Souls/Borne in particular...sure, I know people like them (I like Souls too), but it's really, really a stretch to call them open-world...but self-control and all that.

I think they are open world but not like most open world games. MTZehvor already pointed this out and I don't entirely disagree with him and you but I think its more towards and open world game than an open ended game.

I just don't feel that about them...as I said in my vote, I disqualified Fallout 1 and 2 from my list since they're not open-world in modern, (mostly) seamless world sense (they are free to explore, but hub based)...so when I think of Souls, labeling them as open-world is not even close in my opinion.

By this standard, half of the games on the list need to be removed.  In my list, I used the criteria that the player has the theoretical ability to go to most of the map(s) in the game at any time.  In many games, the fact that you'll be killed in one hit by the enemies in certain places, or inability to fast travel in the beginning, or what have you, makes it impractical to go everywhere.  But, if it is theoretically possible to visit most of the map from the beginning, its open world to me.  

1. Dragon Quest VIII
2. Zelda: Wind Waker
3. Fallout: New Vegas
4. Xenoblade Chronicles X
5. GTA: Vice City

Voting has ended. Result is coming.

1) far cry 4
2) The Legend of Zelda
3) Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor
4) Borderlands 2
5) Final Fantasy (Still have a soft spot for the original [american] FF1)

Truth be told although I have several of them, I haven't played (enough of) many of the modern open world games to have a well formed opinion.

Edit: booo missed it by 17 minutes ... oh well

Results are in.

1: Elder Scrolls V Skyrim
2: GTA Saandreas
3: Bully
4: Need For Speed Most Wanted
5: Fallout New Vegas

Lol, I made  my post 2 hours ago, but  i did not send it.