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Cyberpunk 2077PATCH 2026.10.16

Best Open-World RPGs to Play After the Main Story Ends

By VGSources Team 12 min read

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“After the main story” can mean two different things: you may want a completely new open-world RPG, or you may want substantial narrative content in a game you already own. The best choice depends on that distinction. Choose The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for authored dark-fantasy storytelling and two major expansions, Cyberpunk 2077 for a futuristic city and the Dogtown-focused Phantom Liberty expansion, or Elden Ring for demanding combat, discovery, and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion’s added territories and foes.

The comparison below sticks to what the publishers and PlayStation’s open-world guide establish. It does not assume that an expansion must be played after a particular ending, and it does not treat announced future content as available today.

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First decide what “after the main story” means for you

Finishing a campaign creates two separate buying decisions. If you want a fresh world, you need a new game whose setting, tone, and combat loop feel different enough from what you just completed. If you already own one of these games, you may instead be looking for an expansion that adds meaningful story without asking you to start over elsewhere.

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You want a new game

Start with the setting and the kind of play you want to repeat for dozens of hours. The Witcher 3 is the authored fantasy option, Cyberpunk 2077 is the dense science-fiction city option, and Elden Ring is the exploration-and-combat option. None is a universal “best”; each answers a different kind of post-campaign fatigue.

You want more content in a game you own

Check your edition before buying anything. The Witcher 3’s Complete Edition includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, and CD PROJEKT RED’s product page says owners of the base game can receive the two expansions at no extra cost under the offering described there. The same page says either expansion can be started separately from the main menu. Entitlements still depend on the platform and storefront listing, so confirm the exact edition attached to your account.

Quick comparison

Game Setting and tone What the additional content adds Combat and exploration emphasis Best fit after a campaign What is not established
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Authored dark-fantasy world; Geralt searches for Ciri across the Northern Kingdoms Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, both included in the Complete Edition Narrative-led action RPG with a strong focus on quests and characters You want another substantial, written fantasy story or already own the base game No source-backed universal play order, completion-time figure, or current price
Cyberpunk 2077 Futuristic Night City, described by PlayStation as a labyrinthine metropolis Phantom Liberty adds the Dogtown area and secret agent Solomon Reed Urban science-fiction action RPG; the cited source emphasizes setting and story expansion You want a modern city and a different tone from medieval fantasy The cited material does not establish a post-ending sequence or a required expansion order
Elden Ring Open fantasy landscape built around secrets and mysteries Shadow of the Erdtree adds territories, characters, and foes Demanding action-RPG combat, exploration on foot or horseback You want discovery and mechanical challenge more than a guided narrative The cited material does not say the expansion is specifically post-ending content or require a particular completion state

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — the strongest story-first recommendation

Choose The Witcher 3 when your ideal follow-up is another authored fantasy narrative rather than an endlessly generated sandbox. CD PROJEKT RED describes it as an open-world role-playing game in which Geralt searches for Ciri across the Northern Kingdoms. That premise puts character relationships, regional conflicts, and authored quests at the center of the experience.

What you get in the Complete Edition

The Complete Edition includes the two major expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. PlayStation’s description confirms the same package. Together, they make this the clearest recommendation in this list for someone who has finished a main campaign and wants more written story in the same world.

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CD PROJEKT RED’s product page also describes an offering in which owners of the base game can obtain both expansions at no extra cost. Treat that as an edition and storefront entitlement, not as a promise that every platform currently presents the same purchase path. Open the listing for your console or PC account and verify whether the add-ons are already included, claimable, or sold separately.

How to start an expansion

  1. Install the Complete Edition or verify that your base-game account owns the two expansions.
  2. Launch The Witcher 3 and open the main menu.
  3. Use the expansion-start option shown there; the official product page says either expansion can be started separately from the main menu.
  4. Read the level, save, and prerequisite information displayed by your platform or game before confirming, because the available start method can differ from continuing an existing save.

The cited official pages do not establish a single mandatory order for Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. If preserving your personal campaign continuity matters, continue from your own save and follow the game’s quest flow rather than assuming an internet ordering rule.

Who should pick it

  • Players who want a carefully authored fantasy setting instead of a purely combat-driven challenge.
  • Readers who finished a story-heavy RPG and want more characters, quests, and world-building in that general tradition.
  • Owners of the base game who want to check for included expansions before purchasing another title.

Cyberpunk 2077 — a futuristic city with a dedicated story expansion

Cyberpunk 2077 is the natural contrast to The Witcher 3. PlayStation describes Night City as a labyrinthine futuristic metropolis, so the appeal is a dense urban science-fiction setting rather than medieval kingdoms and wilderness. If the setting you just completed felt too familiar, this change in place and tone is the main reason to choose it.

