The Best Nintendo Open World Games

gamerant.com:

Nintendo is a company that always proves itself an industry leader in hardware and software innovation. From the motion controls of the Wii to the Switch's hybrid functionality, the company is always looking to recapture the magic of past successes while trying new things. Usually it's other developers that learn from the Kyoto-based outfit, but as plenty of franchises on other platforms have shown that open-world game design is the flavor of the future, Nintendo has followed suit with a handful of its releases.

Open worlds have become increasingly popular over the last decade, as they tend to offer plenty of content and activities while also doing well to ensure a story can be told in a way that is engaging and well paced. Franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Forza, and The Witcher have all adapted to a more open-ended format and have found success, so it's unsurprising that Nintendo has done the same. Nintendo may not be as synonymous with open-worlds as Ubisoft, but that's not to say it hasn't ever made or published a good one.

Elden Ring Set a High Bar for Future Open-World Games

While its sequel improved upon the formula, Xenoblade Chronicles must be given credit for the strides it made. Monolith developed the project, and it released in 2012 where it was met with critical acclaim. Unfortunately, it arrived just a few months before the Wii U hit shelves and players didn't give it the shot it deserves. Thankfully, a definitive edition released on the Nintendo Switch in May 2020 that allowed the game to have more of a chance to resonate with fans.

A significant selling point of Xenoblade Chronicles is its seamless open world, as Shulk's adventure takes place within a huge landscape that's packed with monsters to battle and