The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    What are the best openworld PC games?

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Starscream, Dec 18, 2011.

  1. Starscream

    Starscream Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    72
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    And they don't have to be 100% openworld (ie I consider crysis openworld)?

    Any genre is fine, although I would love to know if there are other openworld shooters like crysis.
     
  2. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,266
    Messages:
    7,360
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Skyrim!!! Of course.
     
  3. Zymphad

    Zymphad Zymphad

    Reputations:
    2,321
    Messages:
    4,165
    Likes Received:
    355
    Trophy Points:
    151
    Borderlands!
     
  4. alucasa

    alucasa Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    21
    Messages:
    557
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Skyrim, Fallout, Oblivion. Basically, Elder Scrolls series and Fallout series.

    If you are into DOS games, the Ultima series. Loved Ultima 6, 7, and 7.5.
     
  5. InspiredE1705

    InspiredE1705 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    329
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I had fun with Fable 3, but it a 25 to 28 hr game if you do 24 keys and a few chests.
     
  6. rschauby

    rschauby Superfluously Redundant

    Reputations:
    865
    Messages:
    1,560
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    GTA4

    Stealing cars and going on rampages never gets old.

    If you have a console Red Dead Redemption is a must have.
     
  7. reaversedge

    reaversedge Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    271
    Messages:
    640
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    31
    if you are playing single player, fallout series and skyrim.

    when multiple players, try borderlands.

    another good thing is far cry 1 and 2.
     
  8. ton247

    ton247 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    38
    Messages:
    426
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    31
    GTA4 and San Andreas
     
  9. DJRX8000

    DJRX8000 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    84
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Minecraft. If you don't consider it open world, then nothing is open world. Not an FPS, but still very fun (super addicting too).
     
  10. trvelbug

    trvelbug Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    929
    Messages:
    4,007
    Likes Received:
    40
    Trophy Points:
    116
    arkham city
     
  11. andros_forever

    andros_forever Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    141
    Messages:
    954
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Adventures of Robin Hood for the Amiga. That game was soooo much fun back in the day.
     
  12. InspiredE1705

    InspiredE1705 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    329
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I never got really into Far CRy 2 but when I saw real good gameplay action of it on Youtube then I realized I was missing out on stuff. But I hate that the scenery is Africa.
     
  13. Syberia

    Syberia Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    1,611
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Grand Theft Auto, Oblivion, and Skyrim are the ones that come to mind. The Fallout series has also been mentioned, but I've never played them so I can't commend.

    Far Cry 2 bored me to the point I quit playing it. It's just repetitive. Borderlands too, to an extent, although it manages to be fun with multiple players.
     
  14. windelicato

    windelicato Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    112
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'm enjoying the hell out of Terraria. Should be $2.50 on steam in a couple of weeks =]
     
  15. Fat Dragon

    Fat Dragon Just this guy, you know?

    Reputations:
    1,736
    Messages:
    2,110
    Likes Received:
    305
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Agreed - Terraria is dangerously fun - I've never played Minecraft but I assume Terraria's basically like Minecraft in 2D, but it's got a lot of good action-platforming elements as well.

    And Borderlands would probably be my next suggestion.

    Dang, really I agree with a lot of the suggestions here - the Ultima games in the way-back machine, Bethesda RPG's (and older Fallout stuff as well). I'd also suggest STALKER, though I can only vouch for the first one since I haven't played the others.
     
  16. whitrzac

    whitrzac The orange end is cold...

    Reputations:
    497
    Messages:
    1,142
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    56
    One thing I hate about most 'open' RPGs is that the enemies re-spawn....

    I HATED that about TOR(yes mmo, but you get the point), running from 1 side to the other is one thing, having to kill the same 150 guys is just annoying....
     
  17. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    11,461
    Messages:
    16,824
    Likes Received:
    76
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Borderlands is good for a shooter, Skyrim is good for just its vast open world do as you wish when you wish nature.

    To a lesser degree Fallout 3, Fallout NV, Stalker series.

    Oblivion is still worth looking at as well.
     
