10 Best Open-World Video Games Of 2017

4. NieR: Automata

Divided up into distinct parts, opting to throw players into overgrown jungles, dilapidated urban city blocks and barren deserts, the design of NieR: Automata's world is pretty basic, but that doesn't mean it lacks charm.

In fact, the sterile nature of the world perfectly captures the game's existential themes, and running into new characters all pondering their own existence makes for a poignant experience as you continue to explore the sandbox.

Although some of the side missions the game throws at you can get a little repetitive, they're always worth pushing through with to get to the great character beats tucked away at the end of them.

On the surface, NieR looks like any other open world game from the past few years, but if you dig deep enough you'll realise that the sequel is one of the most original instalments in the genre for quite some time.