What Phantom Liberty contributes

PlayStation says Phantom Liberty expands Cyberpunk 2077’s story with Dogtown and introduces secret agent Solomon Reed. Those details make the expansion a fit for readers who want another substantial narrative thread inside a city they may already know, with a new area and a new central character connection.

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The available source does not establish that Phantom Liberty is a universal “after the ending” chapter, nor does it provide a single expansion play order that applies to every save. Do not buy it on the assumption that the game will automatically place you after the final mission. Check the current platform description and the in-game prompts for your edition.

Who should pick it

  • Players who want a futuristic metropolis instead of a fantasy wilderness.
  • Anyone looking for a story expansion centered on a distinct new district, Dogtown, and Solomon Reed.
  • Readers who prefer a setting change but still want an authored action-RPG campaign.

Ownership check

Before purchasing, identify whether you own the base game, an edition that already includes Phantom Liberty, or a listing that treats the expansion as a separate add-on. The supplied descriptions do not establish a universal price, bundle, or cross-platform entitlement, so the storefront attached to your platform is the authoritative place to confirm contents.

Elden Ring — choose it for discovery and difficult combat

Elden Ring is the choice for a reader whose post-campaign priority is not another tightly directed story but the feeling of finding something hidden and learning a demanding combat system. PlayStation describes an open world traversed on foot or horseback, filled with secrets and mysteries. That combination makes exploration itself the reward.

What Shadow of the Erdtree adds

PlayStation identifies Shadow of the Erdtree as an expansion with new territories, characters, and foes. Those are the supported reasons to choose it: a larger space to investigate, additional people to meet, and new enemies against which to test your build and timing.

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The cited material does not say that Shadow of the Erdtree is specifically post-ending content. It also does not establish a universal rule that every player must finish the main story before entering it. Check the current platform and in-game requirements for your edition instead of treating “after the main story” as a guaranteed access condition.

Who should pick it

  • Players who enjoy discovering routes, secrets, and optional areas without constant quest markers.
  • Anyone who wants the most demanding combat emphasis among these three recommendations.
  • Readers who would rather learn enemy patterns and explore than follow a predominantly dialogue-led campaign.

Ownership check

Confirm whether your listing includes the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree or sells them separately. The supplied sources do not establish a current price, bundle name for every platform, or a single access requirement that applies across editions.

Match the kind of extra content to your post-game mood

“More content” is not one thing. The Witcher 3’s documented package is the clearest choice when the missing ingredient is authored narrative: two named expansions are part of the Complete Edition, and the official product page provides a separate-start option from the main menu. That makes it the most straightforward answer for someone who has finished a campaign and wants another written arc in a familiar fantasy framework.

Cyberpunk 2077 answers a different need. Its value here is the contrast between a medieval-style fantasy world and Night City, which PlayStation characterizes as a labyrinthine futuristic metropolis. Phantom Liberty adds the Dogtown area and secret agent Solomon Reed, so the additional material is defined by a new urban district and story connection rather than by a second fantasy realm.

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Elden Ring is the better fit when the appeal of a new game is uncertainty itself. Its open world can be crossed on foot or horseback, and PlayStation highlights secrets and mysteries as core features. Shadow of the Erdtree extends that formula with territories, characters, and foes. Pick it for discovery and demanding action-RPG play, not because the available description promises a conventional continuation after the final credits.

Rank #2
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - Xbox One
  • If you buy this game, you will receive a free next-gen update on December 14th!
  • Play as a highly trained monster slayer for hire.
  • Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth and complexity.
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year edition brings together the base game and all the additional content released to date.

Buying and access checklist

  1. Identify what you already own. Look at the account’s actual product page, not a remembered box title. A base game, Complete Edition, and expansion bundle can be separate listings.
  2. Read the contents panel. Confirm whether the named expansion is included, claimable at no extra cost under the applicable offer, or sold as a separate add-on.
  3. Match the platform. Verify PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC support where relevant, plus your account region and storefront.
  4. Decide whether to continue a save. The Witcher 3 explicitly offers separate expansion starts from its main menu. The cited descriptions do not establish identical start methods for Cyberpunk 2077 or Elden Ring.
  5. Do not infer an access requirement. The available descriptions do not establish a universal post-ending sequence for Phantom Liberty or a rule that Shadow of the Erdtree requires the main story to be complete.
  6. Check release status. An announcement, target year, or preview is not the same as a released, purchasable expansion.

These checks also prevent duplicate purchases. If you own The Witcher 3’s base game, the product page’s no-extra-cost offering may cover the two expansions, but your platform listing remains the place to confirm the entitlement. For Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring, verify whether the displayed package combines the base game with its named expansion or leaves the add-on separate. No single price or bundle label is established across every storefront.

