The Best Open-World Games Published by Nintendo

The Best Open-World Games Published by Nintendo

• Nintendo has revolutionized the open-world genre with games like Breath of the Wild, and it’s likely that more popular franchises will head in that direction.
• Open-world games like Skyrim and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 have found success on the Nintendo Switch, offering hours of content and a high-quality gaming experience.
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker paved the way for newer open-world Zelda games, proving that taking risks and going in a new direction can pay off. Tears of the Kingdom is another phenomenal example of unique and creative open-world gaming from Nintendo.

Nintendo has been at the forefront of the video game industry since the 1980s when they ventured out from the traditional game and toy industry to become one of the most recognizable companies of all time. Today, Nintendo is responsible for a massive portion of gaming history, having created staple games like Mario, Animal Crossing, and The Legend of Zelda. There’s no aspect of the gaming world untouched by Nintendo, and the Nintendo Switch has allowed the company to expand further than ever – even publishing a lot of non-Nintendo games and bringing them to gamers everywhere.

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Bouncing off the success of their recent open-world Zelda games Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, it’s likely that gamers will be seeing more popular Nintendo franchises heading in the open-world direction. While Nintendo has typically opted for games that are somewhat linear and structured, it’s undeniable that the company has revolutionized the open-world genre in the last few years. With rumors of an upcoming open-world Mario game, it’s the perfect time to look back on Nintendo’s best open-world games and consider why they’re so beloved.

Pokemon Scarlet

Metascore: 72

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Platform(s)SwitchReleasedNovember 18, 2022Developer(s)Game FreakGenre(s)RPG

For its 9th generation of Pokemon, Nintendo released Pokemon Scarlet and Violet – the most adventurous version of the classic game so far. After jumping to completely-3D graphics in 2013 with Pokemon X and Y, Nintendo has remade old games and released brand-new installments that have added new elements to the gameplay, such as being able to change the trainer’s outfits and hair. For their most recent release, Nintendo finally made the jump to an open-world Pokemon game.

Scarlet and Violet offered a far less regimented format than previous entries in the franchise, making the map more fluid and letting players explore the story freely. These change helped the game feel more realistic, and allowed gamers to vividly experience actually catching Pokemon (and how terrifying it is to be chased by them). It was mainly critiqued for its performance issues, including bugs and unpolished graphics. Hopefully, Nintendo won’t give up on the idea of an open-world Pokemon game, because it could be a fantastic way to fully immerse players in the wonderful world they’ve created.

Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition

Metascore: 84

Skyrim

Platform(s)Xbox Series S, PS3, Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox 360, PC, Xbox One X, Xbox OneReleasedNovember 11, 2011Genre(s)Action, RPG, AdventureDeveloper(s)Bethesda

Most gamers might be surprised to see Skyrim anywhere near Nintendo. Historically, Nintendo has been picky about what games it allows on its consoles, something that has only really changed since the Switch, which has a massive catalog of third-party games. Unexpectedly, Skyrim became part of that catalog in 2017 when it was ported to the Switch. This version of the game was actually published by Nintendo, adding another brilliant title to Nintendo’s open-world selection.

The Nintendo Switch version of Skyrim received very positive reviews, with many players thrilled that the game was now portable and didn’t have to compromise its quality to do so. It was cited as a great way to experience the classic game for both new and old players, and the hours upon hours of content make it a worthy purchase.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Metascore: 89

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Platform(s)SwitchReleasedJuly 29, 2022Genre(s)RPGDeveloper(s)Monolith

Xenoblade Chronicles is a longstanding franchise that was developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo since 2010. This open-world series’ most recent main installment, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, is Metacritic’s highest rated game of the series and is one of Nintendo’s shining stars when it comes to publishing. Despite being developed by Monolith, the series has always been published exclusively on Nintendo consoles, which has made it often synonymous with the Nintendo brand.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was thought by fans and critics alike to be the best installment in the series. It was praised for its great exploration and vast world, which supplied countless hours of gameplay. It’s considered the culmination of everything the series has worked towards, with brilliantly fun characters, combat, and story.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2003)

Metascore: 96

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Platform(s)GameCubeReleasedMarch 24, 2003Developer(s)Nintendo EADGenre(s)Action, Adventure

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a highly popular, now classic, Zelda game that was originally released on the Gamecube and later remastered for the Wii U. The original The Legend of Zelda was believed to be one of the first open-world games ever made, but by today’s standards, not everybody would consider it to fall under that genre. So, despite the incredible success of previous Zelda titles, it’s The Wind Waker that truly paved the way for the newer open-world Zelda games that players now love so dearly.

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Sailing through the vast Great Sea, gamers will notice that the map is littered with different islands – some optional and others part of the story – that Link can freely approach, although The King of Red Lions will prompt him in the direction of the narrative. Despite hesitancy from players at the time, The Wind Waker’s open-world setting and cel-shaded art style has proved to age better than a lot of previous Zelda games. It was a big risk for Nintendo, since it took the franchise in a totally new direction – something that gaming fans don’t always love. But The Wind Waker was one of the first in the series to prove that, as long as there’s passion and love behind the project, taking a big leap will usually pay off.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Metascore: 96

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Platform(s)SwitchReleasedMay 12, 2023Developer(s)NintendoGenre(s)Adventure

It’s little surprise that, when using ‘Nintendo’ and ‘open-world’ in the same sentence, the Zelda series will make several appearances. The franchise is easily one of Nintendo’s most critically acclaimed and beloved creations, and their latest addition to the franchise has only added to its epic legacy. As a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom has swept the gaming world and earned itself numerous accolades.

Expanding even further on the immense open-world experience, Tears of the Kingdom allowed players to explore Hyrule both in the sky and underground – essentially providing three maps in one game. There’s no shortage of content for Link to occupy himself with, including hundreds of side quests, monsters, and secrets. When Nintendo announced Tears of the Kingdom would have the same map as its predecessor, it’s safe to say that gamers were nervous. But even the most loyal Zelda fans would’ve had a tough time imagining Tears of the Kingdom would build upon Hyrule so plentifully and passionately. Tears of the Kingdom is another phenomenal example of unique and creative open-world gaming that will continue making waves in the gaming world for years to come.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Metascore: 97

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Platform(s)Wii U, SwitchReleasedMarch 3, 2017Developer(s)Nintendo EPDGenre(s)Action, Adventure

Most gamers can’t discuss Nintendo’s incredible gaming accomplishments without mentioning Breath of the Wild. This genre-redefining, fantastically inventive and original game secured its spot in the gaming hall of fame the moment it was released. Breath of the Wild allows the player total freedom, while somehow maintaining excellent pacing. The rate at which players discover mechanics, abilities, and secrets is entirely in their hands, and behind every corner there’s an imaginative NPC or frightening monster waiting for Link.

It was clear upon release that Breath of the Wild was a real labor of love, with little to no issues or bugs present in the game – a massive feat given the sheer scale of the map. There is no corner of Hyrule players can’t explore, and after a while it seems like there’s content to be found literally everywhere Link roams. If players want to skirt around the main story, they can ride through the beautiful fields of Hyrule and speak to everyone they meet, take on every side quest they find as they become acquainted with the world. Those who prefer to streamline their experience can head straight to help each region and go to fight Gannondorf in a relatively short time.

Regardless of player preference, it’s difficult not to be won over by the charm and spirit of Breath of the Wild. Critics and audiences alike have hailed it as not only a milestone for Nintendo, but a defining moment in gaming history.

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