10 Open World Games Everyone Has in their Wishlist & Haven’t Played (But They Should)

People have all kinds of games in their wishlists and backlog, forever sitting in limbo and waiting for the day it's finally played. Of course, open world games are also in many wishlists, enticing players to finally dive in and explore.

And in the case of these open world games, I would highly recommend that you do.

For one reason or another, many of these open world games are overlooked and underrated, but they're just as good (if not better) than many of the other titles players gravitate to en masse. To say that these games will surprise you is a bit of an understatement, as they'll actually blow you away.

It's just up to you to finally pull the trigger on it.

10 Assassin's Creed: Mirage

Play it in Arabic, Too

Modern Assassin's Creed games tend to be met with mixed reception, especially with newer titles giving the whole series a bad rep. However, Assassin's Creed Mirage is an outlier to all of it, and is easily my favourite modern AC title; and as someone who is actually half Iraqi, I was able to deeply resonate with the culture being represented.

And let me tell you, Ubisoft goes all out on accuracy, both for the 9th-century and for the culture of Baghdad. It does an incredible job of showing the beauty of the world while also telling a really cool story that's reminiscent of the old Assassin's Creed games that we all know and love. It's like playing the first game all over again, but actually better.

So if Assassin's Creed Shadows had you worried about touching any other game in the franchise, rest assured that Mirage is a whole different ballpark in quality. It's just wonderful, and even if you aren't Middle Eastern like I am, there is still so much you can love and appreciate; regardless of who you are, this is a good game.

If you can, play the game in Arabic, and you're going to hear some of the most incredible voice acting to date, and I'm not even exaggerating with you.

Just as Good as You Remember

By now, who hasn't played Skyrim? It was an absolute behemoth in the gaming community as a whole, to where it's genuinely hard to think of a game that's just as (if not more) iconic. That being said, not as many people have played The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in comparison. Even then, those that have played the game still have Oblivion Remastered on their wishlist.

Regardless of whether you're a new or veteran player, if you showed a sliver of interest in Oblivion Remastered, you're going to get sucked right into the game and its incredible open world. And if you happen to be someone who played the original, this is going to not just recapture the magic that you remember, but it's going to be better than ever.

This is a fantasy world through and through, and more than once you're going to find yourself captivated by that very fantasy that's displayed. Just saying, if the graphics of the original were off-putting enough to prevent you from playing for a while, the remade graphics make the game an absolute must for RPG lovers.

The game just bounced back from an incredibly steep sale on Steam, so if you happen to see it on sale like that again, I'd highly recommend grabbing it.

8 Yakuza 0

A Good Introduction to the Series

There are so many Yakuza games, many players tend to have them in their wishlist simply because they don't know where to even start. Thankfully, you can jump right in at Yakuza 0, and you'll have a great time from there — even if you only stick to Yakuza 0, you're still going to be completely immersed in the world.

Not to mention, the game is just outright hilarious, with many wacky hijinks you can get up to in both the main story and the various side content that you can find in the city.

Yakuza 0 may seem daunting when you compare it to the rest of the series, but once you get into it, you'll realize that fun is emphasised first and foremost. Sure, the story is fantastic, and the gameplay is solid, but you're going to remember the fun you had more than anything else.

And hopefully, this will get you into playing the rest of the series, too, because it's just as fun and over the top in all the best ways.

7 Days Gone

You and Your Bike Against the World

It's hard to stand out as a post-apocalyptic game, especially with just how many games exist in the subgenre, but there's something unique and special about Days Gone that just begs for your attention.

In this game, you're constantly on the move from location to location to keep zombies off your tail, but that also means maintaining your bike so that way you're able to even get to your desired locations. Thankfully, this maintenance gets easier the more you actively look around and upgrade your bike.

The focus of the game is the world you can explore and the characters you interact with, so you can expect things to be engaging at minimum — but more likely, you're going to be sucked in and hyper-invested. Even if you want to just go on one last mission before bed, the next thing you know you've accidentally stayed up through the night, just glued to the game.

It's a truly deceptive little game, one that looks like any run-of-the-mill zombie game, only for you to learn it's anything but.

6 No Man's Sky

There's Truly Nothing Like It

To this day, I have yet to see or play a game like No Man's Sky, which will have you exploring the cosmos in a way that can probably only be replicated by going out into space itself. Of course, we aren't astronauts, but that doesn't mean you can't play a game where you fly across the stars as one.

In No Man's Sky, your only objective is to soak in the universe around you and see all that it has to offer. Just don't expect to actually explore every single planet, though, the game is truly as vast and endless as space itself. There are planets still being discovered — I've even discovered a few.

