Open-world RPGs are some of the longest games around, with campaigns and side content often lasting upwards of 100 hours. However, in many of those cases, the game fundamentally comes to an end after all the loose story threads are wrapped up, and you have scoured every corner of the map for the last few items and collectibles.

However, in some cases, a game can effectively last forever, giving you an endless stream of content that never runs out so long as you are happy to keep pressing on. These next games achieve this through a replayable gameplay loop, smart use of AI, or by adopting such an open-ended design that no matter how many hours you sink into it, there will always be more to see.

Whether the apocalypse is approaching, already unfolding, or long past, these RPGs are among the best at exploring it.

Fallout 76 isn’t built to end because, much like any other live-service game, it is never truly finished. The post-apocalyptic wasteland has been updated nonstop since launch with new questlines, seasons, daily operations, public events, and expeditions that keep adding new goals to an already robust survival and gear crafting loop.

Recent patches like the Slasher update showcase this concept perfectly, adding a multi-week storyline alongside new items to chase that keep longtime players invested. Because content arrives continuously, there’s always another reason to log in. Now, almost a decade since launch, I am still amazed at just how much you can get out of a game that couldn't have had a rougher start.

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