7 of the Best Open-World RPGs for Windows PC

An open-world RPG game includes a large world for players to explore with many optional quests outside of its primary storyline. Such RPGs allow players to wander off paths to discover hidden items, secret locations, additional side quests, and more besides. We are currently in a golden age of open-world RPG PC games that include massive, highly detailed worlds for players to lose themselves in. These are some of the best open-world RPGs you can play on Windows PCs.

Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Witcher 3 has remained a gold standard for narrative-driven open-world RPGs on PCs since 2016. This is an RPG that includes large and immersive White Orchard, Skellige, and Velen/Novigrad maps to explore. It is an RPG with an open world that feels truly alive, with countless exclamation marks on its maps that lead to meaningful quest stories rather than filler content fluff. Witcher 3’s great narrative depth, rich combat gameplay systems, and substantial replay value make it one of the best open-world RPGs for PCs.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is an open-world RPG that takes players on a historical journey in Ancient Greece. It includes a massive Ancient Greece map filled with historical landmarks, detailed cities, beautiful landscapes, and bustling seas where players can engage in naval combat. One of the great things about Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is its combat and stealth flexibility, which offer deep customization and build variety. There’s a hell of a lot to see and do in AC Odyssey with the game’s branching dialogue choices and alternative endings, optional side quests, Discovery Tour, community-created quests, and additional DLC content.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn is an RPG with a post-apocalyptic world for players to explore. This is one of the best open-world RPGs because of its innovative combat and machine hunting. While many RPGs include monsters, Horizon Zero Dawn has modular, robotic enemies for players to destroy with more strategic combat by identifying machine weak points and dismantling them. Horizon Zero Dawn has a truly unique world with the ruins of a fallen advanced civilization and tribes mixed together. That open world and combat, combined with its compelling narrative, mystery, and beautiful visuals, make Horizon Zero Dawn a great open-world RPG.

Genshin Impact

The Genshin Impact game is the best freely available open-world RPG to play on PC. This RPG is one with a massive, visually stunning world to explore, which is filled with hidden treasures, puzzles, and other secrets to discover. Its innovative elemental combat system provides fun and satisfying gameplay. Genshin Impact also receives regular updates that add new stories, characters, and regions to the map.

Elden Ring

With an average Metacritic score of 94 (for PC), Elden Ring is one of the most highly rated open-world RPGs. Elden Ring is one of the best open-world RPGs because it encourages players to explore naturally with little guidance provided. The world of Elden Ring is packed with dungeons, unique rewards, hidden secrets, and other content that make exploration fun and rewarding. Elden Ring’s unmatched player freedom, acclaimed Soulsborne combat mechanics, and environmental storytelling make it a truly engrossing RPG to play.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a masterpiece of game design (it won more than 200 Game of the Year Awards) that allows players to skip the primary quest to create adventures within a sprawling, handcrafted world. What sets Skyrim apart from lesser RPGs is its freedom of playstyle, which enables players to create characters to fight with. It is a game with a stunning soundtrack that generates a truly memorable atmosphere. Elden Ring also has a massive modding community that makes it one of the most customizable games.

Although the original Elder Scrolls V is almost a retro RPG, you can play a special edition of the game with updated graphics and sound. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition has a 64-bit engine and remastered effects. Alternatively, check out the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Anniversary Edition (2021) that includes hundreds of unique elements, such as new quests, armor, and content like fishing.

Cyberpunk 2077

Although it had a slightly rocky launch, Cyberpunk 2077 is now one of the premier RPGs for PCs, with its additional updates adding extra polish. This is among the best open-world RPGs because of its unmatched world design in the form of Night City. Night City is among the most densely packed and detailed urban environments seen in a game, with its skyscrapers, sky bridges, and bustling markets. Cyberpunk 2077 also offers players considerable freedom to play the game with varied playstyles.

If you’re looking for games of exploration, then you should certainly play some of the best open-world RPGs above. Genshin Impact, Cyberpunk 2077, Elder Scrolls V, Elden Ring, Horizon Zero Dawn, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt have some of the biggest and most immersive open worlds you’ll ever see in PC video games. Those games also have great storylines, graphical quality, and RPG combat action.