An open world game with the most complex lore

Key Takeaways

  • Open world games combine rich storylines with sandbox gameplay, giving players freedom and involvement.
  • The best open world games contain complex lore, including ancient history, cultural differences, and political intrigue.
  • Games like Skyrim, The Witcher 3, and Horizon Zero Dawn offer deep world lore that enhances the gameplay experience.



Early open world games often featured sandbox gameplay with exploration at its core. As the genre evolved, developers learned to weave story-driven progression and detailed game lore into open-world environments. The result is a game that gives players the freedom to do whatever they want, but also has a compelling storyline.

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Game lore often revolves around ancient history, political intrigue, cultural differences, and conflict. The best open world games combine all of these elements into a story that unravels as players discover and learn the game's lore. Moreover, for long-running franchises, game lore is often built between titles, resulting in open worlds filled with established lore.


Well-established Elder Scrolls knowledge


released
November 11, 2011

developer
Bethesda Game Studios

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game play Skyrim Occurs in the northern region of Tramiel. As the Dragonborn, players must take on the responsibility and save the world. The game takes place on a large open world map and features combat, chests, and tons of quests.

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The Elder Scrolls' lore is deep and fascinating, and much of this lore can be discovered as you play. Skyrim. Players will learn about events from thousands of years ago. In a complex mixture of mythology and tribal politics, Skyrim I made it to this list.

6 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Deep character definition and complex lore


Witcher 3 box art

released
May 19, 2015

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Players take on the role of Geralt of Rivia and explore a very well-crafted open world map. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Known for its complex narrative choices and sheer scale, players are free to play as they please or follow the main story.

world The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt It is full of knowledge with a complex political background. Players discover game lore by reading books, interacting with NPCs, and completing quests. Moreover, the basic knowledge is based on the popular book series by Andrzej Sapkowski.

5 horizon zero dawn

Learn about the past to save the future

horizon zero dawn

released
February 28, 2017

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Playing as Aloy, a young woman who must learn about her past to save the modern world, players battle mechanical enemies in a post-apocalyptic landscape. The game blends frantic combat with open-world exploration to create a deep, rewarding, story-driven experience.


deep backstory horizon zero dawn In many cases, players must discover and understand lore in order to progress through the game. As the game progresses, players learn about the past and the causes of the apocalypse, and a great narrative guides them through the game's complex history.

4 Red Dead Redemption 2

As Wild as the West

released
October 26, 2018

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At first glance, Red Dead Redemption 2 This may seem like an odd choice for this list. But consider for a moment that rather than being based on pure fantasy lore, this game is based on the rich history of the Old West. This knowledge is inherited and implemented to create engaging gaming experiences.


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Additionally, the game also has its own lore and backstory in the form of the protagonist's history and the history of the gang they belong to. The narrative is perfectly balanced between the morality of the Old West and the world evolving into a civilized society.

3 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Using the Zelda Timeline

released
March 3, 2017

developer
Nintendo EPD

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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild The gameplay centers around the player taking on the role of Link, who has just woken up from a long sleep and must now rescue Princess Zelda. Gameplay takes place on a breathtaking open world map featuring puzzles, combat, and exploration.


that zelda The franchise features a complex and intertwined timeline, with multiple games sharing much of the same lore. Players can discover ruins containing ancient technology, remnants of the past, and further lore. As the journey continues, players must piece this knowledge together to solve the overall puzzle.

2 Elden Ring

Rich and detailed fantasy world

released
February 25, 2022

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Elden Ring It is most widely known for its complex and challenging combat system. But the game is much more than this. Based on the fantasy world defined and developed by George RR Martin and Hidetaka Miyazaki, Elden Ring Completely immersed in knowledge.

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The game uses the environment as a tool to tell the story, and the story is filled with inherently arcane lore that the player must solve. As the game progresses, players must piece together the knowledge they discover to figure out why something happened. Elden Ring It's broken.


1 Dragon Age: Inquisition

multidimensional chaos

released
November 18, 2014

Open Criticism Evaluation
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Taking the highest spot on this list is Dragon Age: Inquisition. The game puts players in the shoes of an Inquisitor, faced with the task of saving the world of Thedas from being overwhelmed as the veil between the real world and the Fade is torn apart.

Ancient magical practices, political controversies, and complex, intertwined racial histories. Dragon Age: Inquisition This means that the game has a huge amount of lore for players to discover. As players progress, they will learn about the mysteries of the ancient Tevinter Imperium and lore that goes back thousands of years covering the history of the elves.

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