For many Fallout fans, including myself, Fallout: New Vegas is seen as one of the best entries in the entire series. Obsidian Entertainment’s addition to the Fallout franchise definitely has a fascinating story filled with warring factions and a compelling setting, but there are now several open-world RPGs that have surpassed Fallout: New Vegas since its 2010 debut.
The nostalgia that surrounds New Vegas can cause the game to be viewed with rose-colored glasses. Admittedly, I’m even guilty of this, but when looking back at some of the best open-world RPGs that have come out since New Vegas, it’s clear that there is now a list of games that do open-world design and storytelling better than the beloved Fallout chapter.
The games on this list don’t have to surpass New Vegas in both storytelling and open-world design, but each list entry has to one-up it in at least one of those categories.
Putting a Spotlight on Player Agency
Skyrim may not have nearly as strong of a story as New Vegas, but when it comes to overall exploration and freedom, it’s practically running laps around the Fallout entry. With New Vegas, certain map areas are gatekept by incredibly difficult enemies to keep players on a specific path. Skyrim, on the other hand, is an open-world playground drenched in fantasy tropes and hidden secrets.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
New Vegas‘ story serves as the core centerpiece of the game, and while it makes for a great narrative filled with unique factions and tests morality, Skyrim is an essential game for open-world fans who love to venture out into the unknown and discover things on their own terms. There is a reason that Skyrim continues to be one of Bethesda’s most-played games, and it’s all because of the rich world that allows players to lose themselves in not only the character, but also the exploration.
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Dragon’s Dogma 2 Is Now Better Than Ever
Dark Arisen Comes to Save the Day
Yes, Dragon’s Dogma 2 was divisive among players when it first launched in 2024, but things have drastically changed now, thanks to the Dark Arisen expansion. Like Skyrim, Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s main story is a bit thin. However, Dark Arisen has added far more exploration depth and role-playing opportunities with its new content and upgrades to existing features. For example, the expansion has made classes more layered and has added a giant, icy region called Norgan to the mix.
Norgan in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is more than a mere map expansion. The new location boasts a lot of verticality that highlights one of the main features that New Vegas‘ Mojave wasteland lacks, and that’s only a single region of the fantasy RPG’s map. Beyond Dark Arisen’s added content, Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s base version has the benefit of a more dynamic open world that makes traveling from Point A to Point B more exciting than New Vegas.
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Elden Ring’s Environmental Storytelling Makes for More Compelling Exploration
Strong Storytelling in a Different Form
Unlike Skyrim and Dragon’s Dogma 2, Elden Ring actually has both a strong story and exploration bundled into one experience. As is tradition with FromSoftware games, though, Elden Ring‘s story has to be uncovered through exploration. If deep lore is your kind of thing, then Elden Ring is the perfect game to scratch that specific itch. It might not have the same choice-based, faction-heavy moments that serve as New Vegas‘ backbone, but it makes for an unforgettable world design.
New Vegas and Elden Ring are vastly different approaches to open-world RPGs, but the latter deserves a chance, even if FromSoftware games aren’t necessarily one’s go-to choice. Elden Ring‘s verticality and mysterious environmental storytelling make it crystal clear how far open-world design has come since New Vegas hit the scene.
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Cyberpunk 2077 Is a Phoenix From the Ashes
CD Projekt Red’s Dystopian Redemption Arc
It was far from smooth sailing for Cyberpunk 2077 when it first launched. Cyberpunk 2077‘s release state is still one of the most notorious game launches of all time, but that thankfully didn’t stop CD Projekt Red from getting to work and making sure that players would eventually get the open-world RPG that they deserved. When it comes to world design, Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 has a level of awe-inspiring grandeur that players first feel when entering the city of New Vegas for the first time, but this time that sensation is turned up to 11. Both share a core narrative based around a dystopian society, but Night City truly feels like a living, breathing metropolis.
Cyberpunk 2077 is the first game on this list that beats New Vegas in terms of both storytelling and world design. Protagonist V’s choices truly matter, paving the way for six different endings, and the Phantom Liberty DLC adds a seventh possibility. It may have been a rough start for Cyberpunk 2077, but it’s now one of the best open-world RPGs of the 2020s.
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Brings Players the Whole Package
Storytelling and Exploration Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg
Before Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red showcased just how rich and satisfying open-world games could be with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. From exploration to storytelling, The Witcher 3 is a masterclass in world and narrative design, and what really drives that home is the game’s quest system. There are many more memorable Witcher 3 side quests than in New Vegas, and it’s all because CD Projekt Red treats every one like a storytelling opportunity instead of just a chore to mark off a checklist.
Now that The Witcher 3 remaster is officially out, it’s the perfect time for newcomers to finally jump into the fantasy RPG. Core features like combat, the skill tree, and horse traversal have been upgraded in addition to graphics improvements. Just like New Vegas, The Witcher 3 has remained part of the open-world RPG discourse because it still holds up as an amazing journey.
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Has Raised the Bar for the Entire Open-World RPG Genre
Open-World Realism at Its Finest
If it wasn’t for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, The Witcher 3 would be number one on this list, but what Warhorse Studios managed to do with its grounded medieval RPG has created a brand-new standard when it comes to immersion. Between Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s historically accurate Kingdom of Bohemia and New Vegas‘ titular city, the two have vastly different settings, but the former nails its storytelling and exploration in a truly special way.
Another factor that makes Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s world so realistic is its reliance on survival mechanics. New Vegas can experience survival gameplay through its Hardcore mode, but surviving each day is a core part of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s identity. Survival doesn’t just add to the challenge; it brings a sense of immersion that none of the other games on this list have. So, not only do players get the level of storytelling and world design that New Vegas is known for, but it takes everything to greater heights with its intense realism, making it one of the best modern open-world RPGs around.
