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
Players praised the games for their innovative gameplay improvements, including the addition of a full open world for the first time in the series' history, but they were heavily criticised for performance issues, bugs at launch, and poor visual quality.
—Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
His icky organic take on the digital future, a Luddite open world of bone pistols and nippled controllers, vacuum-seals eXistenZ in a way some semblance of real technology never could.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Mario Kart World also has a cool day-night cycle, atmospheric effects, and a Forza Horizon-like open world for wild rides with friends.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Bigger and better than any Mario Kart game before it, Mario Kart World features online multiplayer with up to 24 players – a first for the series – a big, open world, and a bunch of new karts and characters.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for open world
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Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
His icky organic take on the digital future, a Luddite open world of bone pistols and nippled controllers, vacuum-seals eXistenZ in a way some semblance of real technology never could.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Mario Kart World also has a cool day-night cycle, atmospheric effects, and a Forza Horizon-like open world for wild rides with friends.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Bigger and better than any Mario Kart game before it, Mario Kart World features online multiplayer with up to 24 players – a first for the series – a big, open world, and a bunch of new karts and characters.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 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 22 May. 2025.
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