open world

noun

plural open worlds

: a video game or part of a video game in which the player is not constrained to achieving specific goals and has a large degree of freedom to explore, interact with, or modify the game environment : sandbox sense 2a

The gameplay feels similar to other RPGs, and while it's an open world that allows you to do whatever you want for the most part, I do recommend accomplishing the first tasks of the recruitment quests early.

—Swapna Krishna

… you'll likely get swept in deep by the stellar narrative and the meticulously-crafted open world gameplay.

—Tanveer Singh

—sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun

Whether you're keen on open-world games where you've got masses of virtual space to explore or survival games where there are more threats to keep you on your toes, our list should help you make the right choice.

—Adrian Willings

Examples of open world in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This take on Gotham doesn't look bad by any measure, but the Quest headsets aren't on par with the visual fidelity PS5 or Xbox Series X can manage, and the open worlds of the core Arkham entries are gone. —Matt Kamen, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024

The payoff was a gorgeous open world with such distinctive art direction that the developer put out a hardcover book showcasing the design work that went into the game. —Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 20 Dec. 2024

The team also showed off the open world part of the game, which is a recreation of the area around the famous Nürburgring in Germany. —Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024

Sure, you get pummeled by giant monsters, from griffins and ogres to lumbering cyclopses, but more than honing your combat skills, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is about moving through an bucolic open world teeming with interactive possibilities. —Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2003, in the meaning defined above