Here are the Top 5 Best Open World Games Released in 2024. These titles have engrossed fans with their virtual worlds, addictive storylines, and great game mechanics. Star Wars Outlaws, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and ARK 2 are the highlighted releases so far.
Star Wars Outlaws is the very first fully open-world Star Wars experience, crafted by Ubisoft. The game seeks to move away from the classic open-world formula of Ubisoft by providing something new and interesting in the galaxy far, far away that everybody loves.
Explorers are able to enter a massive explorable world and participate in fascinating storylines, making it the most hyped open-world title of 2024. PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One platforms support the game, meaning that everyone on any platform has access to the game.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a muchanticipated sequel to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise, which for its part became famous for realistic and atmospheric open-world settings. GSC Game World is developing the game and promises to embark players on an adventure through reworked exclusion area, where the player will be fighting for his life against fellow stalkers as well as various mutant beasts.
The game has realistic gameplay mechanics and is scheduled to be released on November 20, 2024, for PC and Xbox Series X/S. Its development history and delayed releases have only served to increase the hype among fans.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is another major open-world release in 2024, capitalizing on the success of the first game. The game features a map four times bigger than the original.
With its combat system and world, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is set to be one of the year’s top open-world games. It was launched on March 22, 2024, for PC only.
ARK 2 is the successor to ARK: Survival Evolved, promising a wild and dangerous open-world experience. The game features reworked mechanics, combat, and gameplay systems, set on a prisoner island where players must navigate hostile environments and creatures.
Although the exact release date is unspecified, ARK 2 is expected to launch later in 2024 for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
Other open-world games such as Everywhere and Gothic are also making waves. Everywhere is an ambitious endeavor featuring a singular, perhaps metaverse-like environment packed with people and tales, although details are still minimal.
The remake of Gothic by Alkmia Interactive is due out in late 2024, providing a loyal retelling of the classic. These games are part of a lush environment of open-world experiences one can enjoy in 2024.
Top 5 Best Open World Games Released in 2024
1. Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a role-playing video game created by Capcom and a sequel to Dragon’s Dogma, which came out in 2012. The announcement for the game occurred in June of 2022 as part of the celebration 10 Years of Dragon’s Dogma and has been largely awaited by followers of the game.
It provides a combination of exploration, combat, and character customization, in a huge open world that is four times bigger than its predecessor.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 has an open world with no loading screens, enabling exploration and emergent gameplay moments. The player assumes the character of the “Arisen,” a chosen hero by a dragon, and is forced to deal with a geopolitical struggle between two kingdoms, Battahl and Vermund.
The game features a dynamic Pawn system, in which computer-controlled characters aid the player during combat and exploration.
Game Info:
- Release Date: March 22, 2024
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (via Steam)
- Price: $70 (Standard Edition), $79.99 (Deluxe Edition)
- World Size: Four times larger than the original game
- Pawn System: Allows recruitment of AI-controlled Pawns created by other players
- Vocations: Include Thief, Archer, Mystic Spearhand, and Trickster among others
The player can customize both the player character and Pawns, selecting from different vocations (classes) that determine their skills and equipment. The game loop in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is structured to be immersive with an emphasis on exploration and variety in combat.
The Pawn system adds depth to the single-player experience as it enables players to hire Pawns from other players. Some critics say that the game borrows clumsy systems from its predecessor that dilute the gaming experience.
Even with this, the game’s environment is heavily detailed with a day-night cycle and breakable objects to make the game deeper.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is appreciated for its world and gameplay mechanics, although it also carries over some of the first game’s weaknesses.
The game’s simultaneous release on various platforms guarantees a broad audience, and its timing as Capcom’s financial year-end release is standard procedure for major game launches.
2. Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars Outlaws is an action-adventure game created by Ubisoft, the first open-world game in the Star Wars universe. It takes place between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and is based on the narrative of Kay Vess, a young Canto Bight scoundrel, and her ally Nix, a merqaal.
The game provides an interesting combination of exploration, fighting, and missions with high risk, enabling gamers to experience being an outlaw within the Star Wars universe.
Play is third-person, with Kay being controlled as she travels between planets and conducts a range of activities. Action involves a combination of melee fighting and blaster shots, and the firepower at Kay’s disposal includes a grappling hook and an electronic spy device.
Nix serves an important function as it reads the environment, manipulates objects, and distracts or can attack enemies.
The Trailblazer starship, which is employed for interplanetary travel and space battles, can be flown by the player, while planetary surfaces are explored on a speed bike.
Game Info:
- Release Date: 2024 (Exact date not specified)
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5
- Setting: Between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi
- Protagonist: Kay Vess, a young scoundrel from Canto Bight
- Companion: Nix, a merqaal
- Gameplay Mechanics: Exploration, combat, stealth, space combat, and high-stakes missions
- Factions: Ashiga Clan, Crimson Dawn, Hutt Cartel, and Pyke Syndicate
The game’s storyline starts with Kay being a participant in a heist that went awry on Canto Bight, earning her a death sentence from influential crime lord Sliro Barsha. Abandoned to die, Kay commandeers the Trailblazer and crash-lands on Toshara.
There, she needs to take jobs for local syndicates in order to get her ship repaired and ultimately build up a crew in order to perform a high-risk heist on Sliro.
During the game, Kay’s behavior determines her reputation among different crime syndicates, which in turn impacts access to missions and resources.
