10 Best Open-World Games that Accomplish What BioWare Never Could

It’s always difficult to measure whether one thing is better than another, especially something as subjective as games. Open-world games are even harder to nail down, since a lot can change based on what kind of open-world game a person prefers.

With the news of BioWare's closure, it might feel a bit difficult to get into their games knowing that there won’t be another, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying. If you want something similar that may even exceed the BioWare bar, the games on this list should do you good.

For this list, we included games that all have open worlds and typically have some kind of companions and a focus on story. Whether they meet the mark or don’t is up for discussion, but you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who says they aren’t all great games.

10 Fallot New Vegas

Mojave Mo Problems

Fallout: New Vegas RPG GGMods Mods 9/10Released October 19, 2010 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs Developer(s) Obsidian Entertainment Publisher(s) Bethesda Engine Gamebryo Genre(s) RPG

Fallout is a wildly famous game series that takes place in an alternate version of the world in which nuclear fallout decimated the Earth. In New Vegas specifically, things are a little different, as you play as a Courier who’s been shot in the head and left for dead.

From the start of the story, you’re given a clear goal: find the guy who shot you, and along the way you’ll be distracted by anything and everything. New Vegas does a lot of things right, but there is one thing it does much better than most BioWare games: gameplay.

You’re free to tackle a problem basically however you like. This provides a significant amount of freedom that you don’t typically get from BioWare games as a whole, given how their storylines end up working.

9 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Become Hyrule’s Champion

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Action Adventure 8/10Released March 3, 2017 ESRB E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes Developer(s) Nintendo EPD Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Havok Genre(s) Action, Adventure

There’s no denying that the Legend of Zelda games have been some of the most influential releases in the history of games. Breath of the Wild in particular was an immensely creative take on the series and left a major impact on its release.

In Breath of the Wild, you play as a newly awakened Link who has to, of course, save Princess Zelda and all of Hyrule once again. You’ll fight through enemies and claim new powers to become the hero Hyrule needs and face off against Calamity Ganondorf.

What makes this game in particular better than some BioWare games is probably how easy it is to pick up and put down. It’s got all the parts it needs to be something incredible, without feeling like you need to write down everything so you don’t make one wrong choice and destroy your whole playthrough.

8 Ghost of Tsushima

A True Samurai’s Tale

Ghost of Tsushima Action Adventure FX Wiki Wiki Released July 17, 2020 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity Developer(s) Sucker Punch Publisher(s) Sony Engine Proprietary Genre(s) Action, Adventure

Originally, Ghost of Tsushima was a bit of a surprise to get from Sucker Punch Productions, given their game prior to this was Infamous First Light. While unexpected, the experience quickly gained traction for its many features and incredible world.

You play as Jin Sakai, a young samurai who’s lost everything to the Mongols, as you slice, sneak, and cheat your way to a victory over the Mongol Lord. It’s a heart-wrenching tale of battling between what you’ve learned to do and what you need to do.

There could be a lot of debate over what Ghost of Tsushima does better than BioWare games, but the truly grounded story and personable characters make for a hard-hitting story. You’re unlikely to soon forget your first journey into becoming the Ghost of Tsushima.

7 Fallout 4

A Wasteland for All

Fallout 4 RPG Action FX Wiki Wiki GGMods Mods 9/10Released November 10, 2015 ESRB M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS Developer(s) Bethesda Publisher(s) Bethesda Engine Creation Genre(s) RPG, Action

Another Fallout game, although it’ll be highlighted for different reasons than New Vegas. Fallout 4 is the most recent entry into the single-player world of Fallout, and for many fans it contains some of the most expansive and interesting set pieces in the series.

You managed to survive the original bombs dropping on the world and were frozen in a Vault, but something goes wrong, and someone steals your child while killing your significant other. The stakes are high from the start, as you journey around the Boston Wasteland finding new allies and enemies alike.

Gameplay-wise, the game is mostly the same as the originals, but what really knocked this one out of the park was the cast of characters you met along the way. From companions to small-time allies, they’re almost always memorable, though not always for the best reasons.

6 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Born of Dragons

Skyrim RPG Action Adventure 10/10Released November 11, 2011 ESRB M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes Developer(s) Bethesda Publisher(s) Bethesda Engine Creation Genre(s) RPG, Action, Adventure

If you’ve never played Skyrim at any point in your life, then you’re an anomaly in the gaming world. This game has been ported over so many times it’s hard to remember when it originally released, but that hasn’t stopped it from being one of the greatest games of all time.

