I just finished Elden Ring and I'm looking for my next big open-world game to get lost in. I love exploring detailed environments with a strong sense of place and meaningful side content, not just endless checklists. Games like The Witcher 3 and Red Dead Redemption 2 really hooked me with their world-building. What are the best open-world games from the last few years that prioritize immersive exploration and storytelling over sheer map size, and are there any hidden gems that might have flown under the radar?
Starfield is my top pick if you want a true new world to get lost in. The planets, factions, and side missions give you a sense of history and culture rather than just a 'reach the objective.' It's big but not empty; the quests often tie into your chosen faction or story arc, which feels more story-first than just map size. There are rough edges and performance quirks on some platforms, but the world-building is solid and the exploration feels meaningful.
Horizon Forbidden West is the closest to Witcher/RDR2-level polish and world-building you’ll find in a newer game. The environments are dense with lore, and side content ties into the tribes and ecosystems rather than just padding. If you want more, the Burning Shores expansion adds depth and more varied locales while keeping the momentum of the main story.
Tears of the Kingdom stands out for clever exploration design and environmental storytelling. It’s not as heavy on narrative throughline as Witcher, but the world feels alive and the creativity in puzzles and world-building is top-tier. If you enjoyed Breath of the Wild, this is likely to captivate you with scale and discovery.
Hogwarts Legacy delivers a strong sense of place and a narrative-driven open world with lots of lore and side content that fits its magical setting. It’s a bit more contained than sprawling RPGs, but the world-building and character moments are rich, and there are plenty of underground corners to explore for discovery.
Hidden gems worth a look: The Forgotten City (2021) offers a compact, well-written open-world mystery where your choices really shape outcomes; Sable (2021) provides a slow-burn, mood-forward exploration feel with a unique art style; The Pathless (2020) combines open-world exploration with a hypnotic soundtrack and a few strong story beats.
Quick question to tailor a shortlist: are you playing on PC or console, and do you prefer fantasy or sci-fi? Any must-have features (companion characters, crafting, difficulty)**? I can rank a 4–6 title list for your vibe and give you a travel-friendly buying guide.