Summary
Open world and FPS games are a perfect match, with the legendary likes ofFallout 3,Grand Theft Auto 5, and many more proving that. These games give players huge playgrounds in which to wreak havoc and destruction, all while from the most immersive point of view possible. Putting players in the shoes of their character often makes for a more dynamic experience that third-person titles cannot offer.
While there are many open world games with a first-person perspective, such asSkyrim, these can’t be considered an open world FPS. However, games that offer both third-person and first-person perspectives, such asGTA 5, can be. Nevertheless, there aremany open world first-person shooters that could easily be classed as some of thebest open world games ever made.
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10Metro: Exodus (4A Games)
Metascore - 83
Metro Exodustook the tense, horror-filledMetrofranchise out of the dark metro tunnels and into the hauntingly beautiful Russian wasteland. It is the first open-worldMetrogame, and makes for a refreshing yet nightmare-inducing change. Fortunately,this shift to an open world doesn’t affect the great storytelling the franchise is known for.
Metro Exodusis split into seven chapters, each that introduces a new area for players to explore. Only three of these areas are actually open-world – Volga, Caspian Sea, and Taiga – but they’re very large with plenty of optional content to complete.
Metro Exodus’several open worlds allow for a much greater control over how the player approaches each mission. However, it also means that the player is rarely safe, as enemies and monsters cover much of the open space, making it one of thehardest open world gamesavailable. Fortunately, there’s a range of phenomenal guns and transport methods at the player’s disposal to make exploration safer.
9Fallout: New Vegas (Obsidian Entertainment)
Metascore - 84
There are few video games that hold quite the legacy thatFallout: New Vegashas. Heralded as having one of the best narratives and being the best demonstration of having choices that actually matter,New Vegashas stood the test of time as one of the greats in gaming. Players can still pick it up today and have an experience unlike any other FPS.
However, it isFallout: New Vegas’open world that is perhaps its most impressive aspect. While on the smaller side,this well crafted world helps guide the player through its main story and excellent side quests.New Vegasis not just a great narrative game, nor first-person shooter, but easily one of the best examples of how to make a dull desert setting feel remarkably memorable.
8The Outer Worlds (Obsidian Entertainment)
Metascore - 85
The Outer Worldstook everything Obsidian Entertainment learned fromFallout: New Vegasand made it so much better. Not only doesThe Outer Worldslook absolutely gorgeous,it also delivers on the sci-fi Western fantasy that shows likeFirefly, and games likeNew Vegaspromise. With a plethora of guns to try out, as well as a colorful cast of characters to meet, there’s lots to do inThe Outer Worlds.
The Outer Worldshas several open-world planets for players to explore, with even more open locations added in the DLC. Each planet is radically different to the last, offering new vistas and stories for players to experience. For those looking forspace-themed open-world experiences that aren’tStarfield,The Outer Worldsis a great match.
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7Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red)
Metascore - 86
Cyberpunk 2077may have started off more than a little rocky, but its redemption story won back the hearts of fans and critics alike. Now,it is heralded as one of the best open-world games, especially thanks to its vast urban environment, Night City. With so much side content to get through, as well as a deeply compelling main story, open world and FPS fans have a lot to look forward to withCyberpunk 2077.
Cyberpunk 2077’sPhantom Libertyexpansionintroduces a whole new area called Dogtown. While not as big, this is its own separate open-world full of new Gigs and side missions for players to complete.
Whether it’s driving around Night City engaging in high-octane shootouts with the many gangs and factions or experiencing a heartfelt side quest, there’s plenty to do inCyberpunk 2077. The core gameplay that was present back in 2020 still holds up, and all the various changes and improvements make it the immersive experience it was always touted as being. It’s not hard to see whyCyberpunk 2077has quickly become such a beloved open-world first-person shooter.
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6Dying Light (Techland)
Metascore - 87
Dying Lightmanaged to blend parkour, genuinely terrifying zombies, and a vast open-world in a way that felt refreshingand enjoyable all the way back in 2015. It was an astonishing achievement then, and one that still holds up to this day. Venturing out at nighttime is an unnerving experience, as that’s when the faster and more deadly zombies strike.
