Open world

Open world, free roam, or sandbox are terms for video games where a player can move freely through a virtual world and is given considerable freedom in regard to how and when to approach particular objectives, as opposed to other video games that have a more linear structure to their gameplay.

Video games with open or free-roaming worlds typically lack the invisible walls and loading screens that are common in linear level designs. Generally, open world games still enforce many restrictions in the game environment, either because of absolute technical limitations or in-game limitations imposed by a game's linearity. Examples of high level of autonomy in computer games can be found in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) or in single-player games adhering to the open world concept such as the Fallout series. The main appeal of open world gameplay is that they provide a simulated reality and allow players to develop their character and its behavior in the direction of their choosing. In these cases, there is often no concrete goal or end to the game.The coding of the video game or simulation may impose some kind of loose limitations to the game world, but the player have nearly full freedom within the limited game world. The activities the player can partake in depends upon the gameplay and the main objective of the game.

Some popular and most recent games implementing this include: Xenoblade Chronicles X, Final Fantasy XV, Watch Dogs, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Grand Theft Auto V and Minecraft.

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