Openworld

Rise of the Ronin feels like a natural next step for developer Team Ninja. After two decades spent creating some of the best linear action games in the genre, the studio is stepping outside of its comfort zone with its first crack at an open-world action RPG. Combining a freeform structure with a combat style similar to Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and the Nioh series is an enticing prospect, and it's one of the key areas where Rise of the Ronin stands out after playing its opening two hours.Set in late 1800s…

When you're a kid, playing outside in the summer as the sun starts to set, you know that the worst thing possible is going to happen: A parent is going to call you inside. You don't want to leave the playground. Playing open-world games, especially those like Cyberpunk 2077 and the most recent Fallout and Elder Scrolls games, can sometimes feel like that--a playground that we don't want to leave, while the developers are our parents, trying to look out for us.These games always offer a campaign of some…

Square Enix I’m normally a completionist when it comes to games, but I wish I had told myself to push that mindset to the side before I started Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. I get the desire to do it all, I really do. In the critically acclaimed sequel, we’re finally let loose outside of Midgar. Square Enix has laid a huge, lush set of biomes to stretch our legs in after being stuck in the cramped hallways and tunnels of the drab city. Despite most of the world activities in Rebirth being standard open-world fare…

Nacon’s open-world Terminator game now has a title and an Early Access launch date. Originally announced back in 2022, Terminator: Survivors is the first survival game set in the Terminator universe and was promised to feature “an original story that builds on the events of the official films”. “We can’t say much more for now, but this is definitely something to keep your eyes on,” said Nacon at the time. Now, after months of silence, the studio has confirmed Terminator: Survivors will launch later this year in Early…

Here’s something I never thought I’d say: the original Final Fantasy VII was too short. I’ve played through the classic RPG, which spans three discs and more than 30 hours, multiple times and always thought I largely understood it. And yet I now realize that various elements of its convoluted plot have actually escaped me. So here I am, a few decades later, and I finally understand (most of) what the hell is going on — and that’s because of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.It’s the follow-up to 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake,…

In Elden Ring, it’s killed or be killed — brutally. The game is designed to put you ever on the defensive, ready to lash out before you yourself can be lashed. But that shoot first, ask questions later mindset led to an event I truly and deeply regret. I killed a dragon, and I feel really awful about it.In Elden Ring, even the damn flowers are dangerous, but contrary to the game’s reputation, not everything in the Lands Between wants to kill you. There are those cute rodents that scurry about and delightful little…

“Islands of Insight is the modern reinvention the puzzle genre needs.” Pros Tons of fun puzzles Near infinite challenges Smart progression hooks Great co-op integration Cons Some dud formats Repetitive grid puzzles Meandering lore When I was a kid, my most…

Just like you probably enjoy getting to choose your own path in real life, you want to have the same freedom in your favorite video game. Open-world games like The Division 2 have only continued to grow in popularity since their release.  While this genre of gaming can be a little intimidating for anyone without tons of experience in gaming, there are plenty of great open-world games to chose from. Ranging from first-person shooter games to RPGs and action-adventure titles, our list will have something for everyone.…

New information has come to light regarding the future of the Call of Duty series. Insider Gaming reports that this year's game, which hasn't been announced but is rumored to be Black Ops Gulf War, will lean even further into an open-world structure.Call of Duty fans will no doubt recall that 2023's Modern Warfare III featured some campaign missions with open-ended structures that allowed players to complete objectives in multiple different ways. These missions, called Open Combat Missions in Modern…

Forspoken got off to a rough start even before the game launched back in February. Certain early trailers featured a few awkward, out-of-context lines from the protagonist, Frey Holland. Those became a major talking point online, drawing attention away from what the focus should have been on: the terrific parkour.Forspoken could never quite shake that initial negative impression, but despite what the internet would lead you to believe, the game deserves a lot more praise than it received, especially when…