Open-world video games have been popular on personal computers (PCs) ever since the earliest days of gaming, when titles like Ultima and Lords of Midnight were released; in fact, those nagging consoles often struggled to keep up. Contrast, for example, the ambitious early version of Halo with the final, more constrained result. Similarly, only the personal computer was capable of holding sprawling regions in the very first Elder Scrolls games. However, the transition into full 3D with Grand Theft Auto 3 and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind was what truly brought the concept of open-world gaming to the attention of the general public.

These days, games with open worlds are their own subgenre in and of themselves. Depending on where you want to go on your next adventure, you can find accurate depictions of real-life cities or countries, vast fictional expanses with their own landmarks, complete worlds to check out, or even entire galaxies to explore. All of these are available in virtual reality. Not only are these the best open world games, but a good number of them also appear on our list of the best games for the PC.
When Genshin Impact was first introduced to the gaming community in the year 2020, many players were quick to point out the game's many parallels to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild like slope game. This is a very complimentary comparison, considering that BOTW is widely regarded as one of the best open-world games that have ever been created. Genshin Impact, on the other hand, can be played on personal computers, giving gamers on that platform access to a gorgeous world reminiscent of Studio Ghibli that they can explore at their own pace and for no cost. However, the most recent Zelda game will continue to be an exclusive to the Nintendo Switch.

So tell me, what is it that you do in this world? There is a large story for you to finish (which, you'll be pleased to hear, can be done without paying anything), loot to acquire, food to cook, weapons to craft, and a large cast of characters to unlock through its gacha mechanics (who will give you access to additional parts of the world). Did we mention that you can participate in all of it with your friends? No, well actually it can, so go ahead and put those cherries on top of your cake.