Etymology

open world

Today it means: A gameworld that the player may traverse freely, rather than being restricted to certain predefined areas and quests. Full definition →

First used early 21st c.
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The story

From open (adjective) + world.

First known use, by meaning

  • from early 21st c. A gameworld that the player may traverse freely, rather than being restricted to certain predefined areas and quests.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.