Ghost of Yotei, Red Dead Redemption 2, or Horizon Forbidden West – The Better Open World?

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There’s something special about games where you can freely roam and discover new quests or valuable items. The recently released *Ghost of Yotei* offers this experience, immersing players in a vast and detailed recreation of ancient Japan, joining many other games with expansive worlds to explore.

Sucker Punch’s game brilliantly combines a sweeping samurai tale with the setting of the Wild West, and it’s a lot of fun. But how does it stack up against the most popular and highly-regarded Wild West game of recent years, often considered the best open-world experience? And how does it compare to the already successful *Forbidden West*, another PlayStation favorite?

We’re comparing three fantastic open-world games – Atsu, Arthur, and Aloy – to see which one excels at the key elements that make the genre great. Let’s jump in!

Unique, Eye-Catching Settings

Recently, many games have explored different eras of Japanese history. While *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* did a fantastic job portraying the Sengoku period, *Ghost of Yotei* truly shines with its depiction of Ezo. It’s incredibly immersive and beautiful, immediately drawing players into its world and keeping them engaged with everything it offers. The game benefits from a cinematic style inspired by classic samurai films, combined with Sucker Punch’s skill in creating rich, engaging worlds with plenty to do.

Atsu’s journey took her through beautiful flower-filled fields and peaceful villages. She climbed mountains in search of valuable items, witnessed the heartbreaking effects of a civil war, and discovered memorable locations for challenging duels. The game truly showcased the power of modern consoles, with stunning visuals that frequently left us breathless and wanting to simply take in the scenery.

However, *Horizon Forbidden West* is just as stunning. Aloy’s journey into the unknown frontier is a visual masterpiece, showcasing the ruins of old cities and incredibly detailed machines – all powered by the PS5. The game’s core idea – a world rebuilding after a past mistake – has never been presented so beautifully or felt so immersive.

Even though *Red Dead Redemption 2* (*RDR2*) originally came out for older consoles, it remains visually impressive. Arthur’s journey across the American West in 1899 is beautifully rendered and incredibly immersive, pushing the limits of those older systems. With a possible update for current consoles coming later this year, *RDR2* truly captures its setting and brings it to life better than most other games.

Okay, so all three games have amazing worlds, and honestly, it’s tough to say which one nails the setting the *best*. It’s a really close call! But when I think about what you actually *do* in those worlds, that’s where I start to really compare them.

A Lot of Activities and Adventures

In *Horizon Forbidden West*, players take on the role of Aloy as she unravels numerous mysteries, battles machines, and helps people with various tasks. The game is rich with lore, revealing the history of a lost generation of humanity. Beyond the main story, there’s plenty to do – from hunting challenges and climbing Tallnecks to exploring underwater areas. Aloy will encounter a diverse cast of characters while searching for a way to defeat her enemies and save the Earth. There’s even a unique strategy game built into the experience, combining elements of chess and machines!

After the initial excitement fades, *Forbidden West* becomes quite repetitive. While the game boasts a beautiful setting and map, these aren’t enough to overcome the feeling of exhaustion that comes with having a large world and not much to do. Guerilla Games tries hard to keep things interesting, but other developers we’ve looked at do a better job of presenting their content in engaging and varied ways.

While *Ghost of Yotei* has some repeated elements in its optional activities, the way these activities are presented keeps things interesting. The game introduces them naturally, either through a unique card system or by encouraging players to explore without relying on traditional map markers – a refreshing approach to open-world design.

Every task has unexpected elements, keeping things interesting. What seems like a simple trip to a local landmark could suddenly turn into a fight against three dangerous bounty hunters. You might also find yourself using Atsu’s climbing abilities in challenging sections, which reward you with breathtaking views. Throughout your journey, golden birds frequently appear, offering distractions that lead to useful improvements, new weapon designs, or chances to enjoy creative activities like playing music or painting.

Honestly, *Yotei* just feels so real and well-made, it edges out *Forbidden West* for me. But let’s be real, *RDR2* is on another level entirely. I can honestly just hop on my horse and ride in any direction and *something* interesting will happen, no matter where I am in the game. And there’s just *so* much to do – you’d have to basically live in Arthur’s world for days to see everything. It’s incredible.

It’s amazing how a simple chat with someone you meet while traveling can completely change your plans and lead you down unexpected paths. When it comes to keeping yourself entertained on the go, *Red Dead Redemption 2* remains the top choice, and it does so beautifully!

The Question of Quest Design

Despite its strengths, *Horizon Forbidden West* lands in third place due to its rather predictable quest structure. Aloy typically accepts tasks from characters, completes them, and then returns for a reward. While the quests sometimes offer surprises or extra story details, they generally follow a standard formula and don’t send players on lengthy, complex detours. It feels like Guerilla Games took a cautious approach to quest design, particularly when compared to the more innovative and ambitious quests found in the top two games.

The *Yotei* quests are particularly engaging because they create ongoing storylines. Several side missions don’t offer immediate resolution, allowing characters to reappear later. One memorable bounty hunt led to a raid on an enemy fort, only for the target to disappear at a crucial moment, frustrating Atsu. Surprisingly, this character returned later in disguise, and Atsu discovered their deceptive actions were motivated by admirable goals. This reveal was a powerful moment, showcasing Atsu’s compassion and highlighting the NPC’s hidden depth. The quest also cleverly included nods to another popular game by Sucker Punch. That’s a lot of depth for a side quest!

Ultimately, *Red Dead Redemption 2* remains the best. It’s difficult to find any weaknesses in Rockstar’s masterpiece. The game offers incredibly unique experiences, like stumbling upon a scientist creating a robot that eventually turns on him, or discovering that a circus owner’s dangerous animals are actually sweet and harmless. *RDR2* also stands out because its world feels alive and continues to evolve even when you’re not playing, something neither *Yotei* nor *Forbidden West* quite achieves.

For example, you might find the robot we talked about earlier perched on a cliff, repeatedly saying “Papa.” A railroad being built slowly advances each time you see it, even if you’re not helping. The characters in the game have surprisingly complex lives, continuing their routines and moving around based on the in-game day and night cycle, regardless of your interaction with them.

Compared to those games, like with Atsu and Aloy, the people around you mostly just exist to give you quests or rewards. Yotei does try to fix this with its camping system – important characters will actually come to *you* and even move around with the world, and there’s a reason behind it – but honestly, it’s still nowhere near as detailed or expansive as the world and characters in RDR2.

An Obvious Winner

Even with strong competition from games like *Forbidden West* and *Ghost of Yotei*, *Red Dead Redemption 2* remains the most celebrated open-world game. While both Aloy’s and Atsu’s stories are enjoyable, it’s hard to challenge *RDR2*’s lasting impact.

Arthur Morgan’s journey with the Van Dyke gang still offers the most immersive and dynamic open-world map experience. Future installments of both *Forbidden West* and *Yotei* could potentially challenge that, but we’ll have to wait and see when those games are released.

But until then, Red Dead Redemption 2 remains as the one to beat.

The opinions shared in this article are the author’s own and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

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2025-10-12 12:13