Trails in the sky seem to fit the descryption.

Risen 1 is quite linear, the only thing you need to do is choose faction/class

Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning is also quite linear. There are side quests, but overall it is very linear to be open world.

JRPGs fit the bill, especially the Trails in the Sky series. At one point in the Second Chapter you can roam pretty much the entire game world without too many restrictions, but the plot is strictly linear and advances through seeing certain people and going to certain places.

Among the Western games there's Outcast to recommend. Its world consists of several large, open regions connected with portals, and they're pretty much all open from the very beginning (though some of them are heavily guarded, but that's nothing you can't overcome with a bit of skill). The story is linear and involves collecting some quest items, with plenty of side-quests.

Actually, I would argue that interconnectedness and open-world-ness are two separate factors, and a game can be either without the other.

I would argue that the original Dragon Quest/Warrior is open world even though it has a world map with separate town and dungeon areas. The game actually does allow you to go anywhere except the final dungeon right away (although you won't be able to get far at level 1 without manipulating the RNG).

Then again, I would consider the original DQ to also be interconnected even with separate town and dungeon areas; they're connected to the world map because the towns and dungeons have locations on the world map.

Arena might not be interconnected, but it *is* definitely open world. Daggerfall is interconnected, but it makes little difference because the wilderness is so vast and boring that everyone just fast travels anyway. (Arena's wilderness is more interesting, but you can't use it to travel between towns.)

Alright then let me clarify. What I'm looking for is games that are:

- Huge and interconnected (like Skyrim or the 3D Fallouts)
- Requires no choices (optional side-quests are alright as long as I can do them all).

That's about it.

The thing is, the OP seems to be arguing that games where towns and dungeons are on separate maps (like Avernum 1-3) are not open world (a view I disagree with).

Also, I note that each Avernum has 3 endings, but they're designed so that you can get all the endings in the same playthrough.

Maybe try Dragon's Dogma from Capcom? It's Japanese; it's trying to be like Skyrim; you can go anywhere you want, but you might get your butt handed to you by stronger monsters in certain areas because enemies don't scale. This game isn't for everyone, but it sounds like you might like it.

I would 2nd (or maybe it's 3rd?) Gothic - well, Gothic 3 (I haven't played 1 or 2 yet).

It's one pretty large "seamless" open-world (no "zoning" to anyplace - even into towns, caves, temples and dungeons (which all range is size from smallish to, in some cases, pretty huge).

It has 3 distinct "biomes" (desert, mountains and grasslands, and high mountains). And, while some areas are "gated" by difficult mobs - it isn't really that hard to find ways around them; and thus have the entire landmass (plus several small islands) to explore, trade, hunt, do side-quests, etc.) My favorite is the snow-and-ice covered high-mountains.

It rewards exploration of nooks and crannies (by having stuff to find in them).

Until you start on the "main quest-lines", you don't have to choose any factions either - although you may encounter certain hostilities until you do (after which, you'll then encounter other hostilities - so - it's a wash).

It's one of my favorite open-world RPG's.

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I'd also agree about Stalker (for me, Call of Pripyat in particular) - you can just "live" in a about 2/3's of the world without doing quests (just hunt, find artifacts, trade, etc.). But you do have to progress the main quest a ways in, in order to unlock that last 1/3 - after which you can then again just "live" there. It's also one of the most "alive" worlds I've seen (where the AI's, NPC's and mobs - all do all kinds of things on their own - much of it random).

None of the Stalkers are "seamless" open worlds though - they have "zones"; but the zones are good sized and have tons to do in each one.

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I also found Far Cry 2 to be a very good open world (although divided into two large "halves"). If you like just spending hours exploring (and sneaking) around, FC2 has it. You do eventually run out of things to do unless you eventually pick up the quest lines. But you can get a good number of exploratory hours into it before that happens.

[edit - typos]

At least you can play the game for a long time without making the choice which clan to help. I've already played far more than 100 hours without making a choice. And the choice only seems to be relevant for the side quests. But as I haven't finished the game yet I'm not sure about that. There are still some areas to explore on my map. :P

For me this game is very underrated, especially when you like to explore beautiful landscapes, when you have fun to climb a hill or a tower only to enjoy the panoramic view ... The world is completely open and connected and at least at the lower difficulties you can freely walk around quite soon without risking much.

If you look for a deep story with a lot of text to read you better look elsewhere though. ;)

The genre you're asking about doesn't really exist yet. Maybe you could Tweet to devs and get them some ideas for what you're after? In 99% of the open world games out there, you're going to have branching. The only options you have, that I know of, have already been suggested to you.

The big draw to open world is having a lot of stuff to do, and impacting the world, whereas linear games, by logic, follow a line drawn path from point A to point B.

You're asking for a linear open world game, I get that. I just don't think there's any out there besides one or two the collective group may have missed so far.

Dying Light and Dead Island (not seamless but decently sized)

Saints Row and Just Cause series

Having never played Gothic, how does it compare to Risen?

Similar in a lot of ways, which is natural considering JoWood wouldn't let Piranna Bytes (sp) make Gothic 4, so Risen is considered by many as the "unofficial" Gothic 4.

If you Gothic 3 (which i recommend along with Risen series) make sure you get the Community patch... without that its unplayable.

Vampire the Masquerade bloodlines is one that you should look into, get the community patch for that too...

and Kingdoms of Amaluer Reckoning.... it was written by R.A. Salvatore (the father of fantasy games) and the monster design was by Todd McFarlane of SPAWN fame...

I would also suggest looking into Dead Island, its very open world but you basically follow the quests and move.. side quests are of the GTA variety but the MQ never deviates.

Bioshock Infinite and Dishonored are metroidvania in the regard of all areas can be gotten back to but the only way to go is forward... very JRPGish with Dishonored in the realm of Zelda for what to do because of a distrabution HUB location going back is a click in the menu though for Dishonored.

and last but not least the most open/linear games are the Darksider series both 1 and 2. They are a do not pass go move forward and never look back.... but you can if you want... kill walls in place so you cannot progress until you are ready.

IN the direct vein of Darksiders but more visceral in your face is with less backtracking and more fight to wall then move on is Legendary, its pretty cool and very "DOOM 2016" like in its play style...

Dark Souls style games are also defined loosely by your wants, along with bloodborne, but they are very hard and I avoid them due to me being a filthy casual :p

Im hesitant to recommend RAGE but it truly is Fallout with a linear path and a forward movement with minimal side quests that you can freely ignore. Many gates to get past to move on and such, dated often rage inducting graphics but there are fixes and tweaks to solve most issues.

To go old school fallout 1/2 style the Titans quest/Dungeon Siege style games are open and freely explorable with content walls where you must be X powerful to move on and its liner as all hell.. Titans Quest has enough content to eat a week or 2 of your life ^_^

Thief 2014 is sort of like this too in the way its fully open and exploreable with battle/gear gates to halt progression... you can go off but there is no point except for collectibles and upgrades you can do the whole game following the MQ alone.

Thats all i can think of.

Edit: Witcher 2 is exactly what your asking about... I don't know what i was thinking ^_^ 1 is sort of like that but much more demanding on min/maxing calculations to get though it... 2 you can just play and have fun... dont count out 1 though its a fantastic story and worth the time investment :)