Freedom in gaming has always been about making each and every version of your gameplay unique. It means you write your own story and create your own experience. The video game becomes a canvas, an open world for you to explore with your avatar.
Recently, a lot of such games have hit the stands. But some have been exceptional, becoming classics in their own regard. Ahead of our 79th Independence Day, let us visit a few of these famed titles, shall we?
These are third-person open-world survival-cum-adventure games where you can wander around and not worry about progression. If that isn’t true gamer freedom, what is? Moreover, freedom of exploration and player choice are the cornerstones of these titles.
So, here are my top picks for open-world classics of recent times, which have loads to offer in terms of traversal, experiences, replayability, and independence.
Horizon Forbidden West
This game’s predecessor, Horizon Zero Dawn, was a runaway hit. This survival man-versus-machine open world thriller opened the gaming world to a new generation of such games. But it upped the ante with Horizon Forbidden West.
Key art from ‘Horizon Forbidden West’ | Playstation/Sony
The game is excellent, the world is quite a feat of game design, and the mechanics are something you fall in love with. It truly brings freedom to your character—including the massive options of cosmetic upgrades that come with stat perks.
Red Dead Redemption 2
If Grand Theft Auto is your thing, then this Rockstar Games outing is worth every penny. Red Dead Redemption 2 is as open-world as they come, set in a fictionalised version of North America in 1899.
Key art from ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ | Playstation/Sony
Once you get through the first half of the story—which is engaging in itself—you can go off the ramp… the entire world opens up for you. Spend days in hiding as a homeless person? Yes, you can. Become an animal hunter? Of course. Go undercover in a town? Be my guest. Red Dead Redemption 2 is open world at its best, and you might lose track of time just riding around on your favourite horse (don’t forget to pet and feed it, though).
Ghost of Tsushima
This masterpiece gives you an entire island to explore in an open-world setting during the time of the first Mongol invasion of Japan. You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai.
PS5 gameplay screenshot from ‘Ghost of Tsushima’ | Playstation/Sony
The mechanics, the world-building, and the cinematography are top-tier for a 2020 game. I loved every bit of it. Get the Director’s Cut version if you can. The sooner you finish it, the sooner you can get to play Ghost of Yotei, the sequel expected to be released later this year.
Death Stranding (1 and 2)
If there are a pair of games that do justice to open-world traversal, they are Hideo Kojima’s masterpieces. Even after completing the main story, I put tens and tens of hours into them just to platinum them.
Screengrab from the gameplay of ‘Death Stranding 2’ | Playstation/Nitin SJ Asariparambil
The journey was one of the best experiences I have ever had in games. Right now, I am simply travelling the open world set in Australia and Mexico in Death Stranding 2, a whole week after I finished the main story.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Big tech usually fumbles when making great games. But if there is one title Microsoft has consistently improved, it is the Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Key art from ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024’ | Steam/Microsoft
Pure genius, real-world mirroring, and you at the cockpit and open skies. That’s true freedom. Over the years, this game has moved away from gaming to even training pilots.
No Man’s Sky
Now, let’s move from the skies and think bigger—planets! Imagine Minecraft, but with better graphics, an endless, randomly generated world (procedural generation, FTW!).
Key art from ‘No Man’s Sky’ | Playstation/Sony
In No Man’s Sky, you get to explore countless number of planets, and you need to put in a lot of hours even to reach a sense of completion. When you are free, the galaxy opens for you.
This article is for information purposes alone, and THE WEEK does not endorse any specific game title, studio or console. Please check the appropriate age ratings of each game and play responsibly.
