An open world game is judged on a number of different criteria, from the range of its activities to whether the gameplay is fun or not. But the true hallmark of a game in the genre is how lively its world feels, pulling in players and seemingly immersing them on a grand scale. Let’s take a look 15 of the most lively open world games of all time and why they’re so noteworthy.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
Bethesda’s games have always been buggy and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion was no exception. However, the sheer attention to detail that went into its world and NPCs was staggering, even by today’s standards. Non-playable characters each had their own schedules that follow irrespective of the player’s state; the world is immense and rife with interesting quests, factions and storylines; and there’s freedom in both player choice and AI behavior (to a degree in the latter’s case).