This game is just astonishing, more often than not, you will find yourself picking up your jaw after dropping it; and the crazy thing is, there is still even more out there to discover. It's every NASA kid's dream in one perfect little indie.

To put it simply: there is nothing in this entire universe like it (pun intended).

5 Mad Max

An Overlooked Gem

Considering how not many have played or even heard of the Mad Max game, one might assume that it's not really good — I'm here to tell you quite the opposite. It's an awesome, action-packed adventure that won't hesitate to gut-punch you in the middle of your exploration (the family photo out on the remains of a beach, for example).

In fact, you can blame this game flopping on bad marketing and nothing else; if it was given anywhere near the commercial attention that the movies had, it probably wouldn't be so underrated.

Not only does the game feature cool free-flow combat reminiscent of the Arkham games, but there is actual car combat that makes you feel like the sickest main character in the world. Plus, if you're a car person, you're going to appreciate the sights and sounds of these vehicles a lot more.

It's a shame that this game doesn't get enough attention, because it's truly well worth your time.

4 Rise of the Ronin

A Different Kind of Samurai Story

When it comes to samurai games, everyone has heard of (and most likely played) Ghost of Tsushima, but somehow, people haven't given the same attention to Rise of the Ronin, which is arguably just as fun.

Sure, you're not getting the same stunning landscapes as what you saw on Tsushima, but you're going to see the natural beauty of Japan during the sunset of the Edo Period. You're seeing a country in active change, one defined by a lot of westernization, and it's outright fascinating to walk through.

Not to mention, the story and how it's executed is honestly great. You're playing as one of the Blade Twins during the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, and it's up to you whether or not you want to support this change or not. The game will adapt to whatever your decisions are, so be sure to think carefully.

And if you're a fan of historical fiction, the accuracy is just the cherry on top.

3 Horizon: Zero Dawn

A World Unlike Any Other

You have truly never seen a world as unique as the one you'll see in Horizon: Zero Dawn, and that's thanks to the blend of nature and machine that's prevalent throughout the story (and of course, the world as a result). Not only are you trying to learn the secrets of the world in this game, but you're also trying to figure out the truth about your own past.

This is a world that you're going to want to learn everything about, because you've not seen anything like it before, nor will you again (Horizon: Forbidden West doesn't count, that's a direct sequel). Thankfully, it's as rich as our own world, ripe for you to pick through and discover what it's all about.

Not to mention, it's an excellent commentary on a world ruled by machines, all the way down to the very ecosystem life is supposed to thrive in — and considering our own current present, I'd say it's timely commentary that should be listened to now more than ever.

This makes me eager to see what the new games have in store, especially with the multiplayer they promise to bring to the table.

2 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Medieval Simulator (Good Luck)

When it comes to medieval open world games, players tend to gravitate towards titles that are fueled by fantasy — packed with magic and creatures beyond your wildest imagination. That's not what you get in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, though, since this game is focused on realism more than anything else.

Basically, you're playing a day in the life of a medieval peasant, one that takes up a sword and fights for their kingdom.

However, you have to actively build your skills with that sword, just as you would have had to in the real world. And like the real world, you'll need to eat, sleep, tend to your wounds, and all sorts of other things to keep yourself alive in this digital world. It's the safest way for you to live a Medieval lifestyle without the threat of actually dying to a common cold.

And despite how difficult that lifestyle is, it's just tons of fun.

1 Cyberpunk 2077

It's Improved Since Launch, Trust Me

Let's face it: Cyberpunk 2077 had an abysmal launch, one that was so bad it put a sour taste in players' mouths everywhere. To this day, there are countless people who haven't played the game simply because of how badly it fell on its face at launch.

However, it's been years, one with several overhauls, updates, and a whole new DLC. Now is the best possible time to actually play Cyberpunk 2077, as all the issues that were originally present are gone — in fact, if the game dropped back then the way that it is today, it would have easily won Game of the Year. That's how genuinely incredible the game is, and no matter what ending you pick, you're going to be devastated by it for weeks.

Exploration in Night City is optional, but highly encouraged; and even if you were to deep-dive into the world, there isn't any excessive padding (radiant quests don't count). Combine this with incredible worldbuilding, fun gameplay from all the different builds you can do (my go-to is Netrunner, it's absolutely busted) and a masterpiece story, and you've got a gaming experience that will leave you giddy.

Hopefully, people can start to finally give this game a chance, because it's more than deserving of all the love.