Open World Games With 100+ Hours of Content

I am a huge fan of RPGs. As such, I often can’t wait to get my hands on an open-world game, because they tend to offer some of the most compelling content, and the best way to spend your time.

Open world titles are often filled with tons of collectibles to discover, side content to plow through, and lengthy campaigns that take you forever to complete.

Some of my favorite games have massive open worlds. This is because I love the chance to explore the environment, get my hands on everything I can find, and put my puzzle-solving skills to the test. I won’t deny, I have easily put over 100 hours into these games, thanks to my obsession with wanting to find everything.

Great, But Not Replayable

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is perhaps the most recognizable title that Bethesda has ever created outside of the Fallout series.

I remember picking this game up when it was first released back in 2011. At the time, it astounded me, and I couldn’t help but sink hours into the title.

To this day, players are still discovering new secrets in Skyrim that I never knew existed, despite putting well over 100 hours into it.

With that being said, I rank this title so low because nowadays, I can’t get into it without needing to install a ton of mods on it. I typically make it to Whiterun before I decide to give up on it and start another playthrough.

It just doesn’t hit like it used to when it was first released. Plus, multiple open-world titles on the list make Skyrim look pretty basic.

9

Red Dead Redemption II

Amazingly Detailed, With A Weird Online Mode

Rockstar has a knack for making amazing titles. The original Red Dead Redemption was great, and I quickly found myself getting pulled into the world, wanting to explore everything.

Red Dead Redemption II took everything the original game had and made it even better. You can easily spend over 100 hours exploring the world, tracking down wildlife, collecting bounties, and accessorizing.

One of the main things holding Red Dead Redemption II back is its online mode. The online mode feels lackluster in comparison to the main game, thanks to a lack of content.

The content that is there gets old pretty quickly, and I mostly spent time riding around on horseback with friends. It’s clear Rockstar has a bigger focus on the GTA series.

8

Grand Theft Auto V

The Main Focus Is Online

Speaking of online, Grand Theft Auto V is perhaps the best game Rockstar has created. The story mode alone has over 100 hours worth of content for you to take part in, whether it is robbing convenience stores, listening to Michael complain about his family, or watching Trevor kidnap someone’s wife.

The story has some amazing beats, but the online is truly where this game shines. You can spend over 100 hours online alone, thanks to tons of heists, countless jobs players have created, and the nonstop updates that Rockstar puts out.

I can only imagine what the online mode for Grand Theft Auto VI is going to look like.

7

Ghost of Tsushima

Vast And Beautiful

Perhaps Ghost of Tsushima is a bit high on this list, but it is a game that I really fell in love with. There is a lot to explore and tons of activities to take part in, such as finding sanctuaries, cutting bamboo, and challenging enemies to duels.

I found myself standing around watching the fields of flowers at one point because I loved the level of detail that Sucker Punch put into the game.

I also went out of my way to collect all the different weapons and armor sets found across the map. It was a pain, but it was worth it to me.

I also heavily enjoyed the online mode that Sucker Punch created for it. It was unique in its level design and mechanics, tasking players with completing various missions based on Japanese mythology with one of the endgame classes.

The chapters of the online mode required players to stealthily complete puzzles, assassinate enemies, and more, making it very thrilling to play in teams.

6

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

So Much To Do, So Much To See

I will be the first to admit that, even though I am not a fan of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, they do make for pretty good open-world titles. While it doesn’t fit the typical “Zelda style,” Tears of the Kingdom is a massive game with a lot to do.

The shrines make for interesting puzzles that you can easily get stuck in, the dungeons are fairly difficult, and the combat is great. There is a lot that makes Tears of the Kingdom stand out from its predecessor and other open-world games.

The fun mechanic of combining different objects together to create strange sculptures, useful tools, or Korok torture devices is great. To me, the game isn’t replayable because it has a very linear story and little new to discover outside of the world elements, but it is made up for by the amount of content that will keep you busy for hours on end.

5

Fallout 4

Skyrim, But Sci-Fi, And Better

If you want a replayable game, look no further than Fallout 4. I have replayed this game multiple times just to find out what happens if you make different dialogue choices.

As soon as you leave the vault, the world is your oyster, and you are free to explore to your heart’s content. The post-apocalyptic world of Boston and the surrounding area is full of interesting things to find.

The game is basically Skyrim if Skyrim had more replayability and build potential – also a great open-world sci-fi setting. I’ve tried out different builds in this game, explored every nook and cranny, and achieved every ending.

Fallout 4 is worth trying out. Its main downfall is that the world gets old after a few playthroughs.

4

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Worth Multiple Replays

I had never played the original Dragon’s Dogma when Dragon’s Dogma 2 was released. With that being said, I am glad that I didn’t need to play the original to understand the story.

I went into Dragon’s Dogma 2 not expecting much, but quickly fell in love with it. I enjoyed how the game forces you to walk a lot and fully explore the world.

It doesn’t hold your hand in the same way that many other open-world titles do. Only after reaching a certain point are you able to fast travel and get to locations a bit quicker, making it an RPG that gets better as it goes on.

Each one of the vocations is unique, and there is the potential to combine them to do some amazing things. There are also hidden questlines for those who are brave enough to explore.

3

Dark Souls

So Many Hidden Secrets

There is no more hand-holding. Welcome to Dark Souls, the game that is known for being incredibly difficult. Dark Souls is one of the most replayable games that there is, if you are strong enough to survive.

After all, the game is incredibly brutal and doesn’t tell you what to do. Instead, you need to read item descriptions and learn where to go on your own. Of course, once you figure it out, it is incredibly rewarding.

I’ve replayed Dark Souls well over 10 times at this point. While I haven’t put over 100 hours into it in more recent playthroughs, I have multiple characters with over 100 hours into the game. It is the kind of game you need to play multiple times if you want to fully grasp it.

You might need to play it at least twice to find some of the game’s hidden locations.

2

Horizon Zero Dawn

A Beautiful And Unique World Full Of Life

Horizon Zero Dawn is another game that I debated whether it was too high on the list. After some careful consideration, I decided that it is exactly where it needs to be.

Horizon offers a unique world that doesn’t feel lifeless like some other RPGs, and an impactful story that matters. Horizon has many hidden gems to discover, dungeons to crawl through, and creatures to track down, which I discovered all of.

The world is a beautiful place that I found myself getting lost in, just like Ghost of Tsushima. I love the cultures that Guerrilla Games built in this game, and the way the developer wrote the history of the world.

Discovering all the lost information about how the world was transformed became something I was obsessed with.

1

Elden Ring

There’s A Reason Some Reviewers Gave It A 10/10

It might come as no surprise that Elden Ring is at the top of this list. The first time I played this game, I got so obsessed with exploring the different map sections that I put over 300 hours into the game.

It was worth it, considering I found most, if not all, of the game’s weapons and armor. If you quickly run through this game, you miss out on so much. Even if you ignore the lore, there are hidden locations, NPCs, side quests, bosses, and more to discover in the difficult open world.

Elden Ring was only made better by the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, which easily added another 100 hours to the game’s potential length. There is a reason that many people gave this game a 10/10. My only complaint about it is that I want more NPCs.