Open world RPGs from before 2006 are still worth playing.

The RPG landscape has changed a lot over the years, from the early two-dimensional era to the following giants of the genre: Baldur's Gate 3 It looks completely different from the classics of the genre. Despite all these innovations and advancements, there are plenty of classic open world RPGs that have stood the test of time and still scratch the itch that exists among both old and new fans of the genre.

Well, before it became a huge hit. Skyrim and new vegasThere were numerous special worlds for players to immerse themselves in and explore, some of which were part of long-running franchises and others where fan-favorite series began. It doesn't matter whether players are looking for fantasy, science fiction, or both. The RPG genre has so many great classic games to offer, giving players the opportunity to revisit the early days of one of the biggest gaming spaces while still having a good time.

A product that still stands out today

details:

• Non-negotiable role-playing freedom

• deep faction system

Morrowind It needs no introduction and remains one of the most daring open world RPGs ever created. Set in the strange world of Vvardenfell, the game ditches quest markers and trusts players to read directions, follow landmarks, and pay attention to the world around them, no matter how strange and unfamiliar it may seem at first glance.

The system is deep and at times opaque, but endlessly flexible, giving players all the tools they need to lean into whatever class or archetype they want without being forced down a specific path. The commitment to player agency extends to NPCs, with open-ended quests and a true sense of authorship rarely matched today, giving players a sense of complete control over their own story and journey across the land.

Gothic

A harsh world with hard-earned respect.

details:

• Responsive NPC Routines

• Reputation-based progression

Gothic It throws players into a prison colony where survival depends as much on social perception as combat skills. The world is believably responsive, as NPCs follow schedules, factions vie for power, and early enemies can kill the player almost instantly. This means that while it may seem difficult to get started, every step of your progress feels like it's earned rather than taken for granted.

Grounded systems and a slower, more deliberate pace give every win extra weight while ensuring failures are equally impactful. It's a game that requires real dedication from the player to become powerful, and the result is a satisfying open world that challenges and rewards you at every step.

fallout 2

Responsive post-apocalyptic action

details:

• Solve branch quests

• giant conversation tree

fallout 2 It expands the original's wasteland into a spacious, choice-heavy sandbox that removes many of its awkward systems and replaces them with better mechanics and more intuitive menus. The town is unique and morally complex, shaped by the player's actions, and dialogue options are extensive, leaning into the comedy and charm that made the series so beloved.

The combat and mechanics may still feel a little dated, but the narrative responsiveness is still impressive even by modern standards. Overall, this is something that stands out in a sea of ​​classic RPGs that offer radically different outcomes based on the player's every move and value alliances and skills as much as individual choices.

Ultima 7: Black Gate

living world simulation

details:

• Fully interactive environment

• Real-time world system

Ultima 7 It was revolutionary for the interactive world, where almost any object could be manipulated and dialogue felt organic rather than menu-based. Britannia feels like a functioning society rather than a generic setting, and the NPCs do a lot by following daily routines and ensuring players are always meeting new people in the world.

Its focus on simulation over spectacle gives it incredible longevity, and despite the passage of several decades, it remains a fan favorite among purists. It's one of the best in its own series, a great game in the context of the genre as a whole, and a perfect way to revisit your early roleplaying days.

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

A clash of technology and magic

details:

• Path to Two Worlds

• Skill-based quest solution

secret It blends fantasy and the industrial revolution into a setting unlike any other of its time. Players can take on magic or technology, and the world reacts differently to each path in terms of the skills and dialogue they have access to over the course of play.

The mechanisms are dense and sometimes unwieldy, but the freedom is amazing. Rather than telling players how to chart a course, they can actually drive their own story. It remains a masterclass in narrative design, and a clear example of how good writing and compelling world-building are needed for a single game to remain relevant and enjoyable for years to come.

magic 8

Tactical twist in RPG exploration

details:

• Building complex classes

• tactical combat approach

magic 8 It represents the pinnacle of old-school party-based RPG design before the genre transitioned into cinematic representation. Players create and manage a full party and explore open areas filled with tiered dungeons, roaming enemy groups, and faction conflicts, with the world opening up in ways that reward patience and careful preparation.

Combat remains its defining strength. Turn-based encounters emphasize positioning and build planning over brute force, and character creation is surprisingly deep, allowing for complex multiclass strategies and long-term expertise. Dialogue interactions and branching faction alignments also subtly shape your journey, making it a great choice for players who value systematic complexity and tactical depth above all else.

More than a stepping stone to Skyrim

details:

• Memorable Guild Arc

• Experimental Character AI

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion It bridges the gap between hardcore RPG systems and mainstream accessibility, encompassing a variety of systems and mechanics that are rewarding for hardcore fans and fun for newcomers. Its biggest appeal comes from its faction quest lines, which are some of the strongest in the genre, and arcs like The Dark Brotherhood remain a benchmark for side content years later.

The ambitious Radiant AI system at the time attempted to give NPCs more complex routines and dynamic behavior to make the city feel more alive than any other game in the past, and executed it as flawlessly as possible. Although remasters have since taken the spotlight, the classic version remains as narratively dense and mechanically engaging as it was when it was released, so it's still worth a visit.

divine divinity

Classic ARPG depth

details:

• Strong quest density

• Flexible class building

Although often overshadowed by later Larian projects, divine divinity It deserves recognition for its blend of action-RPG combat and incredibly layered storytelling. The world of Rivellon feels hand-crafted rather than procedurally populated, with side quests offering multiple solutions and often unexpected outcomes.

Exploration rewards attentiveness as hidden areas and secret interactions are scattered throughout town and wilderness. It gives players plenty of reasons to double check their surroundings before continuing. The dialogue may not be downright cinematic, but it offers meaningful choices and tonal shifts, and beneath the aged visuals is a very fluid RPG that foreshadows Larian's later design philosophy and ultimate success.

sacred

Massive role-playing from the beginning

details:

• A huge, continuous world

• Various class options

sacred It stood out at the time of its release for offering a seamless, expansive fantasy world at a time when many RPGs relied on segmented realms. The map is spread across a variety of regions filled with optional quests, hidden bosses, and loot-rich dungeons, and traversing the land feels more like an actual journey than a series of disconnected locations.

A variety of character classes and extensive skill trees allow for unique playstyles, from spellcasters to mounted warriors, and the loot system provides plenty of long-term engagement, encouraging players to revisit areas and experiment with builds until the end. In the early 2000s, few RPGs attempted such a broad scope, and this ambition still resonates with players seeking a truly immersive, large-scale, action-oriented experience.

Might and Magic 7: For Blood and Honor

Old school dungeon adventure

details:

• Sort-based endings

• Party focus on combat and exploration

Might and Magic 7 It captures the spirit of classic PC adventures, allowing players to explore open areas and dangerous dungeons within a party-based system that rewards planning and strategy from the start. Players can roam freely between towns and wilderness, taking on quests in a non-linear sequence that suits their style and preferences, and the ability to switch between real-time and turn-based combat further increases the overall flexibility the game offers.

The defining feature of this game is its meaningful alignment choices. Midway through the story, players must commit to either the Light or Dark path, dramatically reshaping quests, abilities, and even endings. This branching structure gives weight to decisions beyond just the flavor of dialogue, and all of these systems combine to make this one of the most satisfying open world RPG adventures ever created.