Open-world games cost a hell of a lot of time. We therefore reveal for
which open worlds you should keep your calendar clear for in 2021 and 2022
The best open worlds invite us with their almost limitless game worlds and a feeling of freedom.
worlds and a sense of freedom to linger. But that also makes them
but it also makes them time-consuming. Just think of massive games like
like Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, in which we still haven’t seen everything after 100 hours.
we haven’t seen everything. You should invest this time well.
That’s why we’re going on an expedition into the wide world of the upcoming open-world game.
world of upcoming open-world games in 2021/22 to find the most promising
most promising candidates for you.
These open-world games will be released in 2021/2022
Whether it’s GTA, The Elder Scrolls or Forza Horizon – open worlds exist in just about every
in almost every game genre. This can be seen again in 2021 and 2022, because
almost every Open World makes use of a different genre or an unused
scenarios. Role-players as well as first-person shooter and MMO fans
should be able to find an Open World for themselves in the near future.
New World
How does the Open World work? With its first MMO, Amazon wants to
change how open worlds work in the genre. New World is supposed to
feel less like a theme park. Less like a conglomerate
of different dungeons. Less like, well…like WoW! But that’s exactly
that makes the world of New World so exciting. The development of a
real open-world MMO that very consistently wants to give the feeling of
really take place on an existing and coherent world.
Suitable for whom? Although the game was originally intended as a pure
PvP MMO with survival elements, but has since turned away from this
the survival aspect overboard and is now also available for single player and
interesting for single players and PvE lovers.
When will it be released? The release of New World has already been
postponed several times. The new date is 31 August 2021.
start of a closed beta is just around the corner.
Riders Republic
How does the Open World work? In Rider’s Republic you can show off
show what extreme sports ace you are. In the sequel to Steep
you can use a wingsuit, skis, snowboards or, most recently, bicycles
in the open game world, which is reminiscent of nature parks in the USA. You can take part
countless races, prove yourself in trick competitions or plunge into the
or you can throw yourself into the career.
Suitable for whom? For fans of extreme sports, but who are deliberately
deliberately not looking for a simulation. Instead, the focus is on arcade fun
like the Tony Hawk series. Those who already liked Steep,
will also get their money’s worth with Riders Republic.
When is it coming? Riders Republic will be released on 2 September 2021 for PC and consoles.
PC and consoles.
Life is Strange: True Colors
How does the open world work?
smaller level areas as in the predecessors, there is a real open world in Life Strange:
True Colors there is a real open world. You can freely explore the small town of Haven Springs
freely explore the small town of Haven Springs, complete optional side
and listen to one or two exciting stories. The
more believable and interactive, while there is even more for you to discover.
even more for you to discover.
Suitable for whom? Those who place a lot of value on the storyline and
and dialogue in games, Life is Strange: True Colors is the game for you.
get their money’s worth. The third part of the series tells a personal
story of the protagonist Alex, who is blessed with supernatural powers.
supernatural powers. Alex can perceive the feelings of her fellow human beings as an aura
and thus experience their thoughts.
When is it coming? The release of Life is Strange: True Colors is
is almost upon us. On 10 September, the adventure game will be released for
for almost every current platform.
Sable
How does the Open World work? The open desert world of Sable
is not only unique in a visual sense, but also offers something
something that games do less and less these days. It does not take the player
instead only gives vague instructions and otherwise leaves you to your own
it leaves you to your own sense of discovery. With the help of a glider
you set off on your journey and discover the world and its secrets at your own pace.
secrets at your own pace.
Suitable for whom? Sable focuses strongly on the exploration aspect and is aimed at players who like to
players who want to discover a world that is completely foreign to them.
alien world. There is no fighting here and dying is also not possible.
Instead, Sable draws its gameplay fascination from its great freedom of movement and smaller puzzles.
freedom of movement and smaller puzzles that you encounter in the course of the game.
encounter in the course of the game.
When is it coming? Sable will already be released on 23 September 2021 for the
PC and the Xbox Series X/S.
Far Cry 6
How does the Open World work? In Far Cry 6 we travel to the
fictional South American Yara, which is strongly reminiscent of Cuba. We slip
the role of a guerrilla fighter, who must fight the new bad guy and dictator
Castillo and his tyrannical rule. In typical Far Cry fashion
Far Cry, we achieve this through crisp gun battles in the open world – in which we can
we improvise our own weapons. In addition
we can optionally use vehicles to move around and hire NPC companions.
Suitable for whom? Open-world fans who prefer to use a machine gun instead of a sword should enjoy
machine gun instead of a sword, Far Cry 6 should be an exciting candidate.
await them. Those who have already enjoyed the predecessors should also enjoy the
the upcoming part with its Caribbean island flair and Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad references urgently in the eye.
When is it coming? The release of Far Cry 6 has already been postponed three months after its official announcement.
months after its official announcement – and now has a fixed date.
fixed date. It will be released on PC and consoles on 7 October 2021.