  18. maxheap

    maxheap caparison horus :)

    Reputations:
    1,244
    Messages:
    3,294
    Likes Received:
    191
    Trophy Points:
    131
    SKYRIM!! Crysis 1, Crysis Warhead, Farcry 2
     
  19. Syberia

    Syberia Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    1,611
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I just began playing Oblivion and with the 20+ graphics mods I currently have installed, it doesn't really look like a game from 2006.
     
  20. maxheap

    maxheap caparison horus :)

    Reputations:
    1,244
    Messages:
    3,294
    Likes Received:
    191
    Trophy Points:
    131
    anyway it is pure awesomeness, it doesn't require killer graphics :)
     
  21. Pranalien

    Pranalien Notebook Veteran

    Reputations:
    20
    Messages:
    706
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    31
    GTA Vice City, GTA San Andreas, Elder Scrolls series, Fallout 3
     
  22. GeorgeOkeefa

    GeorgeOkeefa Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    26
    Messages:
    115
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    STALKER and STALKER: Call of Pripyat.

    You can skip the second one I think.

    These games are amazingly atmospheric and fun
     
  23. Darkness62

    Darkness62 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    242
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    31
    There are quite a few, my favorites are the entire S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, Shadow of Chernobyl, Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat, probably the best games I have played. Morrowind/Oblivion/Skyrim so far Skyrim is my most favorite, Just Cause 2 crazy open world fun, Saints Row 2, also crazy open world fun, Mafia I & II, GTA Vice city and GTA 4, Fallout New Vegas, I didn't like Fallout 3 so much. I also really liked The Saboteur and Prototype. I guess Vampire: The Masquerade Blood Lines is also open world, kind of anyway. That is all I can think of right now.
     
  24. Steven

    Steven God Amongst Mere Mortals

    Reputations:
    705
    Messages:
    986
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Skyrim.
    Must check it out.
    Not a shooter though yet still very fun and addicting.
     
  25. alexUW

    alexUW Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,524
    Messages:
    2,666
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    56
    ^^This. And STEAM has it on sale today for $5
     
  26. Ritzy Cat

    Ritzy Cat Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    302
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Fallout: New Vegas, and also Crackdown, (xbox360 exclusive but pretty fun). GTA is always amusing too.
     
  27. moviemarketing

    moviemarketing Milk Drinker

    Reputations:
    1,036
    Messages:
    4,247
    Likes Received:
    881
    Trophy Points:
    181
    Skyrim, Fallout New Vegas, Oblivion, Fallout 3, Morrowind.

    I have heard great things about Gothic and Risen series as well, but I only played Gothic 4 which was quite linear and not really open world IMO.

    Kingdoms of Amalur is an upcoming RPG that is reportedly also open world.
     
  28. LaptopNut

    LaptopNut Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,610
    Messages:
    3,745
    Likes Received:
    92
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Saints Row 3.
     
  29. DRevan

    DRevan Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,150
    Messages:
    2,461
    Likes Received:
    1,041
    Trophy Points:
    181
    Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, GTA series (from GTA 3) and ofcourse Skyrim.
     
  30. Geekz

    Geekz Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    613
    Messages:
    974
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Mount and blade - join any faction, build different armies, conquer or be a mercenary.
     
  31. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    66
    is bf3 back to karkand count as open world? its kinda huge map , you can snipe those ants 300m + away.(if you are good at recon kit)
     
  32. whitrzac

    whitrzac The orange end is cold...

    Reputations:
    497
    Messages:
    1,142
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    56
    wow... BF3 maps are tiny....
     
  33. windelicato

    windelicato Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    112
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Just Cause 2.

    Just got this last night. Terrible story and voice acting, but once you get out on your own I'm completely overwhelmed.

    http://i.imgur.com/uBWCz.jpg

    A picture speaks a thousand words... wow.
     
  34. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

    Reputations:
    1,450
    Messages:
    3,669
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    116
    No they aren't. I wouldn't qualify them as open world, but they're not tiny.
     
  35. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    66
    I don't think back to karkand maps are tiny if you play on 64 players. maybe you played 4/4 :D

    Back To Karkand map overviews - Battlefield 3

    When your team stole all your vehicles/transport only way is swim across, it takes around 3mins to reach other side.