Whether you’re a fan of age-old fantasy eras or prefer something modern, open world games have something to offer for everyone. From slashing your enemies to hacking their gadgets to racing them across the beautiful terrain of Australia, this year saw some amazing releases in the category. Here’s our list of the top ten open world games that came out in 2016, in their order of release.
1. The Witness
- Release Date: 26th January, 2016
- Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and iOS
You wake up, alone, on a strange island full of puzzles that will challenge and surprise you. You don’t remember who you are, and you don’t remember how you got here, but there’s one thing you can do: explore the island in hope of discovering clues, regaining your memory, and somehow finding your way home. The Witness is a single-player game in an open world with dozens of locations to explore and over 500 puzzles. This game respects you as an intelligent player and it treats your time as precious. There’s no filler; each of those puzzles brings its own new idea into the mix. So, this is a game full of ideas.
2. Far Cry Primal
- Release Date: 23rd February, 2016
- Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4
Welcome to the Stone Age, a time of extreme danger and limitless adventure, when giant mammoths and sabretooth tigers ruled the Earth and humanity is at the bottom of the food chain. As the last survivor of your hunting group, you will learn to craft a deadly arsenal, fend off fierce predators, and Use your innate Beast Master abilities to take full advantage of your powers. Outsmart enemy tribes to conquer the land of Oros and become the Apex Predator.
3. Tom Clancy’s The Division
- Release Date: 8th March, 2016
- Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4
It might have taken Ubisoft some time to patch up The Division’s problems, but the game can still be a lot of fun, even more when you play with friends. Explore an epidemic ridden New York where resources are few and your enemies many. The detailed, atmospheric open world settings are absolutely fantastic, especially at night where the interaction of weather and light effects provide it a very sombre feeling. The game has its fair share of technical issues but if the latest update is any clue, you can expect things to get better soon enough.
4. The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine
- Release Date: 31st May, 2016
- Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4
If you’ve ever wanted to get drunk with a vampire, this game is just for you. The Blood and Wine expansion pack (YES, an expansion) won the best RPG of the year at the Game Awards, and it’s not surprising at all. This DLC is better than a lot of full-blown games, and it really shows what amazing things game publishers are capable of. CD Projekt Red is pulling all the right stops when it comes to spoiling its fans, and the results seem to speak for themselves.
5. Forza Horizon 3
- Release Date: 27th September, 2016
- Platrforms: Windows PC and Xbox One
Forza Horizon 3 is probably one of the most exhilarating racing games you’ll ever play. Set in Australia, the third installment in the Forza Horizon series looks more gorgeous than ever, with picturesque beaches to sprawling grasses. It also features the Xbox Play Anywhere capability, meaning you can buy the game on one platform and carry your achievements and progress to the other.
6. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
- Release Date: 28th October, 2016
- Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4
A remaster of the five year old Skyrim, it still has the same charm that made players fall in love with the game. Bethesda has been kind enough to leave the bugs that existed in the original game. What it adds to the game is additional lighting effects, godrays and visual upgrades, making the game a little better looking than the original. It also brings the power of mods to the consoles, so expect a lot more people replacing dragons with Thomas the Tank Engine. Choo choo motherfuckers!
7. Watch Dogs 2
- Release Date: 15th November, 2016
- Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4
Watch Dogs 2 is everything the disappointing original wasn’t, and so much more. Giving you much more hacking options than the first part, Watch Dogs 2 is set in the sprawling, vibrant city of San Francisco, and the game successfully captures its essence. The main story line is both entertaining and interesting. The NPCs are always doing something or the other, making the open world more lively than ever, something that has been difficult for open world games to master for a long time. Whether you’re a hardcore fan of hacking or a newbie who just likes to play games, Watch Dogs 2 has something to offer to everyone, with elements that make you want to explore the entire city before you can get down to the missions.
8. Final Fantasy XV
- Release Date: 29th November, 2016
- Platform: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
You are Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum, the heir to the prestigious Caelum dynasty, and your first job in the game is to push your car on the highway because it broke down. That’s Final Fantasy XV for you. It’s quirky and fun, features an epic combat system and a party that feels less than a bunch of random people on the same quest and more like a close knit group of friends. Even though you can’t drive around in your awesome looking car, you can still ride giant chicken creatures and fight humongous bosses. Did you know that there’s one boss fight that takes 72 real-time hours? Good luck sitting through that!
9. STEEP
- Release Date: 2nd December, 2016
- Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4
In a year filled with FPS titles, Ubisoft’s Steep brings extreme winter sports as a welcome change. You can ski, snowboard, paraglide and even fly in a wingsuit in this open world sprawling with mountain tops and snow. You can switch to any type of even at any time on the fly. And you rack up points for pulling off complex tricks, narrowly avoiding obstacles, winning at the events, and sometimes even hugging a tree at top speed, shattering every bone in your body.
10. Dead Rising 4
- Release Date: 6th December, 2016
- Platforms: Windows PC and Xbox One
The fourth zombie masher in the Dead Rising series is just as silly and fun, though the first one to have no time restriction of any sorts. You can freely explore the open world without any pressure. You know, apart from the ongoing zombie apocalypse. But take your time, it’s not like they’re going anywhere. In one DLC, there is a time test of sorts, where you have to find a cure before you turn into a zombie yourself. Fun times, right?
So that’s all folks! If you think we missed out on a game or want to share some of your own favourites, leave a comment!
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