Open-world games over the last few years have left us in awe with their exceptional gameplay and inspiring stories. We had the time of our life playing some of them, but 2020 was a bit of a dull year for open-world games and we only had a few titles that impressed us. Still, the upcoming months of this year will bring us many mind-blowing open-world games for our pleasure.
Unfortunately, there’s a very thin chance that we would see Grand Theft Auto VI or The Elder Scrolls VI this year. The reason behind that is they’re currently under development. Rumors are that both of them will be dropping out at the end of 2022 but, because there isn’t any official announcement yet, the development of these games could take much more time. And with the disaster that was Cyberpunk 2077, we encourage developers to take their time. Hopefully the lessons of 2020 have been learned by game developers around the world.
Moving forward, 2021 is filled with some exceptional open-world games and we already know some of our favorites. So here are our picks for the best upcoming open-world games that we’re most excited about.
Best Confirmed Upcoming Open-World Games
Far Cry 6
Developer – Ubisoft
Supported Platforms – PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Amazon Luna, Google Stadia, and Microsoft Windows
Release Date – TBA
The 6th Installment in the Far Cry franchise, Far Cry 6 is all set to steal our hearts with its epic storyline. Based on a fictional Island of Yara which is run by a dictator, Anton Castillo. He ruled the Island for decades with an iron first but, the times are changing and the public has revolted against him and they’re bringing the big guns to face his militia.
When it comes to open-world games, the Far Cry franchise’s contribution to this genre is unforgettable. Antagonists like Vaas and Joseph Seed taught us harsh lessons and we truly enjoyed every single game of the franchise.
Similar to its predecessors, Far Cry 6 will feature first-person gameplay with a wide variety of deadly weapons and skills that will leave your enemies wondering about their existence.
Hogwarts Legacy
Developer – Avalanche Software
Supported Platforms – PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Microsoft Windows
Release Date – TBA (2022)
Including us, every Harry Potter-fanatic is really excited to get their hands on Hogwarts Legacy because its early trailer left us in awe. Developed by Avalanche Studios, Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world game sets in the early 1800s where Hogwarts is under siege by dark creatures of all sorts.
Our dreams of roaming the hallways of Hogwarts and dining with the wizards and witches from the magical world of the Harry Potter franchise will finally come true. However, unfortunately, due to the COVID pandemic, the developers had to face some setbacks in the development of the game. Initially, the game was supposed to be released in 2021 but, due to the obstructions, Hogwarts Legacy will be released sometime in 2022.
Nevertheless, our expectations from Hogwarts Legacy and very high and we’re eagerly waiting to get our hands on this gem of a game.
Dying Light 2
Developer – Techland
Supported Platforms – PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Microsoft Windows
Release Date – TBA
The first installment in Dying Light had us reaching for the sheets and its horrifying gameplay was a great deal of fun for us. Luckily, we’re getting a new open-world game in the franchise and it’s filled with even more zombies.
Inspired by its predecessor, Dying Light 2 is also played in the first-person mode backed with a fascinating storyline. We had a glance at the game at E3 2018 and it seems like Dying Light 2 has better graphics and mechanics compared to its predecessor.
Furthermore, even though the game was announced a few years back, the developers have yet to announce any release date. But we’re hopeful that Dying Light 2 will be dropped at the end of 2021.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
Developer – Nintendo
Supported Platforms – Nintendo
Release Date – October 15, 2021
Cheer up Nintendo gamers, the sequel to Breath of the Wild is in the works and hopefully, it will be released before the holiday season. The first game in the franchise set the bar really high that no other Nintendo title was able to get near it. However, our expectations from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 are really high and it is also the most anticipated game on Nintendo this year.
Unfortunately, we don’t have much to say about the plot of the game but after looking at an 82-second long trailer, we could safely say that Zelda is on another adventure, and this time around, there will be a lot of dungeons and sketchy places to wander.
According to unofficial sources, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 will be released on October 21, 2021, but due to the ongoing pandemic, it is a possibility that the developers will further delay the release date of the game.
Gotham Knights
Developer – WB Games
Supported Platforms – PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Microsoft Windows
Release Date – TBA
If you’re a fan of the DC Universe then this new open-world game, Gotham Knights is right up your alley. Batman and his sidekicks will be going against the notorious gangs of Gotham and the plot gets even more intense as we make progress in the game.
Gotham Knights will be optimized for next-gen consoles which means that the graphics will be exceptional and perfectly rendered 3D surroundings would be a sight for sore eyes. Furthermore, the gameplay looks quite similar to Marvel’s Avengers but we’ll have to wait till the holiday season to know for sure.
Lastly, Gotham Knights do not have any release date as of yet but, at the E3 event later this year, WB Games might reveal more gameplay and the actual release date of the game.
Final Thoughts
The open-world genre is one of the most played genres in the gaming industry and with each new year, we find ourselves spending countless hours on these games to achieve all the camping missions. Similarly, this year isn’t going to be any different because all these amazing upcoming open-world games wouldn’t let us keep our eyes away from the monitor.
