Great Dungeons & Dragons games aren’t in short supply, but we have yet to be blessed with an AAA open-world RPG set in the universe. The upcoming Warlock could fill that void with an action-adventure slant, and Pseudo-open-world masterpieces like Baldur’s Gate 3 can definitely scratch the same itch; however, as of right now, a DnD open-world RPG technically doesn’t exist. Consequently, we need to look elsewhere to find a game that captures the spirit and beautiful chaos of a tabletop campaign.
From deep character customization to open-ended gameplay, party management, and tactical warfare, these open-world RPGs share different commonalities with DnD, while also being all-around fantastic games in their own right. So, put down the dice, grab a controller, and take a journey beyond the Forgotten Realms.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Is The Single-Player DND Adventure You Have Been Waiting For
Perfect For Players Who Prefer Combat-First DnD Sessions
- A single-player RPG that almost feels like co-op (thanks to Pawns)
- Class system is designed around synergy.
- Negative: Mostly forgettable story and quests.
Capcom waited forever to release a sequel to Dragon’s Dogma, and that game launched to overwhelming applause followed by rumblings of dissatisfaction once the honeymoon phase ended. Truth is, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is an uneven experience that is largely elevated by a few undeniable strengths. Fortunately, all these positives lend themselves well to a DnD-adjacent experience.
Most great open-world RPGs are single-player only, instantly making them a somewhat hard-sell for DnD fans. However, DD2 circumvents this issue through its Pawn System, which lets you create an AI companion and also hire two more designed by other players. Sure, they aren’t beacons of personality, but they aren’t empty vessels either, and they help foster a feeling that you are traveling with friends.
DD2‘s class system, aka Vocations, provides deep build options, and you can even mix-and-match augments to create unique playstyles. More importantly, you can and should put together a complementary party, as class synergy makes a big difference in combat.
The battle system isn’t turn-based, but it is fantastic.
To be honest, I don’t recommend buying Dragon’s Dogma 2 right now, since DD2: Dark Arisen is on the horizon. If it’s anything like the first game, this will be the definitive version.
Outward Will Punish Anybody With Main Character Syndrome
Perfect For Players Who Prefer Exploration-First DnD Sessions
- Hardcore survival with co-op.
- You are a nobody, not the main character.
- Rough around the edges.
DnD supports many types of stories, but most campaigns tend to be on a fairly small scale, emphasizing the group’s relative weakness and not casting them as chosen ones destined to take down the ultimate evil. Outward is the video game version of that sort of adventure, casting players as a perfectly average villager who initially only wants to pay off a blood debt. To complete that, they need to take on quests that can become true battles for survival.
Outward has a narrative that evolves once you move past the debt chapter, but the story mostly remains in the background and doesn’t distract from the game’s main appeal: free exploration. As you prepare your backpack, read your map, mark landmarks, and take on monsters that severely punish mistakes, you genuinely start to feel like an ordinary adventurer who is simply trying to make the most of a world and profession that aren’t particularly welcoming.
Although single-player works well, Outward also offers 2-player co-op to really capture that DnD vibe.
Wartales Has That Tabletop Spirit
Perfect For Players Who Prefer Pure Sandbox Campaigns
- Gritty low-fantasy world.
- Run a group of mercenaries
- Sandbox design and grid-based combat
Stepping away from high fantasy, Wartales strips away bright colors, over-the-top NPCs, and even a main quest to craft an open-world RPG with a group management component. You are the unseen commander of a mercenary group who simply wants to keep everyone fed, paid, and psychologically secure. Right from the start, Wartales gives off tabletop vibes as the first thing you do is create four starting companions, choosing their classes, faces, starting traits, and even their relationships to each other.
The lack of a player character can be somewhat off-putting, but Wartales does a pretty good job of making the party members feel like real people, even if you might not like all of them. While traveling through the world, your group can get dragged into a region’s conflict, but they are self-contained and don’t cater to a full-blown story. You have no overarching end goal.
The tabletop influence is obvious in the turn-based combat, which prioritizes strength and positioning. The moments outside of combat are just as important, particularly your camp management.
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