8 Best First Person Open World RPGs

While the majority of gamers prefer a third-person camera for open-world games, you can’t deny that when it comes to immersion and getting lost in the world, nothing does it better than the first-person camera.

RPGs already consist of some of the most breathtaking visuals and immersive stories in gaming. Pair that with a proper first-person view, and you are in for an experience of a lifetime.

So, without further gatekeeping, I will list and rank all my personal favorite first-person open-world RPGs that I have played throughout the years and have kept coming back to for more.

8

Borderlands 2

Fancy Guns And Absolute Destruction

While Borderlands 2 is more accurately described as a looter shooter, it does have a ton of RPG elements, like choosing your own character, character progression, and complementing your playstyle by using the right weapons.

If you plan on hopping onto the franchise, then I would highly recommend convincing your friends to jump in with you as well, as looter shooters can get stale very quickly if you play alone.

If you have the right squad, then Borderlands 2 can give you one of the best experiences in gaming, as once you start, you will lose track of time quickly as your hours melt away into nothing.

7

STALKER 2: Heart Of Chornobyl

A Realistic Post-Apocalyptic FPS

If you want a realistic first person post-apocalyptic game that fully sucks you into its world with its immersion and an experience that doesn’t hold your hand, then there is no better game than Stalker 2.

While some would argue whether Stalker 2 is an RPG or not, it does offer multiple endings depending on how you play the game. The game also consists of side quests, random world encounters, and the ability to influence the endings throughout the story, which makes it a role-playing game in my book.

It is an easy candidate for this list as players can dump hundreds of hours exploring every abandoned building and field in Chernobyl, whether you are looking for treasure or just the rush.

My favorite aspect of Stalker 2 is just the sheer lethality of the world, where your next step can most certainly be your last. Only a fool would let his guard down in the heart of Chernobyl.

6

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Normality Or Cybernetics?

Taking place a few years after the events of Human Revolution, Mankind Divided places you in the shoes of Adam Jensen, this time as a somewhat double agent, trying to uncover a conspiracy.

While it’s an open world game, its world map is not as big as you’d expect it to be. But it is vibrant and densely packed with detail, prioritizing quality over quantity, which, honestly, the developers deserve props for.

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These games have such immersive universes that the optional content ends up being just as good as the main campaign.

What I adore about Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is the amount of freedom it offers in its world. It rewards exploration and offers different playstyles, allowing you to have a different experience in each playthrough.

It is a very detail-oriented game in terms of its level design and world building, and this list wouldn’t be complete without it.

A Classic Re-Imagined

Assuming that you have played the original Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, jumping back into Cyrodiil after a decade is most certainly one of the most surreal feelings that you can experience as a gamer.

But even if this is your first time jumping into Oblivion, you won’t be disappointed, as the old Elder Scrolls games are considered some of the most influential RPGs ever made, laying the groundwork for RPGs and open-world games as we know them today.

If you do end up jumping into Oblivion and get hooked, then I will most certainly recommend you play Skyrim and Morrowind as well, if you’re feeling nostalgic.

4

Cyberpunk 2077

Probably Where We Are Headed

While Witcher 3 is hailed as the best third-person open world RPG of all time, a lot of players were disappointed when Cyberpunk was confirmed to have a first-person camera only.

While some fans still call for a third-person camera option, you can’t deny that Cyberpunk already offers a masterclass of experience and immersion with its first-person view alone. At this point, I believe that the third-person camera has become a bit overrated.

Experiencing a dystopian world filled with mega corporations, corruption, and cybernetic implants being the norm, there is really no experience as vivid as Cyberpunk, and it is an easy contender for this list.

3

Fallout: New Vegas

Obsidian’s Magnum Opus

When Bethesda gave Obsidian a Fallout project with near-impossible deadlines, Obsidian really shook the gaming industry by making the best Fallout game, albeit the near-constant crashes.

But I am ranking games by how good they are, not by their performance, and there is honestly no post-apocalyptic experience like Fallout: New Vegas.

It offers a masterclass of freedom, allowing you to roam to completely ignore the main quest and explore every nook and cranny of the world as you desire. You can make your journey through the wasteland a lot less lonely with a companion and by listening to old country music on the radio.

If you are playing on PC, then I highly recommend using mods to make the performance more stable before starting one of the best gaming experiences of your life.

2

Red Dead Redemption 2

A Perfect Cowboy Simulator

The story of Arthur Morgan is unrivaled and is considered one of the best-written characters in video games. Aside from offering the most authentic Wild West experience in gaming, Red Dead Redemption 2 allows you to experience Arthur Morgan’s story through both a first-person and third-person camera, depending on your preference.

While most people will agree with me that it is a better experience with the third-person camera, you can greatly enhance some gameplay set-pieces by switching to first person, especially during horse riding and entering a building.

The tension of clearing a building in the first-person perspective while knowing that an enemy can appear from anywhere greatly amplifies the overall immersion.

1

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Medieval Depth And Immersion

When it comes to a first-person open-world RPG, there is quite literally no competition for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. It is among the most authentic medieval simulators and the most hyper-realistic RPG to date.

The game puts you in the shoes of Henry, a knight who loses his skills because of his injuries and is forced into poverty. Now it is up to you to climb out of this predicament and regain all your skills while surviving in a realistically unforgiving world.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is among the best RPGs you can experience today, as even the most trivial decisions will come back to bite you sooner or later. Every action has a consequence, and the consequence of not starting this game will be missing out on one of the best and most authentic RPG experiences of your life.

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