The year is 2022, and there is one genre that has inevitably made its mark on a large number of recent releases: Open World. It’s everywhere these days and for good reason.
People are curious. We want to explore and immerse ourselves in gaming, and what better way to produce this result than with a good open world. And really, there has never been a better time to play the many different kinds of Open Worlds out there.
From RPGs like Assassins Creed Valhalla, Elden Ring, and Horizon Forbidden West, to shooters such as Halo Infinite and Grand Theft Auto, and even racing games like Forza Horizon 5, there has never been a better time to play the many different kinds of Open Worlds out there. That’s why today, we’re gonna talk about the top 10 open worlds coming out this 2022.
10 – Sonic Frontiers
Sonic has definitely had his ups and downs throughout the years. Despite this, the iconic creature is still one of the most popular video game characters of all time. And with an upcoming mainline Open World set to be released sometime this year for all the major platforms, I’m sure true fans will be feverishly racing to get their hands on it when the time comes. Honestly, though, Sonic was made for open worlds.
The hedgehog is much too fast for the limited spaces he was designed for. Now, we get to experience a world large enough for the fastest thing alive, as he darts through landscapes filled with lush woods, overflowing rivers, scorching deserts, and more. Unfortunately, not much has been revealed, but as a long-time fan of the franchise, I really do hope it turns out to be the ultimate Sonic game.
9 – Crimson Desert
Pearl Abyss, a Korean studio best known for creating the wildly successful MMO Black Desert Online, has created a whole new fantasy world to explore, anticipated to be released sometime this year for the PS5, Xbox Series, and last-gen consoles. It was initially intended to be the prequel to Black Desert, but it appears that the developers have long since abandoned the notion.
You play as Macduff, the captain of a ragtag band of mercenaries, in the medieval fantasy world of Pywel, a huge continent separated into regions.
Based on what we’ve seen so far, the game appears to be stunning, with an intriguing story and a fighting system that promises to be as sophisticated as it is spectacular. As a band leader, you can recruit mercenaries in this game, all with their own stories to tell. And in the war-torn world of Pywel, you’ll need all the help you can get.
From harsh deserts, and lush landscapes to frigid regions, there are sure to be interesting NPCs and dangerous monsters prowling around. There are also opposing bands of murderous mercenaries roaming the lands, as well as other powerful figures lurking in the shadows.
Players must make strategic decisions while cooperating with or against other players in the same world using an action-driven combat system. Suffice it to say, we are very excited about everything Crimson Desert has to offer.
8 – DokeV
DokeV is yet another game in the works by Pearl Abyss, but everything, from its design, story, premise, and gameplay is unlike anything we’ve seen before, save for its creature-collecting mechanic reminiscent of past games like Pokémon. In this charming family-friendly open-world adventure, you play as a kid in what appears to be a futuristic island city, filled with beaches, forests, and more. In the world of DokeV, there are a wide variety of creatures known as Dokaebi, that are said to become more powerful through people’s dreams.
DokeV is set in the future where artificial intelligence has fully grown, and there is an organization known as “The Company” that develops Androids with this AI. However, it turns out that these AI chips are made from captured Dokebi, so it’s up to the player to fight against this nefarious organization and release all the Dokebi.
So far, we’ve seen a good bit of gameplay footage, but there’s still a lot that has not been explained. Character customization has been confirmed, allowing you to change clothing and equipment. From what I can tell though, this game features a surprisingly intricate combat system and incredible freedom and verticality through the use of vehicles, mounts, skateboards, and more. The sheer variety of things revealed in the trailer is too much to even cover in this video, but I think we can expect a fun ride with this one. DokeV’s release date has yet to be confirmed, but the developers are reportedly aiming to release it this year.
7 – Saints Row
Developed by Volition, an American studio based in Illinois, the first Saints Row games were about the 3rd Street Saints, a street gang based in the Saint’s Row neighborhood. The series, which has often been compared to GTA, is being rebooted with an entirely new gang rising to power.
Set in a fictional American southwest metropolis, rivalries have already formed, making gaining notoriety a difficult task. Rancho Providencia, a run-down remote town; El Dorado, a gambling casino wonderland comparable to Las Vegas; and Monte Vista, a suburban region, are among the city’s nine districts. The player will have to seize control of these districts, which will provide them particular perks.
You’ll also be able to exploit empty lots in guarded districts and create businesses with fronts to help finance and benefit the gang, which is a clever new feature added in this entry. Of course, a character creator and co-op multiplayer will also be included. The game is set to release on August 23.
6 – Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Based on the hugely popular movie by Oscar-Winning Director, James Cameron, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a promising new open world that lets you explore a never before-seen region as a Na’vi alien in Pandora, in opposition to the RDA, who plan to pillage the planet’s natural resources.
It’s being developed for the Xbox Series, PC, Playstation 5, and cloud gaming platforms by open-world veteran Ubisoft, which is one of the reasons we’re expecting so much from this entry. Watching the movie is definitely recommended if you plan on buying this game.
Not only is it a great movie, but it should also give a lot of background into the struggle between Na’vi and RDA. Unfortunately, not much is known about the game so far, but based on the “First Look” trailer, we can tell the visuals are some of the best in this list. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is set to release sometime this year.