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How to choose in under a minute

  1. Want another authored fantasy story? Pick The Witcher 3, especially the Complete Edition with Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.
  2. Want a futuristic city and a new district? Pick Cyberpunk 2077 with Phantom Liberty for Night City, Dogtown, and Solomon Reed.
  3. Want exploration and the hardest combat focus here? Pick Elden Ring with Shadow of the Erdtree for added territories, characters, and foes.
  4. Already own one of them? Check your account’s edition and add-on entitlements before buying a second copy or expansion.
  5. Want a game that is available now? Do not count announced future content as playable until its platform listing confirms release.

What to verify before you spend money

Platform and edition

“Complete Edition,” “base game,” and “expansion” can represent different listings on console and PC storefronts. Read the contents panel, not only the product title. Confirm the platform generation, account region, and whether the add-on is a download entitlement or a separate purchase.

Save continuity

If you want to continue a finished character, launch the expansion from that game’s normal save path where supported. If you use a separate expansion-start option, expect a different entry point or a newly prepared character state; the exact behavior is game- and edition-dependent. The Witcher 3 is the only one of these sources that explicitly confirms a separate main-menu start for its expansions.

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Availability dates

CD PROJEKT RED announced Songs of the Past on May 27, 2026, as a third Witcher 3 expansion planned for 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The company’s press-center description says it will return to Geralt, introduce a new region, quests, and characters, and take him to Letten, described as Dandelion’s homeland. Xbox Wire’s August 25, 2026 coverage also describes the planned 2027 release. It is announced future content, not an expansion you can currently play or buy.

What is known about Songs of the Past

The announcement adds useful context for Witcher fans deciding whether to replay now or wait. CD PROJEKT RED reports that The Witcher 3 has sold more than 60 million copies since its 2015 release; that figure is the publisher’s own report, not an independently audited total.

The planned expansion is associated with PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in the announcement. No released date, price, final feature list, or storefront listing is established by the cited material. Treat 2027 as the announced target year and recheck the platform page when release information becomes available.

Bottom line: match the follow-up to the feeling you want

For more authored fantasy narrative, The Witcher 3 is the most directly supported answer, with Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine in its Complete Edition. For a sharp setting change, Cyberpunk 2077 offers Night City and the Dogtown story expansion Phantom Liberty. For discovery and difficult action-RPG combat, Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree add territories, characters, and foes. Verify your platform’s edition and access rules every time, and treat Songs of the Past as announced 2027 content rather than part of the current catalogue.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which game is best if I mainly want more story after finishing an RPG?

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the clearest fit among these recommendations. Its Complete Edition includes the two major expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, giving story-first players additional authored fantasy content in the same world.

Can I start The Witcher 3 expansions without continuing my old save?

CD PROJEKT RED’s product page says either expansion can be started separately from the main menu. Check the prompt shown by your platform and edition, since a separate start can differ from continuing an existing character.

Is Phantom Liberty only playable after Cyberpunk 2077’s ending?

The cited PlayStation description does not establish a universal post-ending sequence or required play order. Check the current edition page and in-game instructions rather than assuming it automatically begins after the final mission.

Do I have to finish Elden Ring before Shadow of the Erdtree?

The available description identifies new territories, characters, and foes but does not establish a universal rule that the main story must be complete. Confirm the access conditions shown for your platform and edition.

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What does Phantom Liberty add to Cyberpunk 2077?

PlayStation describes it as a story expansion that introduces Dogtown and secret agent Solomon Reed. It is the recommendation here for a futuristic-city setting and a distinct new district.

What makes Elden Ring different from the other two choices?

Its strongest supported appeal is exploration and demanding combat. PlayStation describes traveling through its open world on foot or horseback while uncovering secrets and mysteries; Shadow of the Erdtree adds territories, characters, and foes.

What is Songs of the Past?

CD PROJEKT RED announced it on May 27, 2026, as a third Witcher 3 expansion planned for 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It is described as returning to Geralt with a new region, quests, and characters, including Letten, Dandelion’s homeland. It is announced future content, not a currently available purchase.

How can I avoid paying twice for an expansion?

Check the exact storefront listing tied to your account. The Witcher 3 Complete Edition includes both named expansions, and CD PROJEKT RED describes an offering under which base-game owners can obtain them at no extra cost. Confirm the entitlement, platform, region, and contents panel before checkout.

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The Bottom Line

Choose The Witcher 3 for authored fantasy story, Cyberpunk 2077 for Night City and Dogtown, or Elden Ring for exploration and demanding combat. Confirm your edition and platform entitlements, and treat Songs of the Past as announced 2027 content.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - Xbox One
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - Xbox One
If you buy this game, you will receive a free next-gen update on December 14th!; Play as a highly trained monster slayer for hire.
$27.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Cyberpunk 2077Elden Ringopen-world RPGsRPG expansionsThe Witcher 3video game recommendations

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