How Do You Tell a Good Story in an Open World RPG?

Considering the narrative flops of Fallout 4 and Mass Effect: Andromeda, is it possible to make a compelling story in an open world RPG? Let's take a look!

[SCW1982]

Horizon's way.

[Nyxus]

Yep, Horizon's story was really interesting, with its mixture of fantasy politics and post apocalyptic themes.

[ArchangelMike]

Give Mass Effect Andromeda a break already, it really isn't a bad game - even narratively. The main problem with story telling in open world RPG's is that, you have side quests that take you off the beaten path, and which can then remove focus from the main story. A great story driven RPG's is one where the side quests are just as meaningful and impactful as the main story quest. The Witcher 3 is the best example of this, and to a lesser extent Horizon Zero Dawn. MAss Effect Andromeda's side quests where a bit hit and miss, but overall they added to the life and volume to the main story.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Basically what mike is saying.

One main narrative. Side narratives that tie directly to the main one enforcing the story.

I was about to give examples using Horizon. But for those that haven't played it yet, I wouldn't want to spoil it since the story overall is enjoyable and kept my interest from beginning to end.

[joab777]

Sorry. Andromeda is NOT a narrative flop! Ya just have to actually play it past the first 2 planets. Fallout 4 is a Bethesda game and their focus has never been narrative. TW3 is an anomaly as their entire focus was narrative.

[C-H-E-F]

You can tell a good story, when you played the first 10 min of the game and say... OMG THIS GAME IS AMAZING WTF....

To name a few from this gen:
Horizon
Skyrim
Bloodbourne

[yeahright2]

Couldn't disagree more with exception of Horizon. It's all subjective though, Just for me 10 minutes isn't nearly enough time to get a read on the story.

[AnubisG]

The ME:A excuse arricles are pouring in now. The game has flopped. Let it go already and move on!

[_-EDMIX-_]

? but that is a subjective concept ,people are clearly playing it and commenting on here that are actually saying otherwise and that the narrative is actually something that is intact.

Sorry buddy but I'll Reserve judgment myself for when I play it because I have a lot of people I know playing it on PlayStation Network that are telling me otherwise.

People praised the last three Mass Effect games and in my personal opinion those games had terrible stories those stories had just chock full of boring political jargon that put me to sleep but I still enjoyed the three games in regards to the overall narrative even if I didn't care for the exact story.

So how could you tell me what a flop is when you don't even know what I'm playing the game for specifically?

It might be a flop to you ,but that actually is not a factual objective concept that is something that is subjective and only based on individuals and differs

[_-EDMIX-_]

Well I don't know how much that might have to do with an open world if you consider Fallout 3 and New Vegas have amazing stories whereas Fallout 4 didn't.

All open world