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If you want one science-fantasy open-world RPG to start with, ELEX II is the clearest match. Its Steam store description calls its setting a “Science Fantasy world” and says you can explore its environments with jetpack-enabled freedom. If alien-world exploration matters more to you than a literal genre label, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is the stronger pick. Both placements are editorial judgments based on the criteria below, not an industry consensus, and the list is deliberately short because most titles that call themselves science-fantasy do not also meet the open-world test.
How this list is judged
“Best of all time” is a subjective label, so this ranking uses four explicit criteria. A game earns a place by meeting the world-structure requirement and the genre requirement; the other two criteria decide the order among games that qualify.
- Exploration freedom: whether the world is genuinely open and traversable on the player’s terms, rather than a series of linked zones.
- Role-playing systems: how strong and integrated the progression, character, and party systems are.
- Genre blend: how distinctly the game mixes speculative technology, alien or post-apocalyptic settings, or futuristic imagery with fantasy elements such as magic, myth, or deliberately fantastical worldbuilding.
- Overall quality: the quality of the world, story, and play experience, judged by the editorial team on the evidence available.
GamesRadar’s open-world RPG guide is useful context for how mainstream outlets recognise open-world design, but it does not rank games by science-fantasy fit, so it does not confirm the order here. Player review counts and current prices are not used as measures of quality, because both change constantly.
The ranking
| Rank | Game | Open-world evidence | Science-fantasy evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ELEX II | Steam store description says its massive environments can be explored “with unrivaled freedom via jetpack” | Steam store description calls Magalan a post-apocalyptic “Science Fantasy world” |
| 2 | Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition | GamesRadar describes an expanded remaster set on Mira and highlights its open-world mechanics | GamesRadar describes an alien-world setting; the fantasy side of the blend is not documented in the sources checked |
| Honorable mention | Xenoblade Chronicles 3 | Open-world structure not established by the sources checked | TechRadar calls it a science-fantasy RPG and praises its environments |
1. ELEX II
ELEX II is the only title in this shortlist whose own marketing uses the genre label directly, and it is the one that best fits all of the criteria at once. The Steam store description presents the game as an open-world RPG set in the post-apocalyptic world of Magalan and says:
#1 Best Overall
- IMMERSIVE GAMEPLAY: Reflecting real-world international relations, it takes into account domestic capabilities. Manage alliances, diplomacy, and military threats to shape the geopolitical landscape.
- DEEP GEOPOLITICAL SIMULATION: An academically-grounded experience covering global diplomacy, economics, and modern conflict. The ultimate International Relations simulator. Your actions have consequences.
- ASYMMETRIC SUPERPOWERS: Take control of the USA, China, Russia, or the EU, each with unique decks and strategies. Form alliances, invest and trade in countries, and establish military bases to expand your global influence.
- STRATEGIC MASTERY: A sophisticated blend of Area Majority, Deck-Building, and Engine Building mechanics. Blends academic theories with thrilling gameplay, creating a never-before-seen experience of international relations!
- DOMINANCE DECKS: Each player represents a dominant global power with unique strengths and weaknesses. The mix of area control and deck building offers diverse and adaptable strategies.
“ELEX II returns to the post-apocalyptic Science Fantasy world of Magalan – with massive environments that can be explored with unrivaled freedom via jetpack, you will be able to move through the epic story any way you want.”
The same Steam listing identifies Piranha Bytes as developer, THQ Nordic as publisher, and March 1, 2022 as the release date. Treat “unrivaled freedom” as the publisher’s own wording rather than an independent assessment. The listing does not tell you how deep its combat or progression systems are, so judge those on your own priorities when you start playing.
Rank #2
- PATHS & MODULES: Expansion introduces new strategic paths and asymmetric modules for each of the four global superpowers. Includes specialized gameplay modules and upgrades originally unlocked during the campaign.
