So far, 2026 is for us. crimson desert and GothicJust to mention a couple of open world RPGs. It may not linger in our hearts as much as legendary masterpieces such as The Witcher 3It's safe to predict that this title won't be forgotten in 10 years. Unfortunately, many open world RPGs fail to avoid this fate and most doom themselves to present and future appearances in “forgotten games” discussions.
One of my favorite things to do is revisit games from the 2000s and 2010s that barely have a digital presence to see what they have to offer, whether they hold up, or whether they should be better known. To be honest, there aren't that many open world RPGs out there, but there are some great titles that fans of both genres should definitely check out. It's far from perfect, but it's fantastic in its own right.
Who is that character?
Check out the silhouette before time runs out.
start
Check out the silhouette before time runs out.
Easy (7.5 seconds) Medium (5.0 seconds) Hard (2.5 seconds) Eternal Death (2.5 seconds)
Drakan: Gate of the Ancients
PS2 open world RPG where you can ride a dragon
Drakan: Gate of the Ancients
- released
-
January 29, 2002
- ESRB
-
M Mature 17+ // Blood, gore, violence
- developer
-
surreal software
The deepest wound in this article is, Drakhan: Gate of the Ancients, It's a PS2 cult classic that almost qualifies for the “cult” section because most people barely seem to remember it. The definition of a flawed masterpiece, Surreal Software's project was undeniably ahead of its time and presented a scale that even modern AAA developers still struggle to incorporate.
17 Video Games That Let You Ride a Dragon
Take to the skies on a fire-breathing lizard in dragon riding games.
The gameplay loop is split into ground and aerial sections, the latter of which involves taking to the skies on the back of a fire-breathing dragon. Both parts are well developed for their era, with skill trees, weapon types, magic, and ground combat complete with puzzles. Drakan's dogfights are a major selling point, and pouring fire on a camp in the hub area is still pretty impressive.
The “flawed” part comes from the many bugs that have plagued it along the way. Drakan: Gate of the AncientsA side effect of such an ambitious project that we couldn't get everything to work smoothly. I wish the game was ported to PC because modders can do really amazing things.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
The Forgotten Final Chapter (and the best FF13 game)
I know what you’re thinking: “No. final fantasy The game has been forgotten.” Although generally agreed Lightning Returns It's definitely the closest thing to an exception. We're talking about the third entry in a polarizing trilogy that, by 2013, had long since run out of steam. only hard work FF13 Fans must have noticed too Lightning Returns came out
Unlike the linear hallways of the original game, Lightning Returns is an open world game with four regions that can be explored in any order. Despite not featuring a traditional party, the game's Schemata system provides one of the most satisfying active combat loops in the JRPG genre, with Lightning effectively functioning as multiple classes by switching between customizable outfits. Combat is fast-paced, tactical, and visually stunning. FF13 If I had played closer I would have gotten a much better response. Lightning Returns.
As much as I enjoy this strange final chapter, Lightning Returns You may feel alienated right away. The messy space story reads almost like fan fiction, presents Lightning as a fake goddess, and forces players to rush around using a countdown clock (it's not too strict once you learn the mechanics, but it still feels unnecessary).
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
An ambitious RPG that gives you complete freedom
Troika's Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura It's highly regarded among enthusiasts and exists in a strange bubble that doesn't exist at all for everyone else. In terms of pure role-playing freedom, secret It set the standard in the early 2000s but still puts many modern titles to shame. Although it was not built like GTAStill, the game features an open world that lets you go wherever you want for the most part, and offers a level of responsiveness rarely attempted in RPGs.
As the title suggests, secret In a story set in a society divided between science and magic, you'll decide whether to prioritize technology or play as a wizard. Quests encourage you to adopt a variety of approaches, including brute force, diplomacy, stealth, and engineering. Be prepared for the consequences.
Due to age and general stuttering. secret It can be hard to appreciate these days. Especially since the combat isn't particularly great by any stretch of the imagination.
Yokai Watch 2
Yokai Watch was released as an open world before Pokemon.
It's hard to believe in retrospect, but for a moment, Yokai Watch I thought I would join pokemon It's Nintendo's new big creature collecting franchise. The original game did surprisingly well, spawning spinoffs, sequels, and other media. It may have been oversaturation, or it may have been due to the fact that it took more than two years for overseas release to materialize. Yokai Watch 2 It didn't attract the same attention as its predecessor.
15 years later, forgotten PS3 fantasy masterpieces have aged like fine wine
Rayman Origins, Child of Eden, and other overlooked PS3 gems hold up remarkably well even 15 years later, providing timeless gaming experiences.
Naturally, fans of the first installment should 100% play all the sequels, which contain new ideas that stand on their own. But people who have never heard of this franchise should try the second entry in particular. Because this game is one of the best and most atmospheric open world games on the 3DS. Combining monster collecting and slice-of-life elements, Yokai Watch 2 It changes the face of the world through time travel, while also creating an incredible representation of rural and suburban Japanese life.
The combat system is too passive for its own good, so I wouldn't particularly recommend it as a turn-based JRPG.
Kensi
The Best Open World RPG Most People Will Never Play
Kensi
- released
-
December 6, 2018
Right at this moment, Kensi have Having more than 4K players on Steam automatically disqualifies you from receiving the “forgotten” label. While I understand that, Kensi is arguably the most underrated open world RPG of all time. Loved by a select group but completely ignored by everyone else. fell massively Mad Max– A sandbox-like game, you are nothing and have to decide how to live, survive and thrive.
Your actions determine your place in the world, and you can be everything from a nomad to a military leader or merchant. Progress feels incredible because it comes through real struggles. For example, if you lose your arm in battle, you have to deal with it rather than just wait for it to grow back. Kensi Excellent for new storytelling.
10/10, 7 Open World RPGs Without Notes
As the years go by, these open world RPGs remain the pinnacle of the genre and are still worth playing today.
The downside is that you only need to look at one screenshot. Kensi It looks like a total train wreck and it acts like one too.
