The open-world gaming genre has surged in popularity over recent years, captivating players with its expansive landscapes and limitless exploration. These games provide exceptional value for money by immersing players in countless hours of engaging gameplay.
However, crafting a truly immersive open world requires more than just a compelling narrative and beautiful environments; it requires rich side content that enhances the game’s depth and vitality. In fact, secondary content is often the defining factor that elevates a good gaming experience to an unforgettable one. Below is a curated list of ten open-world games featuring remarkable side quests that contribute significantly to their appeal.
10 Dragon Age: Inquisition
A Memorable Fantasy
Dragon Age: Inquisition presents an expansive open world segmented into multiple large areas, simulating the experience of traversing an entire continent. The game shines through its immersive secondary quests, allowing players to manage the Inquisition as a nuanced organization. Tasks like capturing strongholds, exploring ancient artifacts, or defeating demon leaders instill a sense of commanding authority within a complex landscape.
Whether seeking resources; enhancing narrative depth; or simply enjoying leisure, each side mission adds to the multifaceted experience of Dragon Age: Inquisition, making it a fulfilling game to explore completely. Although some traditional RPG enthusiasts may find it lacking, I firmly believe its optional content solidifies it as the best entry in the series.
9 Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
The Series’ Non-Linear Pioneer
Before the franchise embraced an even more open, RPG-inspired format, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag revolutionized non-linear gameplay by introducing an extensive world teeming with activities. The combination of cities like Havana, Nassau, and Kingston creates an engaging experience filled with spontaneity.
Players assume the role of Edward Kenway, not just tackling the main storyline but also delving into naval contracts and Templar hunts. The side content available is far beyond what the franchise offered previously, marking Black Flag as a groundbreaking installment and a standout within the open-world genre.
8 Death Stranding
Not Your Typical Open World
Death Stranding offers a distinctive open-world experience, particularly in its post-apocalyptic environment, where interactions and locations are notably sparse. Nevertheless, the gameplay loop revolves around delivery missions that foster a sense of community and human connection among the surviving characters.
Completing side quests reinforces the game’s core theme of interdependence. Each interaction rewards players not only with materials but also with emotional fulfillment and insight. These quests enable exploration of the game’s terrain, unveiling some of the most exhilarating challenges the game has to offer. Indeed, the uniqueness of Death Stranding makes its side missions exceptionally captivating.
7 Dragon’s Dogma II
Spontaneous and Ruthless
Continuing the legacy of its predecessor, Dragon’s Dogma II captivates players with its expansive world brimming with diverse activities. Every corner reveals new wonders—from abandoned castles and mythical beasts to rescuing villagers and plundering caves. The game’s engaging environment encourages players to pursue exploration from pure curiosity rather than mere narrative necessity.
While its story may not stand out significantly, the gameplay experience offers thrilling combat and rewards. The abundance of secondary content not only enhances the adventure but also showcases the game’s depth and quality.
6 Grand Theft Auto V
There Is No Place Like Los Santos
As a player who often gravitates toward medieval and sci-fi universes, Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V has a unique charm that’s difficult to resist. Even years after its release, the game remains a pivotal moment in open-world gaming, featuring incisive satire and an incredibly vibrant environment that feels alive.
Players engage in a variety of activities such as driving, shooting, tennis, character customization, and more, all of which could easily stand alone as individual games. Grand Theft Auto V masterfully integrates these experiences, enhancing what is already an impressive product thanks to its trio of protagonists. The side content expands exponentially due to the ability to swap characters at will, showcasing their unique adventures. Rockstar continues to affirm its dominance in open-world design, with this title remaining a definitive example.
5 Cyberpunk 2077
A City To Remember
The vast landscapes, diverse factions, and intricate characters of Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City stand as a high point of density in open-world gaming. This audiovisual masterpiece, combined with a multitude of gameplay options, highlights why it is regarded as one of the best in the genre.
The side quests are rich in gameplay and narrative depth, exploring essential themes like human identity and societal oppression. Missions involving key characters such as Johnny Silverhand, Panam, Judy, Kerry, and River highlight the game’s profound storytelling, from investigating submerged villages to dealing with complex, dark narratives. Despite its troubled release, Cyberpunk 2077 achieves a high level of design, further enhanced by the introduction of Phantom Liberty.
4 Fallout: New Vegas
Obsidian’s Mastery
When it comes to crafting memorable quests, few studios match Obsidian Entertainment’s prowess, particularly exemplified in Fallout: New Vegas. As an installment known for its exceptional writing, setting, and role-playing opportunities, it stands tall among its peers.
Even though gameplay mechanics may appear limited, New Vegas excels in conveying emotional depth through dialogue and engaging interactions in its side quests. Unique approaches to missions—ranging from quirky decisions to high-stakes conflicts—enable players to tackle challenges in countless ways based on their perspectives and choices.
With its immersive world filled with intricately woven narratives, Fallout: New Vegas is essential when discussing standout titles in the open-world genre.
3 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Immersion At Its Finest
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a quintessential representation of the open-world genre, renowned for its unmatched scale and immersive qualities. While it has some shortcomings—such as limited gameplay variety and a somewhat anticlimactic final boss—the side content truly shines.
Indeed, the secondary missions, including Daedric quests, guild storylines, and civil war narratives, often surpass the main campaign in terms of engagement and intensity. The sheer size of Skyrim allows players to invest hundreds of hours exploring a vast and richly detailed universe.
2 Red Dead Redemption 2
A First-Class Western
Few games achieve the level of immersion found in Red Dead Redemption 2, where every pixel comes alive with storytelling. This Rockstar masterpiece exemplifies the pinnacle of open-world spontaneity, meticulously crafted to evoke a vibrant living environment.
Although it features fewer side quests compared to other titles, those available are incredibly well-developed. As Arthur Morgan, players genuinely experience the life of an Old West outlaw, navigating everything from wolf-hunting and roadside robberies to intense saloon poker games all within a short timeframe. The perfectly scripted characters, organically structured gameplay systems, and stunning environments make Red Dead Redemption 2 one of modern gaming’s greatest achievements.
1 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
An Unparalleled Adventure
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt redefines the open-world genre, offering an experience that transforms how players engage with gaming. This near-perfect RPG immerses players in an intricately crafted world that is both vibrant and alive.
By seamlessly intertwining events and characters, it elevates immersion to remarkable levels. What may start as a simple side quest often evolves into intricate storylines filled with unexpected twists and rich character development. Time invested in side quests impacts the narrative in significant ways, often surfacing many hours later in unforeseen locations.
While there are certainly more technically polished games within the genre, when it comes to side quests, no title compares to the brilliance found in The Witcher 3.
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