Open world games have often become tied closely with games with literal wide-open worlds like the featured cities in the Grand Theft Auto franchise and the rich world of The Witcher series. This can benefit the player greatly, as they can choose to take on a tough mission when they’ve leveled up, instead of feeling stuck, unable to beat a difficult boss.

You can take time to both literally and figuratively go off the beaten path and play the game your way. You move in a straight line until you get to the end, point A to point B.Ĭompare that to the most recent Final Fantasy XV, in which you and your party can tackle main game missions or side quests at your own leisure. Playing through Final Fantasy X will have you and your party trudge along with the monster-infested Mi’ihen Highroads, battling tough foes all along the way. The open-world doesn’t refer necessarily to a living, breathing game world, but rather a more nonlinear approach to level design and player interaction to the world.

Best free open world games online