Photo courtesy of Lydia Schrandt
Fallout 4
Fallout 4 takes players into a post-apocalyptic version of the city of Boston and its surroundings. The open world offers more than 150 hours of play time, with plenty of familiar locales to explore. See if you can find Fenway Park, the Old North Church, Bunker Hill Monument and Walden Pond. If you feel like spending a day at a theme park, albeit a pretty dark and twisted one, make sure to snag the Nuka-World expansion.
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Subnautica
Set beneath an alien planet’s Technicolor oceans, Subnautica is downright gorgeous. It’s so pretty, in fact, that you might quickly find yourself running short of oxygen or coming snorkel-to-nose with some pretty nasty sea creatures if you aren’t careful. A sense of mystery and wonder pervades every element of this game, from its mechanics (you’re given very little instruction) to the overarching narrative.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Just about every game in the Assassin’s Creed series scratches the travel itch by allowing players to explore various cities from all sorts of points of view. The latest installment, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, transports you through both space and time into Ancient Greece. Do some tree bathing in the Forest Islands, stop by the Temple of Artemis in Phokis, explore the scenic village of Lalaia or walk among the flower-filled meadows of Erymanthos Peak.
Photo courtesy of Lydia Schrandt
Red Dead Redemption 2
If you like HBO’s Westworld, you’ll probably appreciate this Wild West-themed, open world game that debuted in 2018. The map in Red Dead Redemption 2 is believed to be Rockstar’s biggest to date, stretching from the mining town of Annesburg to the snowy Mount Hagen. That’s a lot of ground to cover, and if you’re feeling uncertain of where to start, someone’s even come up with Yelp-style reviews of every saloon in the game.
Photo courtesy of Lydia Schrandt
The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Skyrim – the fifth installment in the Elder Scrolls series – is set in a fictional medieval realm, albeit one heavily influenced by Scandinavian culture. The hard, cold, open world landscape offers plenty for the controller-toting traveler to explore. Look for the Northern Lights on a clear night, snap some screenshots of the castle at Winterhold and marvel at the impressive architecture of Markarth. Skyrim even transports you into the ethereally illuminated Nordic afterlife.
Photo courtesy of Adam Tyner
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
The Uncharted series from Naughty Dog has long sent gamers treasure hunting in stunning locations, and The Lost Legacy is no different. Players control treasure hunter Chloe Frazer, who starts out in India on a quest to find a legendary tusk of Ganesh, all while moving through jungles, temples, mountains and vast urban environments. While the game is rather linear, each environment features several paths to explore.
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Forza Horizon 4
This open world driving game spares no expense when it comes to reproducing spectacular scenery. Forza Horizon 4 takes place in Great Britain, allowing players to take a virtual road trip to many famous landmarks, like the Glenfinnan Viaduct that also featured in Harry Potter, the Lake District and the Gatehouse in Edinburgh.
Photo courtesy of Adam Tyner
Far Cry 5
Far Cry 5 – a first-person shooter from Ubisoft – takes place in a fictional region of Montana, though all of the state’s natural beauty remains on full display. Players take on the role of a young sheriff’s deputy tasked with bringing down the head of a doomsday cult. Several locations in the game were inspired by real settings, including the Logan Pass Visitor Center, Our Lady of the Rockies, Lake McDonald Lodge and the Melville Lutheran Church.
Photo courtesy of CD Projekt RED
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
With the recent release of Netflix’s adaptation of the long-running Polish book series, now’s the perfect time to visit the land of Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Its massive open world draws inspiration from elements of Poland, France, Scandinavia and the Netherlands, with a few elves, basilisks and wyverns thrown in for good measure. The game has its fair share of stunning locations to seek out as well, among them the eerie Isle of Mists, the architectural wonders of Vizima, the city of Oxenfurt (inspired by Oxford), and Freya’s leafy garden.
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No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky offers far more than an open world; it’s an open universe, where you can literally go planet-hopping on an intergalactic jaunt through space. With 18 quintillion procedurally-generated worlds, you’ll never run out of planets to check out.