5 – Forspoken
The upcoming exclusive developed for the PS5 and PC by the legendary Square Enix is definitely one of the most highly anticipated games this year. You play as Frey Holland, a young lady suddenly taken from New York City after talking to her cat to the mythical country of Athia, a prosperous land now plagued by a dark force known as The Break.
Of course, she gains cool magical abilities from a talking magical bracelet to boot and uses them to survive and find her way home. The Tantas, former rulers of Athia who have gone mad for untold reasons, oppress the people under tyrannical rule. Frey must overcome the Tantas with the assistance of her trust bracelet if she is to return to New York City and her beloved cat. It has been forspoken that Forspoken will be released this fall on October 11.
4 – Avowed
Avowed is being developed by Obsidian Entertainment exclusively for the Xbox Series, a heavy hitter known for creating games like Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds, and Pillars of Eternity. The company was recently acquired by Microsoft and their upcoming release, Avowed, a Skyrim-Esque first-person fantasy open-world game is certainly worth keeping an eye out for.
So far, they’ve only released a minute-long trailer, so there’s not a lot to go on, save for the fact that it’s been confirmed to be set in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity. Fans of the RPG series are thrilled to return to the same world of Eora. It’s unclear how the story will connect to Pillars of Eternity, but fans are speculating that the events will play out before the original series. Avowed is vowed to be released in late 2022.
3 – Fable
Everyone calls it Fable 4, but the critically acclaimed Xbox exclusive is actually getting a reboot by none other than Forza Horizon creator, Playground Games, another company acquired by Microsoft. With only a cinematic trailer to analyze, we don’t know how the gameplay will play out. If it’s anything like the original Fable games though, then we can definitely expect its signature British humor, swift combat, and all the past game’s plentiful activities that made it such a successful series in the first place. It will run on the Forza series’ in-house game engine, ForzaTech, so we’re expecting incredibly detailed and realistic visuals. The game is widely projected to be released sometime this year.
2 – Hogwarts Legacy
Yes, I know. Putting the new Harry Potter game at the number 2 spot is a hot take, but they’ve really sold me in their recent state of play. If you’d like to see the 10 things to look forward to in Hogwarts Legacy, I suggest you check out our video. Developed by Warner Bros. company, Avalanche Software, Hogwarts Legacy takes you to the late 1800s as a new fifth year in the famous school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, amid the picturesque Scottish Highlands. Players customize their character and join one of four houses by using the iconic Sorting Hat: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin.
Each residence has its own common space, each with its unique flair and intriguing people. Somewhere along the line, you become embroiled in a Goblin Rebellion led by Ranrok, a strong wandless wizard. To make things even worse, Dark Witches and Wizards are assisting him.
Of course, you can’t fight them alone, so other students can tag alongside you in this great open world, taking you to familiar places like Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest. Hogwarts Legacy may just be the most highly anticipated game of the year. If it wasn’t for the pedigree of the next entry, this Hogwarts Legacy’s… legacy would extend to the top of this list. Its release date remains unclear, but the developers have stated it will launch sometime this year.
1 – Starfield
You’ve all been waiting for it! The number 1 in this list is Starfield, developed by the kings of the Open World genre, Bethesda.
It’s been 25 years. 25 years since Bethesda has self-developed a project not related to Fallout or the Elder Scrolls franchises. Starfield has been in the works for about 10 years and will be released this November, but gameplay footage has yet to be revealed. Although Todd Howard has likened this game to quote-unquote “Skyrim in space.” Can you believe it? Skyrim! In Space!
These three words sum it up better than any synopsis could ever hope to accomplish, but here’s a brief one all the same: Set in the year 2310, you play as a member of the Constellation crew, a group of space explorers with the aim to unravel the secrets of the cosmos. Constellation, according to Bethesda CEO Todd Howard, is “like NASA meets Indiana Jones meets the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, a bunch of individuals still seeking for answers.”
As a member of Constellation, you will travel to a variety of worlds, each with its own distinctive features and landscapes. Like other Bethesda games, there are factions you can join, like the Crimson Fleet, a group of space pirates, and Ryujin Industries, a corporate faction. Now the part I’m quite curious about is the game’s map size.
We’re talking about multiple planets over here. In fact, it’s reportedly so big that if you were to talk to your friend about it, it would sound like they’re playing something completely different to you. Starfield is definitely deserving of the top spot on this list. Because of its space setting, we can expect an unparalleled open-world experience, or should I say open-universe experience, as well as futuristic combat. Of course, it wouldn’t be a space game without aliens. I’m excited to see what Bethesda has in store for us! Unfortunately, though, Starfield will only be released on the PC and Xbox Series.
Wow, that’s a lot of open worlds to look forward to this year. It’s actually quite insane, considering the games that have already been released. Just completing all of them, with each entry’s expected playtime should be something of a legendary feat. What do you guys think? Do let us know in the comment section below, we really wanna hear from you. And for everything gaming, remember to stay with us at Electronic First. Be sure to check out our Discord server, where we talk about the latest and upcoming games, like Elden Ring.
Also if you’re interested in earning with Electronic First as soon as today, check out our affiliate program. You can share your link with friends, family or anyone. Sign up today to reap the rewards!