The Witcher 3 is renowned as one of the best action RPGs of all time. It has millions of fans in every corner of the world. Players followed Geralt throughout his journey of love, loss, and monster-slaying.
CD Projekt Red has barely finished developing and supporting Cyberpunk 2077, but most of their team has shifted focus to a Witcher sequel. God knows how long we have to wait until The Witcher 4, but these free games, featured on PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, will hold us over until then.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla - PlayStation Plus
For open-world shenanigans, there are plenty of places to look. One of these should be Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the last in the RPG trilogy of Assassin’s Creed games from Ubisoft. With hundreds of quests, numerous enemies, and a story to adore, there’s plenty here to love. If you’re looking for depth - something to last you a long time - you’ve got plenty of hours ahead of you, taking you through all different kinds of quests utilising high-impact action and a bit of stealth too.
Far Cry Primal - PlayStation Plus
I could have chosen any Far Cry title for this slot, but let’s champion the underrated for a moment. Far Cry Primal was a strange detour for the franchise, a Stone Age visit filled with the same action as the other games in the franchise, against a unique background rarely seen in games. While the story may not be as memorable as Far Cry 5, say, the gameplay that takes you up against other humans, but also mammoths and wildlife. If you want an open world, but done a little differently, get on this.
Ghost of Tsushima - PlayStation Plus
The Witcher 3 has a certain character to it, one the game is built on. It’s faux-medieval, filled with monsters that set it apart from so many others. Ghost of Tsushima has a similar character, not in style, but in that it’s fully dedicated to its style. A world of samurais, ancient tradition, and stories of loyalty, and honour. Not only that, but its open world is as rich and beautiful as what we saw from CD Projekt Red. This is the full package that offers it all and does so with a wonderful finesse that will keep you playing for ages.
Horizon Forbidden West - PlayStation Plus
We have another Sony first-party exclusive on the list. While I could recommend Horizon Zero Dawn as it’s the first in the franchise, it’s clear that Horizon Forbidden West took the formula of open-world exploration and quests to another level. Doing this with panache and an astonishing flair for visual fidelity. Aloy is a wonderful protagonist whose curiosity rubs off onto the player while we travel across land and water in a familiar, yet still alien world. Packed with action and tremendous creature design, this is a must-play.
Soul Caliber VI - PlayStation Plus
Okay, so this entry is a bit of a cheat. It’s not an open-world RPG, instead, it’s a weapon-based fighting game. The main reason for this recommendation is that Geralt, the hero of The Witcher 3, makes a guest appearance. Wielding both swords featured in the games, Geralt plays just how you’d expect and does so with a lot of faithful recreation. Plus, Soul Calibur VI is a brilliant fighting game to sink your teeth into.
Diablo 4 - Xbox Game Pass
Don’t worry, I hear you at the back. Diablo 4 is an ARPG, but it’s still an RPG, of surprising depth, particularly after several seasons of post-release content. There’s a little similarity in the tone of Diablo 4, the fantasy archetypes are here, even if the blow-by-blow action isn’t. You’ll need to think outside of the box with this one as you aim to craft different classes to bring monumental amounts of damage to the demons and creepy monsters running free throughout the vast map.
Fable Anniversary - Xbox Game Pass
Traditional fantasy is here in spades. The original RPG that followed the player’s choices, warping the world and the central character around the good or evil you put out into the world. Fable Anniversary does show its age in places, but the sword and shield action combined with the British humour flowing throughout makes it an endearing game decades after its release. Not as tough as The Witcher 3, but it summarises fantasy tropes very well and will stay in your memory for years to come.
For Honor - Xbox Game Pass
Much like Soul Calibur VI above, For Honor takes a place as a weapon-based fighting game. Although it’s not as ‘arcadey’ as that. For Honor has hung around for many years as a franchise that stretches your skill sets, testing players as they try to outwit one another in tactical weapon battles where one false move can spell disaster. No Geralt in this one, but there are plenty of weapons, abilities, and characters to use as you learn the ins and outs of defence and offence.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - Xbox Game Pass
Let’s drop a little bit of sci-fi into this list and spice things up with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a game that takes Star Wars to an (almost) open-world and fills it with brilliant characters, plenty of that sweet, sweet lore, and all kinds of lightsaber goodness. Out of all the games on this list, Fallen Order might be the trickiest to best as its difficulty spikes every now and then, challenging you to always do better with your saber skills. You’ve got swords, monsters, big bosses, plus plenty of environments to explore.
Skyrim - Xbox Game Pass
It wouldn’t be a full list without the GOAT. A list that embodies much of what builds up The Witcher 3; fantasy classes, swords and magic, creatures of all kinds, an enormous world filled with secrets, and hundreds of quests to take you through all kinds of feelings. The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim can entertain you for hundreds of hours, bringing you back time and again. Whether that’s to enjoy the story again or try to explore every inch of Tamriel. Skyrim, if you haven’t played it already, must be played by everyone.
Featured Image Credit: Sony, CD Projekt RedTopics: The Witcher, The Witcher 3, Ghost Of Tsushima, Assassins Creed Valhalla, Far Cry, Horizon Forbidden West, Horizon Zero Dawn, Diablo 4, Diablo, Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls, The Elder Scrolls 6