Also Read: Top 5 Best PS5 Games Released in February 2025
3. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a first-person shooter survival horror game, distributed and published by GSC Game World. It was released on November 20, 2024, and is the fourth main installment of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, taking place in the post-apocalyptic Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exclusion zone.
A combination of exploration, combat, and survival gameplay, the game immerses players in a brutal, radioactive environment inhabited by anomalies, mutants, and opposing factions.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has an open world with seamless gameplay, where the player has to travel through hazardous areas, balancing survival aspects like hunger, sleep, and radiation.
The game has many weapons and gear, with more than 30 weapons and a host of customization possibilities. Players can harvest useful artifacts from anomalies, which have special effects but also draw other stalkers and hostile creatures.
The AI system of the game, A-Life 2.0, makes sure that NPCs and enemies respond realistically to actions. The game is about Skif, who comes back from a three-year deployment to discover that his apartment has been destroyed by an anomaly.
Game Info:
- Release Date: November 20, 2024
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S
- Setting: Post-apocalyptic Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
- Protagonist: Yevhen “Skif” Martynenko, a veteran of the Ukrainian Marine Corps
- Gameplay Mechanics: Exploration, combat, survival, anomaly detection
- AI System: A-Life 2.0 for realistic NPC behavior
- Graphics Engine: Unreal Engine 5
He is smuggled into the Zone by Professor Hermann, who equips him with a Scanner device to recharge artifacts. Skif’s goal is to employ the Scanner at certain coordinates, but he is interrupted by Ward faction soldiers.
After being stolen from and knocked out, Skif seeks to reclaim the Scanner and relic with the help of a loner named Richter. He must navigate the factional politics, including the anarchic Spark faction and the Noontide faction, ex-Monolith soldiers attempting to redeem themselves.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has received acclaim for its atmospheric feel and realistic survival mechanisms. The implementation of Unreal Engine 5 lends the game impressive visuals.
Some criticism has been levelled at the game for still holding some of the series’ classic challenges, including inventory and resource shortages. Despite this, the game has been received warmly by fans and newcomers to the series.
4. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the newest entry in the Yakuza franchise, created by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. It was launched on January 26, 2024, and continues the saga of Ichiban Kasuga, an ex-Yakuza member, who explores the underworld of Japan and Hawaii.
The game is famous for its narrative, characters, and solid gameplay mechanisms, combining action, strategy, and role-playing.
Infinite Wealth expands on the turn-based battle system of its predecessor, providing a more active and speed-based gameplay experience.
Players are able to fight with battles that take advantage of the environment, such as using street signs and bicycles as weapons. The game includes a large number of jobs and party members.
Side quests and activities are part of the game, offering information about characters’ histories and motivations and impacting the main plot.
Game Info:
- Release Date: January 26, 2024
- Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Protagonist: Ichiban Kasuga
- Setting: Japan and Hawaii
- Gameplay Mechanics: Turn-based combat, exploration, character development
- Side Activities: Dondoko Island (crafting and management), various side quests
The game is about Ichiban Kasuga, reconnecting his past and assisting his former Yakuza comrades in reintegrating into society. The story takes place in both Japan and Hawaii, with power struggles and personal grudges.
Ichiban’s journey is emotionally intense, with a great emphasis on character development and relationships. The story is highly complimented on its pacing and depth, with the ability to deeply interact with the characters and their reasons.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has been lauded for its outstanding storytelling, character building, and combat enhancements.
The game’s balance of familiarity and innovation has made it attractive to both new and experienced players. Although some critics mention minor flaws in combat accuracy, the overall experience is extremely engaging, with an open world and side activities.
The inclusion of Dondoko Island, an activity and crafting and management simulation akin to Animal Crossing, presents a angle to the game, albeit while some miss the straightforward nature of earlier minigames.
5. Palworld
Palworld is an open-world survival video game created by Pocketpair, Inc., released on January 19, 2024. The game mixes creature collecting, crafting, and survival elements into a single title that provides an exciting mix of exploration and combat.
The players have to capture and control creatures called Pals, which are employed for various functions like fighting, farming, or even riding through the world.
In Palworld, players are shipwrecked on a secret island with an array of various Pals possessing special abilities and strengths. There is a survival system in the game where the player needs to deal with hunger, create housing, and repel predators and poachers.
Pals may be caught and trained to provide support during battle, crafting, and exploration. The game also features a base-building system, where players can build and maintain bases with their Pals, automating activities such as resource gathering and production.
Game Info:
- Release Date: January 19, 2024
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Setting: A mysterious island called Palpagos
- Gameplay Mechanics: Survival, crafting, creature collecting, base building
- Number of Pals: 138, including rare types obtained through breeding
- Multiplayer: Supports up to 32 players in Steam version
The story of Palworld is loosely defined, with players left to fend for themselves in the wilderness of Palpagos Island with minimal instructions.
Survival and exploration are the primary focus, with players having to make their way through hostile environments with wild Pals and hostile groups. The storyline of the game is less defined than most RPGs, with more of a focus on player exploration and discovery.
Palworld has been met with generally mixed reviews for its survival and creature collecting mechanics combination. Although complemented by an immersive open world and variety of Pals, the game is criticized for monotonous resource collection and some technical issues.
The multiplayer element provides a social aspect where friends can cooperate in base management and combat. In spite of its jankiness, Palworld provides a new spin on the survival game genre, which will resonate with players of Ark and Monster Hunter.
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