open world
noun
plural open worlds
: a video game or part of a video game in which the player is not constrained to achieving specific goals and has a large degree of freedom to explore, interact with, or modify the game environment : sandbox sense 2a
The gameplay feels similar to other RPGs, and while it's an open world that allows you to do whatever you want for the most part, I do recommend accomplishing the first tasks of the recruitment quests early.—
Swapna Krishna
Swapna Krishna… you'll likely get swept in deep by the stellar narrative and the meticulously-crafted open world gameplay.—Tanveer Singh
—sometimes hyphenated when used before another nounTanveer SinghWhether you're keen on open-world games where you've got masses of virtual space to explore or survival games where there are more threats to keep you on your toes, our list should help you make the right choice.—Adrian Willings
Adrian WillingsExamples of open world in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Since then, Martin has indeed kept busy, inking a deal with HBO in 2021 to develop further spinoffs from the franchise (including House of the Dragon), writing for the popular open world video game Elden Ring, and the AMC series Dark Winds.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025
This hybrid approach to solo or co-op in an open world survival environment is similar to other such games like Valheim, LEGO Fortnite, Enshrouded, and several other survival games.
—David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Read more Mario Kart World goes open world, launches with Nintendo Switch 2
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition
In a shock announcement, Nintendo and Bandai Namco revealed that FromSoftware's latest and greatest soulslike game, Elden Ring, is headed to the Switch 2.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
In retrospect, the 2015 title feels like a precursor to Breath of the Wild, with its sprawling open world design and technological wizardry that allowed an underpowered console to swing big with a game whose size was comparable to those running on beefier hardware.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for open world
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Shania Russell, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025
This hybrid approach to solo or co-op in an open world survival environment is similar to other such games like Valheim, LEGO Fortnite, Enshrouded, and several other survival games.
—David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Read more Mario Kart World goes open world, launches with Nintendo Switch 2
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition
In a shock announcement, Nintendo and Bandai Namco revealed that FromSoftware's latest and greatest soulslike game, Elden Ring, is headed to the Switch 2.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
In retrospect, the 2015 title feels like a precursor to Breath of the Wild, with its sprawling open world design and technological wizardry that allowed an underpowered console to swing big with a game whose size was comparable to those running on beefier hardware.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for open world
Cite this Entry
“Open world.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20world. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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