- AUTOMA RULES: New rules allow you to play solo against one or several automas or to include them into your multiplayer games. With two difficulty levels, they will adapt their challenge to new players and seasoned ones.
- SUPERPOWER OBJECTIVES: Your objectives now reflect strategic orientations of real-world superpowers. NEW STRATEGIC ASSETS: Discover new tactical possibilities with these 12 new cards.
- NEW CARDS: 4 new ability cards enhance the game and give more interactions between players. 2 new growth cards sets renew your game experience. Replace or combine with growth cards from base game.
- SHAPING THE WORLD THROUGH STRATEGY & STRENGTH: Expansion - Diplomacy & Dominance add a new strategic layer to World Order with new challenges and game modes which will test your skills.
2. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
This is the choice if exploration carries the most weight. GamesRadar describes it as an expanded remaster set on Mira, a planet whose alien landscapes are the main draw, and highlights its open-world mechanics. That makes it the strongest pick in this shortlist for scale and alien-world atmosphere.
It ranks second because the sources checked make a clear case for its world but say far less about the fantasy half of the genre blend or the strength of its role-playing systems. If you are choosing between the top two, ask which matters more: the explicit science-fantasy identity (ELEX II) or the sense of an alien planet to wander (Xenoblade Chronicles X). Confirm the platform and edition you can actually play before you buy, because the remaster’s release details vary by version.
Rank #3
- The outer worlds is a new single-player first-person sci-fi rpg from obsidian entertainment and private division
- In the outer worlds, you awake from hibernation on a colonist ship that was lost in transit to halcyon, the furthest colony from earth located at the edge of the galaxy, only to find yourself in the midst of a deep conspiracy threatening to destroy it. As you explore the furthest reaches of space and encounter various factions, all-vying for power, the character you decide to become will determine how this player-driven story unfolds. In the corporate equation for the colony, you are the unplanned variable
Honorable mention: Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a boundary case. TechRadar calls it a science-fantasy RPG and praises its environments, so it clearly belongs in a discussion of the genre. However, the sources checked for this list do not establish a fully open-world structure, so it does not meet the first criterion and is not ranked. If your definition of open-world is looser, you can move it into the main ranking, but this list does not do so.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What “science-fantasy” means in this list
The term is used inconsistently. A reader in a discussion thread described the genre as “Science Fantasy with surreal landscapes, alien-like worlds, colourful.” That is one person’s description, not evidence of how common the phrase is, but it shows the kind of blend readers look for: strange, colourful worlds where technology and myth sit side by side. Games that are only futuristic, or only fantasy, were left out unless they also meet the open-world requirement and show both halves of the blend.
Rank #4
- ENTER THE WORLD OF SKYRIM: Experience the legendary open-world RPG as a tabletop adventure, exploring Tamriel through branching quests, iconic factions, and rich Elder Scrolls lore.
- COOPERATIVE OR SOLO PLAY: Designed for 1–4 players, allowing you to adventure solo or team up to face dragons, uncover conspiracies, and shape the fate of Skyrim together.
- OPEN-ENDED QUEST SYSTEM: Choose how you approach each mission—diplomacy, stealth, or combat—as your decisions permanently impact the story and the world around you.
- DEEP CHARACTER PROGRESSION: Build unique heroes with evolving skills, gear, and abilities inspired by the video game’s iconic progression systems.
- HIGH REPLAYABILITY: Modular scenarios, multiple quest paths, and varied character builds ensure every campaign feels fresh and every journey through Skyrim is different.
Before you buy
- Confirm the platform (PC, console, or both) for the exact edition you are considering. Store listings for a title can differ by platform.
- For ELEX II, check the current Steam store page for platform and price, since the details in this article come from a listing that may have changed.
- For Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, verify the edition name and platform on the publisher’s or retailer’s page before purchase.
The shortlist is intentionally narrow. It includes only titles where the sources checked support both the open-world structure and the science-fantasy identity, rather than padding the list with ordinary fantasy or science-fiction RPGs.
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