23 Best Open-World Games With The Most Immersive Historical Settings (2024)

Open-world gaming has become all the rage in modern times. With gaming hardware getting better and better day by day, open worlds have slowly become the norm in mainstream gaming due to how accessible the sandbox style of games really is. Players absolutely adore the freedom that comes from traversing a vast and dense open world that is full to the brim with content.

Some of these open worlds become even more engaging when they focus on a historical setting as opposed to a fictional one. That way, players can expand their knowledge of world history while also enjoying the perks of a game as well. Keeping this in mind, there are many open-world games with the most engaging and immersive historical settings that players will love to check out for themselves.

Updated on June 15th, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Open-world gaming has become all the rage in modern times, and it's easy to see why so many players love how this genre explores numerous settings that strike their fancy. Fantasy, sci-fi, and modern-day settings are all great backdrops for open-world games to thrive in, but there are times when players would like a touch of historyto spice up these games. Not only does it make these sandboxes feel authentic, but some would argue that it serves as an educational glimpse into the past that becomes all the more memorable because of how interactive things are. The historical open-world games continue to jump into the gaming world, and a few more of them have made their way onto this list as well.

23 Assassin's Creed Mirage

Time Period: 9th Century Baghdad

The fact that Ubisoft heard the public demands of fans and decided to bring Assassin's Creed back to its roots is something that players absolutely loved, and the conversation around Assassin's Creed Mirage made it clear that fans just wanted the simple assassination gameplay of the series back instead of having to deal with intensive RPG elements and less-involved parkour. This game brings players back in time to the city of Baghdad, letting them enjoy some classic Assassin's Creed gameplay with a fresh coat of paint.

Despite the game's unfocused narrative making the story hard to follow or be invested in at times, that shouldn't stop players from enjoying the core gameplay of this title, coupled with a fresh look at a setting that has been recreated with painstaking detail. The city of Baghdad is a joy to explore, with the game making it a point to educate players about the culture and landmarks of the time in optional lore that they can access to broaden their understanding of this city during the 9th century.

22 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Time Period: 1986 Miami

Grand Theft Auto 6 is a game that fans can't wait to check out, with the debut trailer adding to the hype of a brand-new title in the series after a waiting more than a decade for a new entry. This experience is bound to be all the more rewarding for fans of Vice City, who get to explore the same city they terrorized as Tommy Vercetti so many years ago.

Vice City is clearly based on Miami, with the game taking place in the mid-1980s. Exploring the city and all its retro goodness makes for a great time and is one of the biggest reasons why players love GTA: Vice City, and rank it as one of the best games in the series. While exploring this beloved city with a fresh coat of paint in Grand Theft Auto 6 will be a blast, players should keep in mind that the new game takes place in the modern era, meaning that a lot of changes will have taken place in the nearly 40 years that will have passed. For that reason alone, it's worth going back to Vice City for a glimpse of how this setting looked many decades ago.

21 Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Time Period: 431 BC - 422 BC

When it comes to playing video games set in historical time periods, pretty much every Assassin's Creed game makes the cut. Odyssey is no exception to this golden rule, with this title encompassing the oldest time period any game in the series has taken place in by around 400 years. This sets the stage for what is easily one of the most unique Assassin's Creed games to date, even if the lack of the series' staples and the bloated open world didn't sit right with some die-hard fans.

Still, that should take nothing away from the amazing detail in the world and how it lets players explore Ancient Greece to their hearts' content. As players progress through the ambitious story and engage in numerous combat encounters, they can slowly learn about the state of Greece during this time period, and the Peloponnesian War that shaped the future of this region.

20 Mafia: Definitive Edition

Time Period: 1930s America

Most people unfamiliar with Mafia wrote it off as a historical GTA clone, which couldn't be further from the truth. Fans of well-organized crime syndicate stories will love what the first Mafia game brings to the table.

