After finishing Elden Ring, seeking open-world games with immersive storytelling

[Andrew31]

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?