The Best Open-World Game of 2023

ign.com:

From bustling New York streets to rolling Hyrule fields, 2023 gave us our fair share of fantastic open worlds to get lost in. With vast maps full of combat, puzzles, and intrigue, everyone steps into a new game world looking for something different, but all searching for escapism like no other genre can provide. This year, they took us to places rooted in the real world and fantasy, as well as our distant past and future. We unlocked the secrets of Hogwarts, slid through the shadows of ancient Baghdad, swung between Manhattan skyscrapers, leaped around the floating islands of Pandora, and dived into the Hyrulian depths. But which of these proved the most fun to spend time in? These are the best open-world games of 2023.

First up is the most recent open world to bless our consoles in 2023 - Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Massive Entertainment brought to life James Cameron’s moon packed with big blue cat people and seemingly endless species of flowers in a stunning interpretation of the inherently cinematic setting. It takes the film’s explosive action and places you at the centre as you tussle with weird and wonderful beasts and mechanical metal monsters.

It’s not just how good it looks to run, shoot, and fly around in – thanks to your loyal flying banshee Ikran – but also how much you’re encouraged to respect and engage with Pandora’s natural world through gameplay. By placing an emphasis on treating wildlife with care and hunting responsibly, such as using a bow and arrow to take them down cleanly rather than messier, bullet-powered methods, it connects itself to the movies through more than just presentation. It’s a thoughtfully designed open world and one of this year’s best.

Seeing as this is the award for best