It helps that this game recently received a remake that serves as the best way to experience it. Mafia is a simple open-world game with a riveting tale centered around the elusive mafia. It's been a fantasy for everyone to roleplay as a member of the mafia after watching The Godfather, after all, and the Mafia series does the best job of simulating that experience.

19 Assassin's Creed Syndicate

Time Period: Victorian London

Assassin's Creed Syndicate is set in Victorian London and offers players the chance to engage in some classic assassinating goodness while operating during the onset of the Second Industrial Revolution. Players take on the role of twin assassins, Evie and Jacob Frye, as they fight to liberate the city from the corrupt Templar Order.

The game offers a sprawling open-world map of London, with a wealth of historical landmarks to explore and important figures to meet. The game's intricate storyline and attention to historical detail make it a standout title in the series, and it's a shame that this game didn't sell that well.

18 Mafia 3

Time Period: 1960s New Orleans

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, macOS, Google Stadia
• Release Date: October 7, 2016
• Developer: Hangar 13

Mafia 3 allows players to take on the role of Lincoln Clay, a Vietnam veteran seeking revenge against a vengeful Mafia group for killing his family. The game is set in the fictional city of New Bordeaux, a recreation of 1960s New Orleans.

The open world is pretty diverse, featuring a mix of urban and rural environments such as swamps, bayous, and city streets. Mafia 3's depiction of the Civil Rights Movement and its exploration of themes such as racism and police brutality make it a unique and thought-provoking entry in the genre, even if the repetitive open-world activities do get somewhat grating after a point.

Time Period: Medieval

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord is set in the fictional continent of Calradia, which is littered with real-life medieval influences. Players take on the role of mercenary as they navigate the complex political landscape of the game's world, joining leaders and making rivals along the way.

The game features a massive open-world map that offers players a chance to engage in battles, interact with characters, and build powerful armies. The game's attention to detail and historical accuracy make it an immersive experience for players looking to explore a medieval-inspired world.

16 Way Of The Samurai 3

Time Period: Sengoku

Way of the Samurai 3 is easily one of the most underrated and forgotten titles on this list. It's set in feudal Japan during the Sengoku period and offers players a chance to explore and engage with Japanese culture and history, which is a draw for many people.

Players make major choices that impact the game's storyline and ending, with a whopping total of 22 endings. The mix of open-world exploration, role-playing elements, and combat mechanics makes Way of the Samurai 3 a unique and engaging title that fans of historical open-world games should definitely check out.

15 Red Dead Redemption

Time Period: The Dying Days Of The Wild West

Red Dead Redemption is one of the greatest open-world games ever made, and a modern port of this title can't come soon enough. Set in the dying days of the Wild West in the early 1900s, players control former outlaw John Marston as he tries to track down members of his former gang to save his family.

The game offers a massive open-world map of the American frontier, with a mix of environments such as deserts, forests, and mountains. The attention to detail in the game world and the riveting historical setting make it a standout title to experience the end of an era in American history.

14 Dynasty Warriors 9

Time Period: Three Kingdoms

The Dynasty Warriors franchise is something that fans have really mixed opinions on. For the most part, this series seems like nothing more than a way for players to deal a ton of damage to mindless opponents who almost never attack the player.

However, Musou games can be engaging if players approach these titles with proper expectations, and Dynasty Warriors 9 is a great example of the same. It's the first open-world game in the series that has attracted a mixed reception, but there's no denying that the gameplay of Dynasty Warriors 9 can be pretty fun when everything clicks.

13 The Saboteur

Time Period: World War 2 Paris

The Saboteur was developed by Pandemic Studios and is easily one of the most underrated games around. The way in which players can literally inject color into the world by liberating areas makes for an immersive and thoroughly enjoyable gameplay loop.

It helps that the story is pretty engaging too, making The Saboteur a complete package. It's a great game that any fan of stealth-action games should check out.

