From Jet Rocket to Elden Ring, How Open-World Games Have Evolved

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Gamers have plenty of variety when choosing what kinds of games they wish to play, though open-world games are consistently among the most popular. Whether it be the rooftop-jumping action of Assassin's Creed or the stealth espionage of Metal Gear Solid 5, the open-world genre has become a permanent and beloved aspect of the gaming world. Despite how long the genre has been around, developers have been able to continually innovate, ensuring that gamers are always impressed by the latest titles.

Gamers can look forward to more stellar open-world games in 2022, including Saints Row and Hogwarts Legacy, and as they enjoy these titles, they should not forget the long and eventful history of the genre. From humble beginnings, open-world games built upon the foundations laid by their predecessors to bring far more realistic worlds for players to explore. Although some gamers may be fatigued by the open-world genre, it does not seem like it is going anywhere anytime soon.

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There are a few candidates that get thrown around when it comes to determining what the first open-world game is, but many point to Jet Rocket as one of the earliest examples. Released in 1970 by Sega, Jet Rocket is an arcade game that allows players to fly freely and shoot at objects in the game world. In addition to being one of the first examples of an open-world game, it could also be seen as a precursor to the flight simulation genre. It went on to influence plenty of other important games, including Elite, a 1984 space game that features 3D graphics and open-ended, open-world gameplay. The open-world genre did not stay limited to flight games, however, and it was picked up by adventure and action-adventure games