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===Comparison of early titles=== The following table shows a list of early games that meet several or more of the criteria listed in the [[#Definition|Definition]] section above. {|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" |+Criteria |- |bgcolor="red" style="text-align:center;"| |Games that meet 3 or less of the criteria are not open-world games |- |bgcolor="yellow" style="text-align:center;"| |Games that meet between 4 and 6 of the criteria are partially open-world games. |- |bgcolor="green" style="text-align:center;"| |Games that meet 7 or 8 of the criteria are fully open-world games. |} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto; margin:auto;;font-size:80%" |- ! Year ! Game ! Criteria<br />met ! [[Electronic game|Electronic<br />game?]] ! Free<br />roaming? ! Outdoor<br />landscape? ! [[List of largest game worlds|Large<br />world?]] ! Fully<br />scaled? ! On<br />foot? ! [[Real-time|Real<br />time]]? ! [[Three-dimensional|3D<br />graphics]]? |- | c. 300 BCE | ''[[Go]]'' | {{Partial|4}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | c. 400 CE | ''[[Chess]]'' | align="center" {{No|3}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | [[1970s in video gaming|1970]] | ''[[Jet Rocket]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} |- | 1971 | ''[[Chainmail]]'' | {{Partial|4}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="2" | [[1974 in video gaming|1974]] | ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' | {{Partial|4}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Empire of the Petal Throne]]'' | {{Partial|4}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="2" | [[1975 in video gaming|1975]] | ''[[Western Gun]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Interceptor]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | [[1976 in video gaming|1976]] | ''[[Dungeon]]'' | align="center" {{No|3}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="2" | [[1977 in video gaming|1977]] | ''[[Heli-Shooter]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} |- | ''[[Colossal Cave Adventure]]'' | align="center" {{No|3}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="2" | [[1979 in video gaming|1979]] | ''[[Heiankyo Alien]]'' | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Temple of Apshai]]'' | {{Partial|4}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="4" | [[1980 in video gaming|1980]] | ''[[Pac-Man]]'' | {{Partial|4}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Rally-X]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Adventure]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Flight Simulator]]'' | align="center" {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="3" | [[1981 in video gaming|1981]] | ''[[005]]'' | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Bosconian]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Ultima]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="2" | [[1982 in video gaming|1982]] | ''[[Time Pilot]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Tutankham]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="7" | [[1983 in video gaming|1983]] | ''[[Nobunaga's Ambition]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Panorama Toh]]'' | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Portopia Serial Murder Case]]'' | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | [[W:c:dataeast:Boomer Rang'r|''Boomer Rang'r'' (''Genesis'')]] | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Ant Attack]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Mountain King]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[The Hobbit]]'' | align="center" {{No|3}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="13" | [[1984 in video gaming|1984]] | ''[[The Tower of Druaga]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[W:c:dataeast:Kamikaze Cabbie|Kamikaze Cabbie]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Courageous Perseus]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Hydlide]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Ginga Hyōryū Vifam]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Brain Breaker]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Atic Atac]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Elite]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[The Lords of Midnight]]'' | {{Partial|4}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Sabre Wulf]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[The Seven Cities of Gold]]'' | {{Partial|4}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Valhalla]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Zombie Zombie]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="8" | [[1985 in video gaming|1985]] | ''[[Baraduke]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms (video game series)|Romance of the Three Kingdoms]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Riglas: Tamashii no Kaiki]]'' <ref>{{Cite book |last=Szczepaniak |first=John |year=2014 |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers |publisher=SMG Szczepaniak |volume=1 |page=7 |isbn=978-0-9929260-3-8 |quote=''Riglas: Tamashii no Kaiki'' – large free roaming RPG exclusive to Japanese computers, worth checking out}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONgCLA50qfU リグラス -魂の回帰-for PC-8801 (1985)], [[YouTube]]</ref> | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Star Luster]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- |''[[Yūgeki-ō]]'' <ref name=":0" /> | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} |- | ''[[Alternate Reality: The City]]'' | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Back to Skool]]'' | {{Partial|4}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Mercenary]]'' | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="9" | [[1986 in video gaming|1986]] | ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Metroid]]'' | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Takeshi's Challenge]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Vampire Killer]]'' | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Wibarm]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|8}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} |- | ''[[Miami Vice]]'' | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Starflight]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Turbo Esprit]]'' | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | rowspan="4" | [[1987 in video gaming|1987]] | ''[[Castlevania II: Simon's Quest]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Megami Tensei]]'' | {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Metal Gear]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | ''[[Sid Meier's Pirates!]]'' | {{Partial|5}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | [[1988 in video gaming|1988]] | ''[[Star Cruiser]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|8}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} |- | [[1989 in video gaming|1989]] | ''[[Drakkhen]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|8}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} |- | [[1993 in video gaming|1993]] | ''[[Cosmology of Kyoto]]'' | align="center" {{Partial|6}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} |- | [[1996 in video gaming|1996]] | ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|8}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} |- | [[1997 in video gaming|1997]] | ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|7}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |- | [[1998 in video gaming|1998]] | ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|8}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} |- | [[1999 in video gaming|1999]] | ''[[Shenmue]]'' | align="center" {{Yes|8}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} |}
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