You play as the Dragonborn, a hero (or villain) who has the power to absorb the souls of dragons, giving you untold power. You’ll go around slaying and saving most things while stealing the occasional wheel of cheese to get your health back up.

Skyrim is pretty dated by this point, but one thing it’s always been better at is the ridiculousness of power creep. That’s an odd thing to hit on, but in Skyrim you really do feel like this wildly powerful being, whereas in most BioWare titles I feel as though that power never seems to go anywhere.

5 Cyberpunk 2077

Stay Ready Choom

Cyberpunk 2077 FX Wiki Wiki GGMods Mods 8.2/10Released December 10, 2020

Cyberpunk 2077 might just be one of the greatest gaming stories in history because, on launch, this game was a complete disaster. Eventually, CD Projekt Red was able to salvage things, and now what most people associate the game with is being a virtual masterpiece.

You play as V, a low-level criminal in Night City hoping to make it big, but things don’t turn out right, and soon you find yourself knee-deep in something absurd. Advanced technology and lots of body modification give you the power to take on even the most dangerous people in Night City.

So what exactly makes it better than a BioWare game in my view? Memorable characters and some truly gut-wrenching moments that you’re unlikely to forget. You’re never going to forget your time in Night City or what you lost there.

4 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Audentes Fortuna Iuvat

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II RPG Action-Adventure Open-World FX Wiki Wiki GGMods Mods Released February 4, 2025 ESRB Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity Developer(s) Warhorse Studios Publisher(s) Deep Silver Engine CryEngine Genre(s) RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World

There are a lot of games that take place in medieval times, but none are more interesting than Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. This is a game that really puts you into the world of 15th-century Bohemia, during the middle of a massive civil war.

Henry is our main character again, but this time he’s a more formidable fighter thanks to his time training in the first game. Fight, talk, and negotiate your way through a land on the brink of destruction as you attempt to do your job and keep your friend Hans alive despite his penchant for danger.

The game actually has an improved system from BioWare games, as characters will react to your choices based on several factors. It isn’t simply limited to a number you’ve earned, but rather a culmination of how you look and what you’ve said previously.

3 Grand Theft Auto 5

Absolutely Ludicrous Action

Grand Theft Auto 5 Open-World Action 8/10Released September 17, 2013 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol Developer(s) Rockstar North Publisher(s) Rockstar Games Engine Rockstar Advanced Game Engine Genre(s) Open-World, Action

It would be hard not to include Grand Theft Auto 5 in a list like this, given it has some impressive storytelling along with some wacky characters. Despite its age, this will always be one of the greatest games of all time, even with the size of the media furor around the latest title.

In the story of the GTA series, you play a cast of characters who are all career criminals. They reignite their criminal backgrounds after lying low for some years and bring in some fresh blood to help them commit a whole new league of crime.

BioWare is known for its story and characters, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a story or characters that manage to be so ridiculously memorable. Trevor alone has some of the wildest lines in gaming history.

2 Red Dead Redemption 2

Realism Even To A Fault

Red Dead Redemption 2 Action Adventure FX Wiki Wiki 10/10Released October 26, 2018 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol Developer(s) Rockstar Games Publisher(s) Rockstar Games Engine RAGE Genre(s) Action, Adventure

Very few games could ever hope to capture the majesty that is Red Dead Redemption 2, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Rockstar has a penchant for making games that leave an impact on players for years to come.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, you’ll play as Arthur Morgan, a gruff but lovable protagonist as he navigates the end of the Wild West and what it means for folks like him. From gunslinging to horse riding, you’ll trek across the land making choices that impact everyone around you.

There’s really no other world quite like Red Dead Redemption 2’s. Even with the often incredible storytelling in BioWare games, there’s just such an advanced system of NPCs in RDR2’s world that makes it feel truly alive.

1 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Wind’s Howling

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt RPG Action Adventure FX Wiki Wiki GGMods Mods 9.5/10Released May 19, 2015 ESRB M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content Developer(s) CD Projekt Red Publisher(s) CD Projekt Red Engine REDengine 3 Genre(s) RPG, Action, Adventure

Of all the games that made an impact on gaming as a whole, there’s one that really stands out among the rest: The Witcher 3. An unbelievable game that had all the right pieces in all the right places right from the jump.

You play as Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher, on a journey to find Yennefer of Vengerberg as you move from town to town, slowly uncovering the mysteries behind something chasing you: the Wild Hunt. Using swords, magic, and knowledge, you’ll kill huge beasts and make a few coins along the way.

There’s no denying that this story stands a head above most at BioWare. From Geralt and his gruff personality to Yennefer and her overconfidence, each and every character flows into a story that leaves you wanting more with every secret you uncover.