5 open-world games that have re-defined the genre and inspired others to follow

sportskeeda.com:

With each passing year, open-world games are becoming even more immersive and impactful. However, there are some open-world games out there that stand out from the rest. Not only are they massive and highly engaging, but they also pull off a riveting tale that can leave gamers in awe after completion.

There are lots of beautifully designed open-world games out there that can often flood the minds of gamers with too much information and content. The best open-world games are player-driven and do not handhold gamers about where to go and when to go.

Here is a handpicked list of some of the best open-world games that have changed the way gamers from all around the world view the genre.

When The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild first came around, it was like a breath of fresh air in a world dominated by hive-minded open-world games. For the first time, Nintendo players could interact with the open world at their own pace. It is truly a boundary-breaking game with a laid-back vibe.

It is an absolute delight to roam around the dreamy landscape of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The graphics really made this open-world title stand out from the rest. Add to that, the rich storytelling of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can leave gamers speechless.

The sweeping and pleasant-looking landscape of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was so well-received by the gaming community that it inspired a string of other game developers and publishers to come up with equally endearing open-world titles.

Genshin Impact, Immortals: Fenyx Rising, Oceanhorn, Windbound, and the Horizon Zero series are similar games that followed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s success mantra.

The Elder Scrolls series is one of the oldest and most popular