Beautiful games with great exploration?

So I just recently got a GTX 680, and while I was browsing through the "What were you just playing?" thread, I saw a bunch of unbelievably gorgeous screenshots from Crysis maps posted by this dude, but he didn't provide names or links or anything. But when I saw those screenshots, I thought "Wow I want to go to those places and look around!"

So what are some other games with those kind of beautiful locales that make you want to jump into your monitor?

First one I can think of is Just Cause 2.

far cry

A little older, but Prince of Persia (2008) had some gorgeous visuals and tons of exploration.

Dear Esther comes to mind.

Depends on what you mean by that. Assuming you mean expansive, pretty outdoors environments and the ability to go anywhere you can get away with without being murdered by monsters much stronger than you can deal with at your current level then Skyrim (already mentioned) is probably the best entry. Normally I don't just recommend the most recent games but since this is a graphics-oriented request then the more recent the better. Great outdoor games will include Risen, Two Worlds II, Crysis 2 (although is more linear), Oblivion, etc.

Fallout 3 and NV are also great (Oblivion engine) but the expansive worlds they create are a tad bleak. :)

If you don't mind your awesome environments being indoor then check out games like Bioshock for excellenet graphics, color and asthetic (plus exploration).

-Byshop

The Crysis (all of them: Crysis, Warhead, and Crysis 2) games are all great for some exploration after killing all the enemies. Crysis 2 maps are much more limited. But, even it allows a bit of exploration before you move on to the next level. The first two are the best though.

Skyrim, Oblivion, Morrowind, Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3, Stalker SoC, Borderlands, Saints Row 3, GTA 4

Some of my favourite games to explore in.

guildwars 1 & 2

guildwars 1 & 2

ionusX

[QUOTE="ionusX"]

guildwars 1 & 2

jhalter1

[QUOTE="jhalter1"][QUOTE="ionusX"]

guildwars 1 & 2

ionusX

guildwars 1 despite being visually dated is still pretty awesome. my favourite has got to be the dragon lighthouse or sorrows furnace

guildwars 1 despite being visually dated is still pretty awesome. my favourite has got to be the dragon lighthouse or sorrows furnace

ionusX

[QUOTE="ionusX"]

guildwars 1 despite being visually dated is still pretty awesome. my favourite has got to be the dragon lighthouse or sorrows furnace

Elann2008

For exploration, WoW is easily the best I've played. The environments are excellent.

I've put in about 250 hours in Skyrim, and still discover areas that I have not previously seen. There are some truly scenic gems tucked away waiting to be discovered by the most determined explorers.

Skyrim, STALKER:Shadow of Chernobyl/Call of Pripyat, Crysis

World of Warcraft, Skyrim, Just Cause 2, Crysis, Grand Theft Auto, Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Fallout.

Skyrim is beautiful and you can spend hours just walking around the landscape pwning dragons and discovering cool stuff.

Dear Esther

Some of these suggestions raise an interesting question. How does one define beautiful? Games like Stalker and Fallout 3 have excellent open environments to wander, but compared to Skyrim or Oblivion they are pretty bleak. :)

-Byshop

Skyrim, exploration was the best thing about it. Other TES games are pretty good in this category, but inferior.

Crysis also encourages exploration and has many different ways to reach the objectives.

Also, if you like Diablo-esque games, and don't mind dated visuals, you'll enjoy Divine Divinity. Exploration and discovery at it's best

World of Warcraft, I played Pre-Cata though, so I don't know if the new world is worth exploring. The exploration of the old world however is something simply unforgettable.

Those are some that come to mind.I really can't remember anything else atm.

Dear Esther isn't worth your money. 1 hour game with some good vistas and cave scenery with a boring story and a linear path.

WOW with a flying mount really can't be beat until the flying you don't even see half the stuff you do when you fly.

With no loading zones except when you change major continents is really something after reaching 85 and flying.

I played Skyrim, Oblivion, & Morrowind and they are great but lack that freedom when flying anywhere you want - same with FO3 & FNV.

I have ordered Kingdoms of Amalur and hear it has the more land mass then Skyrim which is mostly northern climates.

Skyrim for me...tons of times I was playing I had to just stop and take in the scenery.Renevent42