Forza Horizon 5
How does the Open World work? After taking to the streets of the UK in Forza Horizon 4.
the streets of Great Britain, the next destination on the list is Mexico.
next destination on the list is Mexico. In Forza Horizon 5 you can expect a
open world that is once again full of racing activities, festival atmosphere and dozens of cars,
festival feeling and dozens of cars. The developers promise
visual variety: vibrant deserts, dense jungles, historical cities, beautiful
cities, beautiful beaches and a snow-covered volcano are supposed to offer much
pleasure for the eye.
Suitable for whom? Forza Horizon 5 will of course primarily appeal to
racing gamers who like to get into fast cars and enjoy the
simulation aspects and fixed track limits.
If you have already played one of the predecessors, it’s best to keep an eye on the coming
keep an eye on the next part.
When is it coming? The fifth part of the Forza Horizon series was only
announced at E3 2021. But you won’t have to wait too long for the release.
the engines are set to start on 9 November.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
How does the Open World work? Should everything work in Dying Light 2
the way the developers envision it, we can expect one of the most
one of the most innovative open world concepts in recent years. Promised
a huge urban area that offers much more than just a backdrop for our zombies.
than just the backdrop for our zombie hunt. We have the power to shape the cityscape
decisions to influence the cityscape of the still nameless metropolis.
metropolis. Depending on which faction we prefer or where we place ourselves morally, our
morally, our actions can make whole districts impassable or reveal new areas.
or uncover new areas.
Suitable for whom? Dying Light 2 is a must-play if you are fascinated by apocalypses triggered by zombies.
apocalypses triggered by zombies. The open
world, despite the first-person perspective, using a parkour mechanic that was
parkour mechanics that were already great in the first part. This makes the
zombie chases feel appropriately hectic, without ever completely taking
completely out of our control.
When is it coming? Dying Light 2 has been in development since 2018 and should have been released long ago.
Development and should have been released long ago. However, the zombie game was
delayed significantly, while there was radio silence from the developer.
there was radio silence. Now it’s clear: The zombie hunt will be released on 7 December.
Zombiehatz.
Atomic Heart
How does the Open World work? At this point we have to be
be honest enough to say: not a clue. There are always
statements about whether Atomic Heart really has an open world.
world. There are supposed to be different biomes, but it is still an open question
seamlessly into one another is still an open question.
Suitable for whom? Imagine Fallout and Bioshock dropping
a nuclear bomb back and forth until one of them drops it (probably Fallout).
(probably Fallout). The atomic explosion causes
the molecules of the two explode, then randomly reassemble.
and in the end Atomic Heart stands before us. Atomic Heart
promises to be an intense and thoroughly creepy first-person shooter,
which, like Bioshock, has made a name for itself due to its unusual
talk.
When will it be released? It remains questionable whether Atomic Heart will make it to the year
2021. Most recently, there was a gameplay trailer at E3,
but there’s still no definite release date.
Crimson Desert
How does the open world work? Crimson Desert offers what seems at first glance to be
classic open world for the genre at first glance. Either on
on foot, on horseback, by canoe or even by grappling hook.
medieval fantasy world, in which you complete quests, fight enemies and collect
enemies and collect new loot. Along the way you can stop off in villages and towns
villages and towns to sell items or talk to NPCs.
talk to.
Suitable for whom? Although Crimson Desert is actually a prequel to the
to the online role-playing game Black Desert Online, it is now an independent game
game with its own background world – and a single-player experience.
single-player experience in which you even have to make decisions.
In addition, however, there is to be a multiplayer mode that is independent of the campaign.
of the campaign.
When is it coming? According to the developers, the plan is to release Crimson Desert
for PC and consoles at the end of 2021. However, it has been a little
been somewhat quiet about the role-playing game, which is why it is unclear
is unclear whether the schedule will be met or whether a postponement is imminent.
Elden Ring
How does the Open World work? Instead of being open world like previously in Dark Souls or
Sekiro, From Software opens the gates in Elden Ring and releases you into a large
a large, connected game world – either on foot or on the back of your faithful horse.
on the back of your trusty horse. The model for Elden Ring is the
PlayStation classic Shadow of the Colossus, which depicts a rather empty and sometimes lonely world.
and sometimes lonely world, which scores points with individual, but all the more
exciting locations. This is also where the developers want to start and
encourage the urge to discover.
Suitable for whom? If you like tough boss fights, want to explore a dark but at the same time
but at the same time fascinating world and enjoys a well thought-out
combat system, should put Elden Ring on their list.
list. For fans of the Souls series, Elden Ring is already hotly anticipated.
eagerly awaited anyway.
When is it coming? After a long period of silence about Elden Ring, it should not be
it should not take that long any more. The release date is set for 21.
January 2022.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl
How does the Open World work? Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl
wants to stay true to the strengths of the series. This means that you will
the open game world of the Chernobyl reactor zone from a first-person perspective.
reactor zone of Chernobyl. You are not completely alone, because regularly
you will be drawn into battle with bandits, mutants and other enemies.
enemies. Not to mention that the dynamic weather events and anomalies will also
anomalies can also get to you.
Suitable for whom? Those who like intense and atmospheric first-person shooters
with role-playing and survival elements could find their saviour in Stalker 2.
saviour in Stalker 2. However, the developers have not yet shown much gameplay from the
from the upcoming large-scale project.
