The Origin and Evolution of Open World Games

Open world games can be both captivating and overwhelming. My personal gamer shame is having abandoned (for now) games like Assassin’s Creed Unity, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and The Witcher 3 because their massive maps, full of side quests and activities, sometimes feel intimidating. Thinking about the amount of time we pour into these adventures can be exciting or exhausting, depending on the mood.

For a while, “a bigger map” became the main selling point of many games, especially those in the Assassin’s Creed series. Each new title promised larger, more detailed worlds with more missions, enemies and rewards, though this often resulted in memes and glitches like floating NPCs or characters sinking into the ground. Others, such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Hogwarts Legacy, and The Witcher 3, delivered rich maps filled with secrets that players continue to discover today.

Let’s take a look at how open world games evolved over the years. And if you have any questions, leave a comment.

The Early Days (1970–1980)

During the 1970s and 80s, video games were extremely limited, but the idea of giving players freedom was already taking shape. In 1980, Adventure (Atari 2600) became one of the first games to offer an interconnected map where players could freely move between rooms. Inspired by text adventures, Adventure introduced a non-linear world filled with scattered puzzles and made a huge impact despite its simple graphics. Shortly after, in 1981, Ultima I allowed players to explore a fantasy world at their own pace, visiting towns and descending into dungeons. These early titles laid the groundwork for open world RPGs and influenced many future franchises.

Even with limited technology, other genres tried similar ideas. In 1984, Elite brought the concept to outer space. It was a basic 3D space simulator, but it used procedural generation to create an entire universe where players could pilot ships, travel between planets, trade goods, and fight pirates any time they wanted.

Despite its simplicity, Elite was incredibly ambitious and inspired modern titles like No Man’s Sky and Star Citizen by proving that vast, explorable universes were possible. These experiments revealed the potential of open world design and set the stage for the decades that followed.

Later in the 80s, Wasteland (1988) expanded the concept within a post-apocalyptic RPG. Player choices had permanent consequences, and missions could be completed in any order. This focus on freedom and lasting impact became a core part of the sandbox spirit.

Expansion and Innovation in the 1990s

As computers and consoles grew more powerful in the 90s, open worlds became larger and richer in detail. On the Super Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991) introduced a vast, interconnected kingdom filled with secrets and optional quests. It was a major step forward from the 1986 original and highlighted how bigger, more complex maps could enhance exploration.

In 1996, PCs received The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, which pushed boundaries even further. It featured a massive procedurally generated world with hundreds of towns and thousands of quests. Players could spend hours traveling across the landscape, and each playthrough offered new locations thanks to procedural generation.

Toward the end of the decade, popular games explored new kinds of player freedom. Grand Theft Auto (1997) let players wander a small 3D city, ignore missions and simply cause chaos, steal cars or explore. It was unlike anything before, giving players a digital urban playground where almost anything was possible.

In 1999, Sega released Shenmue, taking realism to new heights. Players could freely explore a city with day-night cycles, dynamic weather, and NPCs with daily routines.

It felt like living in a small virtual town, with shops opening at specific times, people walking through the streets, and detailed environments to interact with. Shenmue became known as the pioneer of the “open city” subgenre and introduced technologies that later games would adopt.

The 3D Revolution and the Rise of the Modern Open World (2000 and beyond)

The turn of the millennium marked a new era for open-world design. The sixth generation of consoles (PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube) and more powerful PCs enabled richer 3D worlds. In 2001, Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto III, an instant milestone. For the first time, a third-person action game combined cinematic storytelling with a fully open 3D city.

Liberty City in GTA III felt alive, full of activities and possibilities. Players could follow the main story or simply explore, drive around, talk to NPCs, or cause mayhem. This idea of complete freedom in a large city became the blueprint for countless open-world games.

In 2002, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind presented a different take on openness. Instead of a modern setting, it offered Vvardenfell, a highly detailed fantasy island. Unlike many RPGs of the time, Morrowind gave players almost no guidance, letting each person shape their own story.

The entire map was accessible from the start, with no strict path for progression. This level of freedom, combined with deep lore and character building, cemented Morrowind as one of the genre’s defining titles.

That same year, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube) showed that an open world didn’t need to be land-based. Players sailed a vast ocean, with wind direction affecting navigation, naval combat, and endless islands to discover. Wind Waker proved that open worlds could be refreshing and inventive.

Over the next years, open-world design continued to evolve. Minecraft (2011) became a cultural phenomenon, offering an infinite block-based world where players could build, explore, and survive freely. Its huge success, with more than 54 million copies sold, showed that the heart of the open-world experience — freedom and creativity — appeals to players of all ages.

In the 2010s, open-world production reached new heights. Grand Theft Auto V (2013) and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) set new standards. The Witcher 3 is often considered one of the greatest RPGs ever made, praised for its storytelling and world design. Every region felt alive, and even side quests were exceptionally well written. Many analysts view it as one of the most influential modern works in the genre.

In 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 brought the Old West to life with stunning realism. In Arthur Morgan’s world, every character had daily routines, and the environment reacted naturally to the player. Arthur needed to eat, sleep and even groom himself. The size and detail of its world made RDR2 one of the most impressive games ever created.

The Future of Open Worlds

Looking ahead, trends indicate open worlds becoming more immersive and dynamic. Developers are working to create worlds that react naturally to player choices. Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) attempted to bring this idea to a futuristic setting, with NPCs and events shaped by player decisions.

New games are expected to push this even further. Advances in artificial intelligence may allow NPCs to behave more realistically, with unique routines and reactions to changes in the world. Virtual reality and augmented reality could also increase immersion. Imagine exploring an open city in VR and feeling like you're truly there.

Upcoming releases offer a glimpse of what’s next. Starfield (2023) from Bethesda features a massive universe with interplanetary travel, ship customization, and colonies with procedurally generated stories. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023) introduces creative mechanics like object fusion and construction, enabling players to build vehicles, bridges, and inventive solutions as they explore Hyrule. These innovations suggest a future of open worlds that are even more interactive and surprising.

In summary, open-world games have come a long way. They evolved from simple 2D maps connected by invisible walls into massive, hyper-realistic 3D universes. Each technological step has brought new ideas and greater freedom for players. As gaming continues to advance, the open-world genre will likely keep expanding, offering richer, deeper, and more immersive experiences. The promise of “go anywhere” remains one of the most powerful appeals in gaming and will continue to inspire awe for years to come.