Summary
Open-world games are one of the most popular genres of video games out there because of the freedom to play however you please. The non-linear design of most open-world games allows you to sink in as many hours as you want, and depending on how the gameplay is, the hours can go well into the hundreds.
Some of these games have won multiple awards for being as good as they are and if you play one of these, there’s almost a guarantee that you’ll spend most of your time in front of the screen figuring out where to go or what to do. Beyond the main quests, the time you sink will vary, but there’s no doubt that they’re some of the longest Open-World video games out there.
CD Project Red has come out with some bangers in the past, andCyberpunk, by comparison, had a rocky start, but in its current state, is one of the best futuristic urban settings in a video game yet.
Though the main story of Cyberpunk 2077 can take 30 or so hours to finish completely, the side content in Night City is packed to the brim. The Phantom Liberty expansion builds upon the density of content within Cyberpunk, making it one of the longest open-world games in recent memory.
Elden Ringis FromSoftware’s biggest release to date and the amount of detail and content crammed into this one game has had players sink in more time than any other Soulsborne game. The map is huge, and the fact that you can virtually visit every part of it speaks to the attention put into the game.
There are tons of thingsto do in The Lands Between, from side bossesto entire quest lines separate from the main story that are as long. The gameplay keeps you coming back for more, even after you finish the game, allowing you to spend well over a hundred hours achieving your goal of becoming the Elden Lord.
Valheimcame out of nowhere and took the gaming world by surprise as a sandbox-style open-world game with crafting, construction, and some survival elements. The cool thing about Valheim is that it’s not linear at all, allowing you to play it inwhatever way you want, even with friends, with a lot of content that keeps you hooked.
One of the best things about it is that it’s still in early access with a dedicated developer team behind it that’s pushing regular updates, so it’ll keep growing, and the play time is bound to increase still.
Ubisoft’s Viking-themedAssassin’s Creed Valhallahas you exploring several maps, thanks to continuous expansions beyond just the main world. It’s one of the longest games Ubisoft has ever released and has somewhat revived the reputation of the Assassin’s Creed games thanks to its efforts.
Every location in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has its own unique items and enemies, ensuring you won’t get bored by the formula for a very long time. As Ubisoft’s biggest entry yet, Valhalla is considered a favorite by many and has a lot of replay value as well.
One of the most highly anticipated Final Fantasy games to date,Final Fantasy 7: Rebirthdid not disappoint and did its job in giving players a modern version of a classic that was ahead of its time. It’s also a huge improvement over Remake, having much more to do and hours to spend, which has made fans more excited about the final part of the trilogy.
It’s a spectacular midway point, making it one of the best Final Fantasygames ever conceived and one of the longest as well.
The Witcher 3is one of the all-time greats that was released in 2015 and was massively ahead of its time. As a story-driven game following Geralt on his quest to reunite with Ciri and defeat the Wild Hunt, the playtime for this game can go well into the hundred-hour mark.
After you factor in the Hearts of Stone expansion and the Blood and Wine expansion, there is even more to do, with the latter introducing you to an entirely new area to explore with its own questline. The sheer amount of content packed into this triple-A open-world title has made it one of the best games of all time.
Rockstar’s take on the Wild West is expanded on withRed Dead Redemption 2, which is known for having some of the most beautiful visuals and atmospheric feel in a video game.
The story is one of the most fleshed-out narratives, even years after release, and with the number of side quests, achievements, and just general exploration, the gameplay keeps you occupied for hundreds of hours. The main story itself is not as long, but the game is built around multiple quest lines and character arcs that you can cover to get the full value of the game, allowing you to sink in a lot of time.
Fallout 4is one of Bethesda’s biggest entries in the Fallout series. Though it’s a bit different to the traditional Bethesda RPG formula, Fallout 4 offers a huge map with multiple locations, some of which aren’t even marked on the map.
Beyond just the main quest, you’re able to do quests forfactions like the Brotherhood of Steel or the Commonwealth Minutemen. All of this plus the general exploration and detailed areas scattered across the map have made Fallout 4 one of Bethesda’s longest games ever.
Bethesda’s best and funniest game yet isThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, which is still seeing regular play after more than a decade, and Bethesda can’t seem to move on from that success either.
It was a revolutionary game in its time, offering you a huge open-world experience with a lot of side content that kept you entertained even after finishing the game. But the actual reason you’ll sink a couple hundred or maybe even thousands of hours into this game is thededicated mod developersthat are still expanding on this game to date.
Another legendary game that builds upon its predecessor isThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Just like Breath of the Wild, it offers you hundreds of hours of entertainment and unparalleled freedom, like having the option to beat the final boss of the base game in your first hour.
It also allows you to explore every nook and cranny of the map, allowing you to build upon your own playstyle by solving puzzles and practicing the flexible combat system. The game mechanics go beyond just that, with crafting elements and layers upon layers of gameplay, ensuring the kind of variety that hooks you for hours.
