open world

noun

plural open worlds
: a video game or part of a video game in which the player is not constrained to achieving specific goals and has a large degree of freedom to explore, interact with, or modify the game environment : sandbox sense 2a
The gameplay feels similar to other RPGs, and while it's an open world that allows you to do whatever you want for the most part, I do recommend accomplishing the first tasks of the recruitment quests early.Swapna Krishna
… you'll likely get swept in deep by the stellar narrative and the meticulously-crafted open world gameplay.Tanveer Singh
sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun
Whether you're keen on open-world games where you've got masses of virtual space to explore or survival games where there are more threats to keep you on your toes, our list should help you make the right choice.Adrian Willings

Examples of open world in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Another lesson that BioWare took from critics of Andromeda, and Inquisition too, was that sometimes building a massive open world doesn’t mean much when it isn’t filled with meaningful content. George Yang, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024 Within its first month, the open world survival game sold more than 12 million copies and became Microsoft’s biggest third-party Game Pass launch ever. Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 19 Sep. 2024 Elden Ring, on the other hand, is the first of FromSoftware’s games to be centered on a nonlinear open world. Gabriel Winslow-Yost, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024 In 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' the open world is wide open Auonuma has evidently changed his mind. James Perkins Mastromarino, NPR, 21 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for open world 

Word History

First Known Use

2003, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of open world was in 2003

Dictionary Entries Near open world

Cite this Entry

“Open world.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20world. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!