While the sequelDying Light 2improved upon the first game in many ways, there’s a lot that the first game simply did better.It also helps that the expansion calledThe Following, greatly enhanced the overall experience, adding a whole new open-world for players to enjoy. For those looking for a spookier and more movement-driven open-world FPS,Dying Lightis the very best option.
5Halo Infinite (343 Industries)
Halo Infinite, much likeMetro: Exodus, took the linear FPS franchise and made it open-world. It gave players more options when it came to approaching missions. However,Halo Infinitestill retained much of what made the series great, including a compelling narrative, while inserting a new open-world structure.
There are certainly flaws withHalo Infinite’sopen-world, namely in its lack of variety. Fortunately, it more than makes up for it in overall visual splendor, making every ounce of its forest-covered plains feel like a place worth exploring. There’s also more than enough verticality, allowing players to make the most of the new tools introduced inHalo Infinite.
4Far Cry 3 (Ubisoft)
Metascore - 88
Far Cry 3felt like the start of the Ubisoft formula, introducing players to tall creaky towers to climb, map markers galore, and bases to liberate. In 2012, this felt fresh, and it would only be the countless copycats and official sequels that would grind the formula into the ground. However, going back toFar Cry 3and driving around its lush landscapes while its genuinely terrifying villain, Vaas, thwarts the player’s every move is still a lot of fun.
Far Cry 3was remastered in 2018 and released asFar Cry 3: Classic Edition. This version had improved visuals but was capped at 30 FPS and lacked a lot of the features present in the original game, including the beloved map editor and multiplayer modes.
Far Cry 3is undeniably the reason why the original Ubisoft formula became so popular. Its lived-in world is a joy to explore, and the way the player’s actions affect it feels impressive.Far Cry 3also still boasts one of, if not, the best villains in Ubisoft’s gamesand even gaming as a whole.
3Borderlands 2 (Gearbox Software)
Metascore - 89
Borderlands 2has left quite the legacy, not least because of its quirky writing and impressive selection of loot.Its vast and varied open zones made the world of Pandora feel truly alive and lived in, with its hub areas further building that sense of immersion. It also introduced the world to Handsome Jack, a very memorable villain and perhaps one of the best aspects of the game.
However,it is for its looting and shooting thatBorderlands 2is best remembered. The millions of possible guns players could find kept combat feeling fresh and progression exciting. Additionally, the gunplay and swathe of unique abilities made repeat playthroughs a must, contributing to its continued high player count.
2Fallout 3 (Bethesda Game Studios)
Metascore - 93
Fallout 3served as the introduction to the Fallout franchise to many thanks to its shift to a first-person perspective. It took what made all Bethesda games great, a rewarding gameplay loop, compelling narratives, and great worldbuilding, and used it to create one of the greatest apocalyptic shooters ever made.Fallout 3’sopen-world Capital Wasteland – a post-nuclear war Washington DC – is an incredible backdrop for the game’s core narrative, and is packed so densely with content for players to engage with.
Fallout 3was further expanded upon with excellent DLC that blended hilarious antics and trippy sci-fi adventures, adding new locations and even more lore.There is so much to see and do inFallout 3that players are still being surprised to this day. Fortunately, for those who’ve seen and done everything, there’s a plethora of mods to delve into which make the game impressively even better than it was before.
1Grand Theft Auto 5 (Rockstar Games)
Metascore - 97
Grand Theft Auto 5, a game that started as an exclusively third-person shooter, is the best open-world FPS game. This is thanks to the 2014 re-release, which added a first-person perspective among other changes. However,the first-person mode was not a simple gimmick, but instead completely transformed the experience, giving players a whole new perspective on the city of Los Santos.
GTA 5is one of the best-selling games ever made for good reason. Its story is compelling and packed full of quirky and well-written characters, its gunplay feels impactful and endlessly fun, and its open world is dynamic and miraculously still one of the best looking urban environments to this day. Despite releasing all the way back in 2013,Grand Theft Auto 5is easily one of the best open-world games, and its first-person mode absolutely contributes to that.
