The Xbox 360 console was a pivotal moment in the evolution of open-world video games. While earlier consoles had dabbled in the genre, the Xbox 360‘s more powerful hardware combined with some visionary game developers led to a renaissance in expansive, free-roaming virtual worlds for players to explore.
In this post, I‘ll countdown the 7 very best open-world experiences available on the Xbox 360. From wild west epics to superhero power fantasies and more, these games gave players unparalleled freedom to adventure across vast landscapes doing whatever their hearts desired. Let‘s jump in!
#7: Fallout 3
Kicking off the list is 2008‘s Fallout 3, which transported players to a post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. where you must survive in the wasteland aftermath of nuclear war. This was a huge evolution for the classic Fallout roleplaying series, bringing its open-ended gameplay into a fully 3D world for the first time.
Fallout 3 really makes you feel like you‘ve stepped into a dangerous yet intriguing post-nuclear world, inviting you to explore and scavenge to your heart‘s content. From hunting down supplies to completing quests for various factions trying to impose order on the wastes, you have an incredible amount of choice in how you want to spend your time.
Layered on top is a flexibility to whatever character build you want to roleplay, from a charismatic smooth talker to brutal warrior. This freedom combined with a brooding, post-apocalyptic vibe earned Fallout 3 stellar reviews, including a 93 Metacritic score.
#6: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Next up we have 2006‘s The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, which built upon the open world blueprint of Morrowind and expanded it even further. This epic RPG allowed you to traverse the sprawling fantasy realm of Cyrodiil going wherever your questing heart desires.
Whether it‘s investigating a newly opened Oblivion Gate spewing demons into the world or exploring deep Ayleid Ruins in search of lost relics, Oblivion gives you an incredible sense of freedom. Add in deep character customization between 21 skills and a flexible class system and you have a game where no two playthroughs ever feel quite the same.
Oblivion also upped the ante in world building and environmental detail, breathing unique life into all corners of its setting backed by a stirring orchestral score. It‘s not hard to see why critics and gamers alike fell in love, awarding it a 94 Metacritic and birthing a whole new generation of Elder Scrolls devotees.
#5: Batman: Arkham City
Superhero games have resulted in some notorious duds over the years, but 2011‘s Batman: Arkham City smashed that precedent. Transporting Batman into a sprawling open-world prison complex, this game made you feel like the Dark Knight himself prowling the rooftops and shadows.
Arkham City gives players incredible freedom to approach situations however they want, whether using silent takedowns or leaping into a room to take on a dozen thugs at once. Gadgets like the grappling hook, explosive gel, and detective vision mode create even more options for creative crimefighting.
Taking on fan-favorite rogues like The Joker and Mr. Freeze in iconic showdowns is the icing on the cake. It‘s easy to lose dozens of hours exploring Arkham City‘s labyrinthine architecture through Batman‘s eyes, earning Arkham City stellar 94 Metacritic and 8.9 User scores.
#4: Red Dead Redemption
For those who prefer cowboy hats to capes and masks, Red Dead Redemption was a revelation. Developer Rockstar Games transported the freedom and chaotic energy of Grand Theft Auto to the dying Old West era, letting players loose in a rugged frontier.
Galloping across the border regions of Mexico and the United States on your trusty steed reveals breathtaking vistas paired with an evocative soundtrack. Of course, being a Rockstar game, you also get into a lot of old-fashioned gunslinging showdowns, stagecoach robberies, and desperate battles across awe-inspiring terrain.
Red Dead Redemption‘s world building and slower pace creates an incredible sense of time and place, making you feel like you truly inhabit its gritty western setting. Critical acclaim and over 15 million copies sold shows that this series helped redefine open world gaming.
#3: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
It wouldn‘t be an open world countdown without the cultural sensation known as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Dropping players into a snow-swept northern region beset by civil war and the return of dragons, Skyrim builds upon Oblivion‘s formula giving you free reign to adventure.
Whether you spend hours exploring deep Nordic crypts, scale towering mountain peaks just to enjoy the view, or get sucked into the various guild storylines in cities like Windhelm and Solitude, Skyrim offers complete freedom. Playing exactly how you want backed by flexible character building ensures no two adventures feel quite the same.
Skyrim also adds dragon battling atop its list of features, culminating in some epic showdowns. With millions of copies sold on Xbox 360 alone culminating in a 96 Metacritic, Skyrim shows the impact of total open world immersion paired with fantastic worldbuilding.
#2: Grand Theft Auto V
No discussion of open worlds is complete without Grand Theft Auto, with GTA V standing tall as one of the very best. Building on past entries, GTA V not only gives you free reign across the vast city of Los Santos but also between three different protagonists whose stories interconnect.
This encourages you to explore every facet of the world Rockstar has crafted, from street races to skydiving to managing your own criminal empire of businesses. With endless side activities paired with engaging characters that give missions emotional weight, it‘s no wonder GTA V became the highest grossing media title ever at the time.
Even all these years later on aging hardware, traversing GTA V‘s sun-soaked landscapes as shootouts and chaos unfold in your wake captures a magic few games can match. Its 97 Metacritic score cements its status as one of the very best open world games ever designed.
#1: Grand Theft Auto IV
As utterly staggering as GTA V is, I have to give the final crown to its predecessor GTA IV. While smaller in scale, GTA IV provides an astounding level of depth and heart within its Liberty City locale that no other open world game has quite matched.
Rather than go bigger, GTA IV goes deeper with its storytelling and characters. Protagonist Niko Bellic‘s jaded outlook as a European immigrant chasing redemption in America elevates the otherwise absurd goings-on with an emotional poignancy its sequels couldn‘t quite capture.
This weighty feel backed by environmental details that sell the illusion make Liberty City eerily lifelike. Adding in unprecedented physics, shooting, and driving mechanics at the time and it becomes the complete open world package with remarkable heart. Even with its age, GTA IV remains the pinnacle of virtual freedom.
The Gold Standard of Open Worlds
The Xbox 360 library showcases open world gaming blossoming into an immersive artform. These vast and unrestricted virtual places invite gamers to live out their fantasies, go on adventures, or just mess around with an unparalleled level of freedom.
Each of these games stand out as iconic representatives of the genre, offering hundreds of unforgettable hours. Their critical and commercial success helped pave the way for the open world focus seen across modern gaming.
So the next time you want to saddle up and ride into a lush valley, prowl crime-ridden streets as Batman, or wander a fantasy realm, look no further than the Xbox 360. Its open world library remains unmatched!
