Open-world game

A game structure that lets players explore a large environment with substantial freedom over where to go and what to do. Its world often persists as players move among activities and locations.

Game world: The setting and spaces in which a game's events and actions take place. An open-world game makes its world a major space for exploration and activity.
Non-player character: A character in a game whose actions are controlled by the game's software rather than a player. NPCs populate open worlds and can make locations feel socially active.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: A 2017 action-adventure game set in a large, explorable version of Hyrule. Its physics and traversal systems reward experimentation across an open landscape.
Linear game: A game structured around a largely fixed sequence of stages or events. Its directed progression contrasts with the route and activity choices of open worlds.
Level design: The design of spaces, routes, challenges, and encounters in a game. Open-world level design must support multiple routes and styles of exploration.
Artificial intelligence in video games: Software techniques that control non-player characters and other game behaviors. AI governs how inhabitants and enemies respond across a changing world.
Grand Theft Auto V: A 2013 action-adventure game set in the fictional region of San Andreas. Its urban setting combines a large navigable world with missions and activities.
Sandbox game: A game that emphasizes player freedom to manipulate systems and create activities. Sandbox design stresses self-directed play, while open-world design specifically stresses exploration of a large world.
Nonlinear gameplay: Gameplay in which events or objectives can be approached in more than one order. Players often choose their own sequence of activities across an open world.
Dynamic weather: A game system that changes weather conditions over time or in response to events. Weather variation can alter atmosphere, visibility, and traversal.

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