Open-world games are full of fantastic possibilities for players, as they allow for tons of versatility in terms of attire, combat mechanics, and the overall narrative pathways that players can explore as they progress. Some titles focus more on the gameplay experience, whereas others explore a unique mythology that the developers behind them crafted to keep players interested.

Whatever the case, open-world games are typically a great choice for players who want to escape their reality and be part of an exciting adventure that lasts a long time. Here are some of the best open-world games with rich lore and enticing backstories.

Cyberpunk 2077

There Are Decades Of Lore To Explain The State Players Find The World In

Many evil corporations had their origins in the late-20th century.
The game’s dystopian society foundations are extensively covered in the lore

Although it had a rough start, Cyberpunk 2077 is now regarded by many to be one of the best futuristic open-world RPGs set in a dystopian society. The world players are introduced to is already in considerable decadence, with crime and gangs at every corner and criminal syndicates running society along with greedy corporations

There’s a ton of lore behind the world of Cyberpunk 2077, which explains the origins of the Arasaka Corporation and many other evils that are present in the decaying society players get to experience.

 

Fallout 4

Even Before The Bombs Dropped, The Fallout Universe Was Vast

Players can still find traces of pre-war society in the wasteland
The Fallout franchise has lots of rich lore

The Fallout franchise has been around for more than 25 years at the time of writing this article, which explains why and how it has such extensive lore. Regardless of the title they choose to explore, players will always find something new to learn about this dystopian universe.

In the case of Fallout 4, there’s tons to learn about what happened before the bombs dropped, how society worked, and how some elements like the Mister Handy Robot companion came to be. While there’s not much left of the world before 2077 by the time the Sole Survivor awakens, some remnants of what used to be can still be found throughout the wasteland.

Horizon Zero Dawn

The Downfall Of Humanity Comes From An Interesting Source

Humanity once achieved great technological prowess, but that was also the cause of its downfall
Several mechanical creatures populate the land

Horizon Zero Dawn is one of those games that are set in a futuristic dystopian society, yet still manage to present players with a colorful world that seems to be teeming with life—even if it’s not organic.

The backstory of this title is all about the hubris of the human race and how the search for superiority and the quest for power brought it down in the blink of an eye. As they explore, players can still find traces of pre-apocalypse technology, and even some human remains in the rubble.

 

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Conjunction Of The Spheres Changed Everything

The Conjunction of the Spheres merged the world of humans with other worlds
Reading more about The Continent’s lore can answer many questions

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has some of the best lore of any fantasy game out there, as it not only touches on the origins of magic and the horrendous creatures that Geralt must hunt down, but it also explains where everything else came from.

The event that merged the world of humanity with that of monsters and elves is called the Conjunction of the Spheres, which happened roughly 1,500 years before the events that take place in the novel. This event alone is worth reading about and exploring, as it can answer many of players’ questions. Those who’ve already completed the game once might want to learn more about The Continent to shake up their second playthrough.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Lore Isn’t As Extensive, But The Narrative And The Original Red Dead Redemption Make Many Pieces Fit Together

The lore and backstory aren’t as extensive as in other games, but they’re still outstanding
Playing both Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 can help answer many questions

Out of all the games on this list, Red Dead Redemption 2 has arguably the shortest lore and backstory. However, this doesn’t mean that what is available is bad. As a matter of fact, quite the opposite, which is why it made this ranking.

Although Red Dead Redemption 2 is actually a prequel to the original game, it helps answer many questions that players might have had for years and also builds on the story of Arthur, the Van der Linde gang, and many other important elements that make this amazing title one of the best open-worlds that focus on the law vs outlaws. .

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

The Kingdom Of Hyrule Holds Many Ancestral Secrets

Outstanding open world design and game mechanics
Many questions remain unanswered in the Kingdom of Hyrule

Ever since the first Legend of Zelda games came out in the late 20th century, the world the game is set in and the Kingdom of Hyrule have always had tons of surprises and backstory for players to explore.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is no exception, as, on top of having interesting game mechanics, a compelling narrative, and an overall great open-world design, it also reveals many exciting aspects about Hyrule. This, along with other aspects, such as the amazing weapons available, is why it’s considered to be one of the best Legend of Zelda games to date.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

The Franchise Packs Tons Of Details That Fans Will Want To Read More About

Sheogorath appears in both Oblivion and Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls franchise spans over 3 decades

Just like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls franchise spans a few decades, which has given it enough time for Bethesda to develop an interesting lore and backstory for many of the characters. Although The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is set roughly 200 years after the events of Oblivion, there are still many elements of its predecessor present.

The Daedric Prince of Madness, Sheogorath, is a perfect example of this, as he makes an appearance in both games. There are also many other deities present in Skyrim that have very interesting lore that fans of the franchise will want to explore. On top of this, the game also features some great Light Armor sets that can offer decent protection without sacrificing agility, many of which have interesting lore to them.