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Open world games have made remarkable progress from 1984 until today. Below the famous games from different eras are described in point form.
Early Era (1984–1999)
.Elite
The beginning of open world the concept of freedom in a space world
.Mercenary
The start of exploration in a 3D environment
Turbo Esprit
First-ever open world driving experience
Sid Meier's Pirates
Adventure with freedom on the seas
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
A massive and detailed world
Era of Revolution (2000–2009)
Grand Theft Auto III
The revolution of 3D open-city games
Mafia
A crime story close to reality
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Vast city, freedom and missions
World of Warcraft
A new experience of online open world
Grand Theft Auto IV
Realistic physics and story
Golden Era (2010–2016)
Red Dead Redemption
The beautiful world of the Wild West
Minecraft
Freedom of creativity and building
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Fantasy world and exploration
Grand Theft Auto V
The most famous open-world experience
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Excellent story and quests
Modern Era (2017–2023)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Complete freedom and exploration
Red Dead Redemption 2
A world close to reality
Ghost of Tsushima
Beautiful Japanese environment
Cyberpunk 2077
Futuristic open city
Forza Horizon 5
The best open-world racing experience
These games are not just games but entire worlds where players explore at their own will live through stories and become part of a new reality. From 1984 to 2023 this journey has been the most exciting journey in gaming history.