Best Open-World RPG Video Games Worth Buying Right Now

Open-world RPGs consistently offer some of the best cost-per-hour value in gaming, with well-made entries routinely delivering 60-100+ hours of play for a single purchase. This guide covers five open-world RPGs between $30 and $70, mixing recent releases still at full price with slightly older titles that have already dropped to a more budget-friendly range.

Physical copies are often resellable later for partial credit once finished, which effectively lowers the real cost of a full-price game compared to a digital-only purchase, worth factoring in for anyone buying a $70 title day one.

1. Baldur’s Gate 3 — best for deep, choice-driven storytelling

Baldur’s Gate 3 set a new bar for narrative depth in open-world RPGs, with a story that meaningfully branches based on player choices and a combat system built on tabletop D&D rules that rewards creative problem-solving over brute force. It’s a long, dense game best suited to players who want to sink real hours into character builds and dialogue. Street price runs $50-$60.

• Why it’s a good buy: genuinely reactive storytelling and deep combat systems that reward multiple playthroughs
• Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy

2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — best for open-ended exploration and creativity

Tears of the Kingdom builds on its predecessor’s open-world design with a building and fusion system that turns exploration and puzzle-solving into genuine creative freedom, letting players approach nearly every challenge multiple ways. It’s a Switch exclusive, so it requires owning Nintendo’s console. Street price runs $55-$70.

• Why it’s a good buy: unmatched creative freedom in how players explore and solve problems across a massive open world
• Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy

3. Elden Ring — best for challenging, atmospheric combat

Elden Ring pairs FromSoftware’s punishing, precise combat with an open world that rewards curiosity and exploration over hand-holding, resulting in a game that respects player skill and patience more than most RPGs on the market. It’s a demanding game that won’t suit players looking for a relaxing experience. Street price runs $40-$60, with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion sold separately.

• Why it’s a good buy: some of the most rewarding, skill-based combat in the genre paired with genuinely rewarding exploration
• Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy

4. Starfield — best for sci-fi exploration on a budget

Starfield has dropped meaningfully in price since launch, making it a solid budget entry point for players who want a massive sci-fi open world to explore, with deep ship-building and faction systems layered on top of standard RPG mechanics. It’s a slower-paced game that rewards patience over fast action. Street price runs $30-$45.

• Why it’s a good buy: dozens of hours of sci-fi exploration and ship-building at a meaningfully discounted price post-launch
• Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy

5. Horizon Forbidden West — best for a mix of story, combat, and exploration

Horizon Forbidden West blends satisfying tactical combat against mechanical creatures with a visually striking open world and a well-paced main story, making it an accessible entry point for players newer to the genre. It’s now available at a lower price than at launch, making it a strong value pick. Street price runs $30-$50.

• Why it’s a good buy: an accessible, well-balanced mix of combat, story, and exploration at a discounted post-launch price
• Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy

How to get the best price

• Wait for seasonal sales on digital storefronts, since major platform sales events regularly discount open-world RPGs 30-60% within a year or two of release.
• Check trade-in value on physical copies before buying digital, since a finished open-world RPG often holds decent resale or trade-in credit that lowers its effective cost.
• Look for bundle deals that include season passes or expansions, which are frequently cheaper than buying the base game and DLC separately later.
• Use retailer gift card promotions, since Best Buy and other retailers periodically offer bonus gift cards with new release pre-orders or day-one purchases.

The takeaway: Baldur’s Gate 3 and Elden Ring remain the top picks for players who want the deepest storytelling or the most rewarding combat, respectively, while Tears of the Kingdom offers unmatched creative freedom for Switch owners. Budget-conscious players should look at Starfield or Horizon Forbidden West, both of which have dropped meaningfully in price while still delivering dozens of hours of open-world exploration.