When is it coming? The team still has a few months to go before the release.
ahead of them. Stalker 2 is currently scheduled for release on 28 April 2022.
Starfield
How does the Open World work? Starfield is the new game from the
Elder Scrolls and Fallout makers from Bethesda. That in itself says
says a lot about the Open World, although there is otherwise only sparse
information about it. What is clear is that you travel from planet to planet with the help of spaceships.
planets with the help of spaceships, follow one main task and countless
side tasks and explore a lot. Similar to Skyrim, the path is the
the way is the goal and not necessarily the other way around.
Suitable for whom? Fans of single-player role-playing games should definitely keep an eye on Starfield.
should definitely keep an eye on Starfield. After all, it is also the
first new brand from Bethesda in 25 years. How complex the
role-playing mechanics and the combat system is still unclear.
unclear
When is it coming? For Starfield you will have to wait for over a year.
for more than a year. The role-playing game will not be released until 11 November 2022.
Hogwarts Legacy
How does the Open World work? In the role-playing game in the Harry Potter universe
we travel to 19th century Hogwarts – many years before the events of the books.
events of the books. Nevertheless, in Hogwarts Legacy we will meet some familiar
characters, such as the young Dumbledore, who was himself a student at Hogwarts at the time.
himself a student at Hogwarts. However, the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is by no means the only place we can explore.
places like the Forbidden Forest or Hogsmeade are waiting to be discovered by us.
to be discovered.
Suitable for whom? Hogwarts Legacy is clearly the role-playing game that Harry Potter
Harry Potter fans have been waiting for. But since it is a
fantasy open-world with an exciting story,
and puzzles, even newcomers to the game might enjoy Hogwarts Legacy.
Hogwarts Legacy.
When is it coming? A release date is not yet known. First the
2021, but was then prematurely postponed to 2022.
postponed. However, it is already certain that Hogwarts Legacy will be released for PC, PS4,
PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
Gotham Knights
How does the Open World work? Alone or with a friend, you can play in the
Gotham Knights you can put a stop to criminals. Through
Gotham City, you’ll fight, puzzle and sneak your way through a total of five different
different districts of the comic city. Unlike in previous
Batman games, the world in Gotham Knights will be animated by NPCs who follow a complex
follow a complex daily routine.
Suitable for whom? While the Arkham series revolving around Batman has previously been a
for single-player players, Gotham Knights brings the co-op aspect to the forefront.
to the fore. Those who would like to beat up villains with someone else
and can do without Batman as a playable character, should not ignore
Gotham Knights should not be ignored.
When is it coming? Actually Gotham Knights should have been released in 2021.
before the end of the year. However, due to the restrictions of the worldwide Corona pandemic
the developers need a little more time, so it won’t be released until 2022.
until 2022.
Forspoken
How does the open world work? The open world of Forspoken
seems quite ordinary for a fantasy game at first glance and offers dense forests
forests, a desert and ruins guarded by powerful monsters.
guarded by powerful monsters. Only a glance at the protagonist Frey Holland
reveals an important detail: she wears modern everyday clothes, i.e. sneakers and a white T-shirt.
trainers and a white T-shirt. Holland has not landed in the world voluntarily
in the world of her own free will, but apparently got there by chance or fate.
by chance or fate.
Suitable for whom? Forspoken is being developed by Square Enix and Luminous Productions, the makers of Final Fantasy.
Luminous Productions, the makers of Final Fantasy 15.
Forspoken will also feature an action-packed battle system in which magic
plays a major role. The action adventure will also have a strong
story aspect.
When is it coming? There is no exact release date for Forspoken yet.
release date for Forspoken. It should be released for PC and PlayStation 5 in the course of 2022.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
How does the open world work? Like its iconic predecessor.
the world of Bloodlines 2 will not be a continuous open world, but will be
is made up of individual hubs. Nevertheless, we can move around
move around freely as far as possible. Not only do we wander through the streets of
Seattle at night, but also explore the roofs of houses or descend into the sewers.
down into the sewers. The world offers as many facets as there are
vampire clans in it.
For whom? The first Bloodlines is considered a role-playing game for fans.
fans. A title that had many quirks when it was released, but still managed to
conquered the hearts of many players and became a cult. Whether the
successor will be just as edgy remains to be seen. But if you are tempted by the
of evil and you welcome vampires or dark fantasy as a setting,
Bloodlines 2 should not disappoint.
When is it coming? Originally Paradox wanted to release the vampire role-playing game
at the beginning of 2020. Then followed a postponement to 2021
– and now there is no release date at all. The responsible
developer was dismissed at the end of February and the vampire game is
and the vampire game is now facing an uncertain future.
What is actually going on with Beyond Good & Evil 2?
The time would at least be ripe to learn more about the ambitious project
and above all to get some impressions of the finished game.
At least we already know that Ubisoft plans to generate the universe procedurally.
generate the universe. In a similar way to how the vast galaxy of
No Man’s Sky was created. The focus of the game is on multiplayer
multiplayer, because Beyond Good & Evil will be a
shared-world role-playing game in which we encounter space pirates, clones and talking
talking pigs with moustaches.
