15 Best Open-World Video Games Of The Decade (So Far)

9. Dragon's Dogma

These sort of lists are great at compiling mainstream successes with the cult heroes of the land - a latter label that applies perfectly to Dragon's Dogma; a game that released in the middle of 2012, only to get crushed under the likes of Halo 4, Mass Effect 3, Dishonoured and The Walking Dead's first season. In retrospect it's proven to be one of the best RPGs of the last generation, a resoundingly complete little class-based battler that has a brilliant Monster Hunter-meets-Skyrim mix of third-person combat and expansive environments. The coolest feature is the introduction of 'Pawns', customisable characters who accompany you on your travels, before gallivanting off into other player's worlds when you're offline. What treasures and items they find are yours to keep, and this interconnected sensation of everyone journeying together connotes just enough of Dark Souls' multiplayer component, whilst offering something incredibly unique on its own. In the end you'll come for the uniquely framed story setup (a dragon eats your heart at the beginning) and fantastical lore, but stay for the sheer depth of every interlocking system that makes up one hell of an enjoyable sensation of gameplay.