It’s clear that Red Dead Redemption 2 is a truly exceptional video game. Rockstar successfully captured the atmosphere of the Old West’s final years. Playing as Arthur Morgan, either alone or with Dutch’s gang, is a unique and unforgettable experience.
While Red Dead Redemption 2 is a fantastic open-world game, a few others actually excel in certain areas. Some offer even better exploration, while others have more engaging combat or deeper customization options. But one thing is certain: any game that can outperform Red Dead 2 is truly among the best open-world experiences gaming has to offer.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Introduces Fans To A Massive Fantasy Setting
Even fifteen years later, people are still discussing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and for good reason. Like the original Grand Theft Auto III, it’s a hugely influential open-world game. Skyrim really showcases the appeal of freely exploring a game’s world and always finding something interesting to do.
The beginning of Red Dead Redemption 2 is instantly striking, both because it introduces the characters and lets players explore the game’s world. However, it’s a lengthy opening – at least two hours long – and unfolds at an even slower speed than the rest of the game, which is already fairly deliberate.
Okay, so Skyrim starts a little slowly, but it really doesn’t take long – maybe ten minutes – before things kick off with Alduin showing up. Then you’re immediately thrown into the main story and let loose to explore! Honestly, it pulls you into the world right from the beginning, and I love that.
While Skyrim isn’t perfect, it’s important to remember it was released seven years before Red Dead Redemption 2. It had a rougher start, but numerous updates over the years have fixed many issues, so players now experience a polished and stable game.
Another thing that sets Skyrim apart from games like Red Dead 2 is its incredible modding community. While many games have mods, Skyrim‘s Creation Engine allows fans to completely transform the game, offering a level of customization you won’t find anywhere else.
Fans have created mods to address any issue with Skyrim, from outdated graphics to uninspired combat. Beyond simple fixes, dedicated players can use extensive total conversion mods to essentially turn Skyrim into a brand new game.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Combined Gorgeous Graphics With Incredible Writing
When the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One first came out, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was one of the most hyped games. Even though many players weren’t familiar with the series, the game’s unique world and story immediately grabbed attention. Thankfully, it lived up to the hype and became one of the best open-world games ever made.
The Witcher 3 showed everyone a glimpse of the future of video games. Even today, over a decade after its release, it remains stunning, not just visually, but also for its incredible storytelling – some of the best ever seen in a major video game. The game’s stories and characters stayed with players long after they finished playing.
In The Witcher 3, you play as a monster hunter in a vast, immersive world. The game’s expansive landscape is filled with dangerous creatures, rewarding players for exploration and encouraging them to seek out new monsters to defeat.
Many of the challenging creatures you find feel like they’d be the major bosses in other games, really emphasizing how dangerous this world is. While hunting animals can be enjoyable – like bears in Red Dead 2 – defeating a leshen deep within a treacherous forest is a completely different experience.
One thing The Witcher 3 does exceptionally well is its expansions. Nowadays, Rockstar Games typically adds content through online modes, which means single-player fans don’t get the big, story-driven expansions they used to. The Witcher 3, however, provides two completely separate and substantial storylines to continue Geralt’s adventure.
Beyond everything else, the “Blood and Wine” expansion provides a fantastic conclusion to Geralt’s journey, finishing off what is widely considered one of the greatest games ever made. It truly showcases the potential of well-crafted storytelling in an open-world setting.
Elden Ring Offers Nearly Endless Customization
Ever since rumors started that Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of popular games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, was collaborating with George R.R. Martin on a new game, Elden Ring became one of the most eagerly awaited titles of the current gaming generation. And from its announcement to its release, Elden Ring truly delivered on all expectations.
Elden Ring isn’t just a top open-world game of the last ten years – it’s one of the greatest of all time. It stands out from other open-world games, and even previous titles by its creators, FromSoftware. The game world is incredibly large, but it’s much more than just a huge map filled with enemies.
From Software designed their game world with a strong sense of height and depth, letting players explore both the skies and underground areas. These aren’t just empty spaces, though – they’re filled with meaningful quests, challenging enemies, and valuable treasure, making each area feel truly worthwhile.
It’s understandable if this game feels tough, particularly if you haven’t played similar action games before. However, that difficulty can also be very satisfying. Unlike Red Dead 2, which lets you complete missions in almost any way you choose, this game’s challenge often comes from trying to achieve perfect scores and complete optional objectives.
Elden Ring is consistently challenging, requiring skillful play to defeat its bosses, and overcoming those challenges is incredibly rewarding. But what really sets Elden Ring apart – even compared to games like Red Dead Redemption 2 – is the incredible level of character and gameplay customization it offers.
I love that this game actually rewards you for getting off the beaten path. Seriously, taking on those optional bosses and just exploring everywhere isn’t just for completion’s sake – you find awesome weapons, skills, and summons that really help you out. And the best part? I can build my character exactly how I want, or totally change things up to counter a tough enemy. It’s super flexible and makes me feel like I’m really in control.
Grand Theft Auto V Is Still The Perfect Open-World City Game
Rockstar released Red Dead Redemption 2 several years after Grand Theft Auto V. But many fans don’t think that makes it a superior game. In fact, a significant number believe Red Dead 2 actually took a step back in certain areas, aside from its graphics.
Red Dead 2 is a stunning game that offers an unparalleled Wild West experience. Rockstar Games packed it with so many details – a feat only a developer of their scale could achieve. This allows for incredible immersion, like seeing characters independently order and enjoy complete meals, adding a remarkable level of realism to the world.
While aiming for realism is good, Red Dead Redemption 2 sometimes takes it too far. This can actually make the game less fun to play. Hunting, for example, can become repetitive and frustrating – even a small error can lead to poor rewards that aren’t worth the effort, except for the most dedicated players.
Finding items and collecting loot can take a long time in the game, as it features detailed animations of characters grabbing things. While cool at first, these animations become repetitive and slow down gameplay after a while. Grand Theft Auto V, for example, strives for realism but still maintains a fun, video game feel.
Playing GTA V is consistently enjoyable, and it still has the impressive attention to detail that Rockstar Games is known for. Importantly, the game doesn’t try to be anything other than a fun, engaging video game experience.
One reason for its continued success is Rockstar’s excellent support for GTA V, something Red Dead 2 didn’t receive to the same extent. Grand Theft Auto V Online has kept the game popular for over ten years, making it one of the best-selling and most acclaimed open-world games ever made.
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2026-02-23 03:10