12 Mount & Blade

Time Period: Medieval

Mount & Blade was developed by TaleWorlds Entertainment and is one of the most comprehensive and accurate historical open worlds around, which is amazing given that its world isn't really specified outright. However, the medieval setting rings true in every way, making this game quite incredible indeed, despite the fairly lackluster visuals.

Along with the stellar content from TaleWorlds Entertainment, Mount & Blade can be significantly enhanced thanks to the game's excellent modding community.

11 Assassin's Creed Origins

Time Period: Ancient Egypt

After a year-long hiatus, Assassin's Creed decided to shake things up and turn into a proper open-world RPG that went all the way back in the timeline. This led to the creation of Assassin's Creed Origins, which detailed the rise of the Assassins.

Roaming through Ancient Egypt is a blast, and it's easy to see why many people considered this game to be a return to form for the series. Assassin's Creed Origins has set a new template for the series, which has consistently proven why its historical settings are so riveting.

10 Shenmue

Time Period: 1980s Japan & China

Shenmue made huge waves when it was released on the Dreamcast. As one of the most expensive games ever made, expectations were high for this ambitious title. Unfortunately, the game's enormous budget proved to be over-ambitious, as Shenmue was a commercial failure that didn't even cover its development costs.

As for the game itself, for the most part, Shenmue and its sequel didn't disappoint. It told a great story in a fleshed-out world, and it's a shame that the third game was such a disappointment.

9 Assassin's Creed 2

Time Period: Renaissance Italy

It would be impossible to talk about games with historical settings without mentioning the Assassin's Creed series. Ubisoft's trademark franchise has explored various eras in history, but most games have yet to reach the heights of Assassin's Creed 2.

The game felt downright revolutionary when it was launched in 2009. Taking place during the Renaissance in Italy, the setting of this game elevates Assassin's Creed 2 to a whole new level.

8 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Time Period: 15th-Century Bohemia

Credit must be given to Warhorse Studios for attempting such an ambitious project as their first title. Kingdom Come: Deliverance might have its fair share of flaws, but there's no denying the fact that this title has a ton of heart.

The brutal nature of medieval times is communicated clearly in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Henry is as fragile as they come, and it's up to the player to get him ready for the trials and tribulations that are about to ensue.

7 Red Dead Redemption 2

Time Period: The Wild West

Rockstar Games has created several amazing open-world games that have defined and re-defined the genre with each successive entry. However, none of these titles have the stellar narrative that's present in Red Dead Redemption 2.

The setting of Red Dead Redemption 2 shows the land of America during a time of great change, with the advent of new forms of technology arriving sooner than later. This, coupled with the brilliant narrative of Arthur Morgan, makes for a stellar experience.

6 Ghost Of Tsushima

Time Period: The Mongol Invasion Of Japan

The PlayStation 4 has been home to some of the best exclusives in recent times. Ghost of Tsushima is no exception, featuring the amazing setting of Japan during the first Mongol Invasion.

The swordplay of this game is excellent, with combat genuinely making most players feel like a powerful ninja. The immersive visuals and setting of these games make Ghost of Tsushima one of the standout PlayStation titles.

5 Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag

Time Period: The Golden Age Of Piracy, 1715-1722

Black Flag is another popular Assassin's Creed title that has carved its way into the hearts of fans. The innovations brought about by this title received a massive amount of praise, with the naval exploration and combat being genuinely engaging.

With the small touches added to the game in the form of shanties, collectibles, side stories, and everything else along the same lines, Black Flag has become one of the best games in the series for many. Edward Kenway is a charismatic protagonist whose personality makes even the most mundane events in the game feel refreshing and alive.

4 Far Cry Primal

Time Period: Prehistory

Ubisoft has a poor reputation for copy-pasting mechanics across a host of games. As a result, most people wrote off Far Cry Primal as nothing more than another rehash of the established Far Cry formula.

It's a shame since Far Cry Primal definitely had a ton of things going for it. Its prehistoric setting was especially notable, with the innovative gameplay changes arising, as a result, being quite entertaining to play around with.