Top 5 Open-World RPGs for Xbox Series X That Don’t Waste Your Time (Mostly)

Let’s get one thing straight: I’ve been burned before. I’ve trudged through bloated maps, endured fetch quests that felt like unpaid internships, and watched beloved franchises morph into soulless content farms. Assassin’s Creed taught me that lesson the hard way. I still remember the first time I climbed the tower in Acre as Altair—pure magic. Now? I’m serenaded by longship karaoke while Eivor grunts through another recycled side quest. So when I say these five open-world RPGs on Xbox Series X are worth your time, assuming you buy Xbox games, I mean they mostly respect your intelligence, your patience, and your love for actual game design.

Let’s dive into the few that still remember what immersion feels like.

‍️1. Elden Ring — The Gold Standard for Open-World Design That Doesn’t Hold Your Hand

If you’ve ever screamed internally while a game tutorial explained how to jump for the fifth time, Elden Ring is your antidote. FromSoftware doesn’t care if you’re ready. It throws you into the Lands Between with a rusty sword and a vague sense of purpose. And somehow, it works.

Why It’s Worth Your Sanity:

No Map Clutter: No icons vomiting across your screen. You explore because you want to, not because a checklist told you to.

Combat That Respects You: Every fight is a lesson. Every death is your fault. And when you finally beat that tree sentinel? You feel like a god.

Lore That’s Actually Interesting: You won’t get spoon-fed exposition. You’ll piece together the story through item descriptions and cryptic NPCs. It’s like archaeology, but with more stabbing.

Gripe Corner:

The UI still looks like it was designed in 2009, and the inventory system is a mess. But I’ll take that over another game trying to be Netflix with swords.

2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Still the Benchmark for Character-Driven Open Worlds

Yes, it’s old. Yes, it’s been re-released more times than Skyrim. But The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt still wipes the floor with most modern RPGs when it comes to writing, world-building, and side quests that don’t feel like chores.

Why It’s Still King:

Side Quests That Matter: Remember the Bloody Baron? That wasn’t just a quest—it was a masterclass in storytelling. Compare that to “Help the farmer find his missing goats” in Valhalla and weep.

Geralt Is Actually a Character: He has opinions. He has flaws. He doesn’t just nod silently while NPCs monologue about their tragic backstories.

World That Breathes: Novigrad feels lived-in. Skellige has personality. You don’t need a thousand NPCs if the ones you have are written like actual humans.

Gripe Corner:

Combat is floaty and the inventory system is a glorified spreadsheet. But at least it doesn’t pretend to be an action game while secretly being a loot simulator.

3. Cyberpunk 2077 (After 2.0 Patch) — A Redemption Arc That Actually Paid Off

I was ready to hate this game forever. The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 was a disaster, the bugs were legendary, and Night City felt like a theme park with broken rides. But credit where it’s due: CD Projekt Red didn’t just slap on a few patches and call it a day. They rebuilt the damn thing.

Why It Deserves a Second Look:

Night City Is Finally Alive: NPCs have routines. Police don’t teleport. You can actually roleplay without feeling like you’re in a Truman Show simulation.

Build Variety That Matters: Want to be a katana-wielding stealth hacker? Go for it. The game won’t punish you for not picking the “correct” build.

Writing That Hits: Panam, Judy, and even Johnny Silverhand (yes, Keanu) have arcs that feel earned. It’s not just “talk to NPC, get quest, forget they exist.”

Gripe Corner:

Still no proper metro system. Still some weird AI hiccups. But it’s gone from “unplayable” to “actually impressive,” which is more than I can say for certain franchises that rhyme with “Assassin’s Bleed.”

4. Dragon’s Dogma 2 — The Janky Masterpiece That Doesn’t Care About You (In a Good Way)

This one’s for the masochists. Dragon’s Dogma 2 is rough around the edges, unapologetically weird, and occasionally infuriating. But it’s also one of the most unique RPGs I’ve played in years.

Why It’s Brilliant in Its Own Way:

Pawn System Is Genius: Your AI companions learn from your playstyle and share knowledge with other players. It’s like Pokémon meets Dark Souls.

Combat Is Physical: You can climb monsters, knock enemies off cliffs, and actually feel the weight of your attacks.

No Hand-Holding: The game doesn’t care if you’re lost. It expects you to figure it out. And when you do, it’s incredibly satisfying.

Gripe Corner:

Menus are a nightmare. Fast travel is stingy. And the game occasionally forgets to explain basic mechanics. But if you’re tired of being coddled, this is your jam.

5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance — The Most Realistic Medieval RPG You’ll Ever Love/Hate

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is the opposite of power fantasy. You’re not a chosen one. You’re a blacksmith’s son who gets beat up a lot. And somehow, that makes it one of the most immersive RPGs I’ve ever played.

Why It’s Worth the Struggle:

Historical Accuracy: No dragons. No magic. Just mud, politics, and the constant threat of dysentery.

Skill-Based Progression: You get better by doing. Want to learn to read? You literally have to find a teacher and study.

Combat That’s Brutal: Swordplay is slow, tactical, and unforgiving. You’ll die a lot. But when you win? It feels earned.

Gripe Corner:

The first few hours are rough. Like, “why am I playing this” rough. But once it clicks, it’s hard to go back to games that treat you like a superhero from minute one.

Final Thoughts: The Open World Isn’t Dead—It’s Just Buried Under Mediocrity

I’ve spent too many hours wandering empty fields, looting identical chests, and listening to NPCs repeat the same three lines. Open-world RPGs have become a genre of excess—more map, more icons, more meaningless content. But these five games? They remember what it’s supposed to be about: immersion, challenge, and narrative weight.

So if you’re tired of being insulted by shallow design and recycled mechanics, give these a shot. They’re not perfect. But they’re trying. And in today’s landscape, that’s worth more than another Ubisoft checklist simulator.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to uninstall Valhalla for the third time. Maybe fourth. I’ve lost count.