Yakuza Kiwami coming to Steam February 19th. Perfect timing after I just put 80 hours into Y0.
If there's ever a game to be the poster child for how to do open-worlds in this modern era, it has to be Yakuza 0 (Y0).
Y0 has side-quests w/ actual stories, character development, and whatnot everywhere - even if it ain't all voice-acted. This game does a great job w/ all the writing, dialogue, and voice-acting (when it's voice-acted, which is mostly in the main quest).
Y0 also really utilizes its small spaces and areas very well. Detailed areas everywhere, with places to go & do things in. It feels like almost around every corner, there's a building, shop, restaurant, arcade, or something that I can walk in...and go do stuff. Y0 is a nice change from the usual assortment of UbiSoft style side-quests w/ collect-a-thons, conquer-a-thons, destroy-a-thons that are everywhere. Each area feels like a neighrborhood I get to know well and get completely immersed in.
If that isn't enough w/ the side quests and all, then there's also Y0's mini-games. You got darts, pool, old-school Sega Classics in arcades, bowling, poker tables, blackjack tables, roulette tables, mahjong tables, kareoke rhythm games, dancing mini-games, and who knows what else that I haven't got to...yet.
Y0 is great so far, some 14 hours in or so...