10 Most Immersive Open World Games

Outer Wilds may be far smaller in size compared to everything else on this, but this indie gem nevertheless succeeds in delivering a solar system drenched in mystery and intrigue that players will lose themselves in.

In this interstellar time loop game players take control of an anthropologist eager to set out on their first expedition to study an ancient alien civilisation. Unfortunately for them, though, this is the day the sun explodes, at which point the explorer awakens at the start of that day, seemingly saved by a mysterious artefact that activated prior to their departure.

Each of the five planets players will explore are completely different in their visual style and gameplay mechanics. However, it's the revelations each of these planets contains which makes Outer Wilds enormously immersive.

Piecing together clues from snippets of lore is central to this game's experience. It's entirely up to players which breadcrumb trail they chose to follow first to unravel an overarching mystery that goes far beyond what players would imagine.

Outer Wilds trusts players are smart enough to figure things out themselves. All it gives players is a spaceship and a world as immersive as it is imaginative, and that's more than enough.