that everyone who enjoys weird fiction should check out. It never had a US release, sadly, but fan translations are out there.
The benefit of Mizzurna Falls being a small town is that the open-world nature of it revolves around your familiarity with it. This leads you to understand the tiniest details of the town, which makes traversing it all the easier.
It has all the trademarks of a PS1 classic. Low-poly models, unsavory performance, and an unusual story. It’s easily one of the PS1’s most bizarre and fascinating games.
