The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is widely regarded as one of the best open-world RPGs to date, but fans of the game and genre don't necessarily have to wait for Breath of the Wild 2 to experience another great self-guided adventure. BotW was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, deviating from the more structured style of gameplay featured in titles like Ocarina of Time and Skyward Sword. It also introduced a plethora of new mechanics never before seen in a Zelda game, many of which were celebrated by the community.
Little information has been shared thus far regarding the development of Breath of the Wild 2. Following its official announcement in 2019, Nintendo essentially maintained radio silence until a trailer was featured at E3 in 2021, showcasing approximately one minute of cut-up gameplay footage and presumably teasing the potential return of Calamity Ganon. Expectations are high for this direct sequel, and rightfully so following the success of BotW.
Breath of the Wild 2 is currently scheduled for a 2022 release, but the fact that an exact date is yet to be provided likely means it will be a fourth-quarter release arriving late in the year. That is, of course, assuming there are no delays that push BotW 2 past 2022, which, unfortunately, remains a possibility. In the meantime, those looking to recapture the open-world experience that Breath of the Wild provided don't need to wait for BotW 2, as there are some great open-world RPG titles out there, both new and old, each with their own secrets waiting to be discovered.
Elden Ring Is Truly A Self-Guided Open World RPG To Play Before BOTW 2
Elden Ring, the latest game developed by the talented team at FromSoftware, was recently released and has been well received by critics and gamers alike. In Elden Ring, players assume the role of a Tarnished (one who no longer possesses the lifeforce of the Erdtree) and are set free to traverse The Lands Between, ruled by Queen Marika the Eternal. There is no hand-holding in this Souls-style game, as players are free to head in any direction upon completing the brief tutorial and setting foot into Elden Ring's massive open-world map. In fact, there's nothing to stop anyone from heading directly into powerful boss fights with nothing but basic starting gear and stats. It's the perfect game to play while waiting for Breath of the Wild 2 to release.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Provides A Great Exploration Experience Like BOTW
Another recently released game that can satisfy one's open-world adventure urge while waiting for BotW 2 is Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It's open-world in the same sense that Monster Hunter is open-world (far less open than BotW), but it does feature multiple fully explorable sections, each of which is rather sizeable. Tasked with completing the Hisui region's first Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Arceus focuses heavily on exploration, crafting, and completing quests, very much in the spirit of Breath of the Wild.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt & Fallout: New Vegas Can Help Fill A BOTW 2 Void
There are also some older RPGs that are worth checking out while awaiting the release of Breath of the Wild 2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can be enjoyed even without any previous knowledge of the story or lore as CD Projekt Red does a great job introducing players to the basics of the Witcher universe at the beginning of the game. Additionally, Fallout: New Vegas is another title that BotW fans will likely enjoy, and with New Vegas 2 reportedly being considered by Microsoft, now is as good a time as any to jump into the original New Vegas.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 will release when it releases. Fortunately, there are many open-world RPG titles to explore between now and the end of the year that can satisfy that desire to explore, craft, and upgrade. 2022 has already been a great year for gaming, and it looks like the best is still yet to come.
