Despite the saturation of open-world games in recent years, the genre remains a popular one. Since the industry-defining release ofGrand Theft Auto 3in 2001,open-world gameshave evolved rapidly, culminating in the February 2022 release of Game of the Year winnerElden Ring. This year should see the genre welcome a number of high-profile new titles includingMarvel’s Spider-Man 2,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, andStarfield.
The collection of new open-world games set for release this year is made up of brand-new IPs such as Luminous Productions’Forspoken, a huge RPG full of magic and discovery set in the mysterious land of Athia; sequels likeMarvel’s Spider-Man 2,which looks to build on the success ofMarvel’s Spider-Manand spin-offMiles Morales; and licensed titles including the highly anticipatedHogwarts Legacy,which throws players into the mystical wizarding world ofHarry Potter.
Major Open-World Video Game Releases of 2023
How Modern Open-World Games Embrace the Best and Worst of the Genre
The open-world genre has been responsible for some of the best games of all time. Advocates of the genre will cite countless hours spent hunting for collectibles and scouring all corners of the map in search of secrets as proof that these games offer incredible value for their cost. A decent-sized open-world game can take completionists anywhere from 50-to-100 hours to see everything, and if handled well with varied challenges, none of this time will feel wasted.
Marvel’s Spider-Manwas a good example of this, with every hour spent web-slinging through the rooftops of New York feeling worthwhile. Details about the upcoming sequel are scarce, but it is expected to be bigger and better with the enticing prospect of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales being playable.Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is due for release sometime in fall 2023.
Critics of open-world games will turn that longevity into a weakness, though, pointing to how repetitive an open-world title can become; often completing similar activities with little innovation between titles. Developer Ubisoft has seen two of its biggest franchises,Assassin’s CreedandFar Cry, both hit with this very same criticism in recent years. The latter in particular is an example of the genre becoming slightly stale after years of using the same core gameplay loop with only marginal improvements.Far Cry 7is undoubtedly in need of a complete overhaul.
Forspokenwill serve as the opening act for the open-world genre in 2023. A troubled development cycle has hit the game with several delays, and publisher Square Enix’s marketing campaign hasn’t been a resounding success. Its recent demo did little to silence those who are expecting the game to fail, with many poking holes in the gameplay and graphical performance. Despite this skepticism,Forspokenis commendable for looking to innovate with its dynamic use of magic in both combat and traversal, doing away with the usual methods of open-world travel by replacing them with magic-infused abilities.
After an arguably slow year in 2022, Xbox is ready for a huge comeback with two exclusive first-person shooters:RedfallandStarfield. The former, from developer Arkane, puts the player in a vampire-infested world with a host of unique weapons and abilities to fight against the undead. Despite its four-player co-op drawing comparisons to titles likeLeft 4 Dead, Arkane has been quick to dismiss this, instead likening its world and gameplay to something akin toFar Cry. The world ofRedfallis designed to pique the player’s curiosity, and promises to have far more substance than simple run-and-gun gameplay.
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Open-World Games in 2023 May Not Change Much, but the Genre is Shifting
When done right, open-world games are brimming with life, encouraging and rewarding exploration. It’s a tough balance, and one that theAssassin’s Creedfranchisehasn’t always gotten right. Critics of more recent entries such asOdysseyandValhallahave bemoaned an overabundance of content, resulting in many players experiencing burnout. In an attempt to remedy this, the upcomingAssassin’s Creed Miragepromises to be a more intimate experience with a smaller map, hearkening back to earlier titles that focused exclusively on assassinating high-profile targets. This change could be exactly whatAssassin’s Creedneeds, breathing new life into the long-running franchise.
In many waysStarfield, the upcoming RPG from Bethesda Studios, is carrying the weight of the Xbox brand on its shoulders. Building off the success of two of the studio’s heavyweight franchises,FalloutandThe Elder Scrolls,Starfieldwill be Bethesda’s first new IP in 25 years, and has attracted a considerable amount of attention. The game is looking to combine Bethesda’s trademark use of dialogue and player freedom with a sprawling new galaxy that spans over 1,000 explorable planets. It’s an ambitious project which, if done successfully, could see the game surpass the popularity of the studio’s biggest previous success:The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
As one of the nextmajor releases for the Nintendo Switch,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdombrings its own heavy burden of expectation.Breath of the Wildis considered to be one of the finest examples of innovation in an open-world game, offering each player a unique experience. While not much has been revealed yet, it appears that Link will be spending a considerable amount of time on floating islands in the skies above Hyrule during this sequel. BothBreath of the WildandElden Ringhave ushered in a new era of open-world titles that offer players an unrivaled sense of adventure. The lack of hand-holding and linearity allows each player to experience something totally different.
More studios seem to be taking notice of this refreshing approach. Comments byNaughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmannduring an interview with The Washington Post, in which he said he’d like the studio to focus on less traditional narrative storytelling, seem to echo this. Without doubt, open-world games are evolving, and 2023 could be a landmark year for the genre.
