The best open-world games don’t necessarily have the biggest maps. They have places you actually want to spend time in, whether that’s the dusty frontier of Red Dead Redemption 2, the streets of Night City or a Minecraft world you’re gradually rebuilding with friends. A huge map means little if there’s no reason to get off the main road.
We’re mixing recent releases with older favourites because this is a list of great open-world games you can play now, not just games launched in 2026. The ten below offer different reasons to explore: rich stories, demanding combat, creativity, beautiful scenery and endless discovery. We’ll also point out where each game might disappoint, because not everybody wants the same kind of freedom.
Best open-world games compared
These are our best open-world games across different playstyles. Use the table to find a world that fits the time you want to spend in it.
| Game | Best for | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | living world | PS4, Xbox One, PC |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | story-driven exploration | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC |
| Elden Ring | freedom and challenging combat | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | futuristic city | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Switch 2 |
| Ghost of Yōtei | cinematic samurai adventure | PS5 |
| Crimson Desert | action-packed fantasy world | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
| The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | creative problem-solving | Switch, Switch 2 via compatibility |
| No Man’s Sky | endless space exploration | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2, PC |
| Minecraft | creative sandbox | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, mobile |
| Grand Theft Auto V | city sandbox and mayhem | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
1. Red Dead Redemption 2: Best living world
Of the best open-world games, Rockstar’s frontier isn’t merely a map full of markers. People work, travel, argue and react to Arthur Morgan, and small encounters can turn an uneventful ride into something memorable. Hunting, camping and wandering are as much a part of the appeal as the gang’s dramatic story.
It’s also deliberately slow. Arthur moves with weight, animations take their time, and some missions expect you to follow a defined path. If you want immediate action, that can feel restrictive. If you enjoy inhabiting a place rather than rushing through it, this is still one of the finest worlds to get lost in.
Among the best open-world games, Red Dead Redemption 2 is particularly appealing if living world matters more to you than ticking off every map marker. There are plenty of activities, but what sticks with you is the experience of being there.
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Best story-driven exploration
In the best open-world games, Geralt’s world is packed with quests that begin as routine monster contracts and turn into stories about family, guilt or political choices. Velen, Novigrad and Skellige each have different identities, and your decisions can create consequences you won’t see until much later.
Combat and inventory management show their age in places, and some players will find the early game slow. But few games give optional quests this much care. For someone who wants discoveries to lead to memorable people rather than another collectible, The Witcher 3 remains an easy recommendation.
Among the best open-world games, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is particularly appealing if story-driven exploration matters more to you than ticking off every map marker. There are plenty of activities, but what sticks with you is the experience of being there.
3. Elden Ring: Best freedom and challenging combat
The best open-world games don’t always tell you where to go next, and the Lands Between certainly won’t. A castle on the horizon, a suspicious lift or a strange figure in a ruin may become an entire evening’s adventure. FromSoftware rewards curiosity, and the joy of finding a hidden dungeon is often matched by the terror of what’s guarding it.
Its freedom comes with a warning: difficult bosses and obscure quest steps can be frustrating. The game doesn’t gently explain everything. For players willing to experiment with weapons, spirit summons and builds, though, few worlds make exploration feel so consequential.
Among the best open-world games, Elden Ring is particularly appealing if freedom and challenging combat matters more to you than ticking off every map marker. There are plenty of activities, but what sticks with you is the experience of being there.
4. Cyberpunk 2077: Best futuristic city
Of the best open-world games for urban adventure, Night City is the star. Its dense streets, towering buildings and neighbourhoods make an excellent setting for the stories of V and Johnny Silverhand. The Phantom Liberty expansion adds a particularly strong espionage adventure, while different combat builds let you approach encounters with guns, hacking or close-range aggression.
It’s less about wilderness discovery than moving through a city with an unmistakable personality. Driving, dialogue and combat take up much of your time, and some players might want more ways to interact with every shopfront. For atmosphere and character-led urban exploration, it’s superb.
Among the best open-world games, Cyberpunk 2077 is particularly appealing if futuristic city matters more to you than ticking off every map marker. There are plenty of activities, but what sticks with you is the experience of being there.
5. Ghost of Yōtei: Best cinematic samurai adventure
Among the best open-world games for cinematic storytelling, Ghost of Yōtei puts exploration of Ezo at the heart of Atsu’s revenge story. Mountains, forests and villages provide a beautiful backdrop, but they’re also places to train, find equipment and encounter people whose lives have been shaped by conflict. The game’s combat is a major draw, especially for players who like precise melee duels.
The story has a clear dramatic direction, so it’s less of a blank-canvas sandbox than Minecraft or No Man’s Sky. That’s not a flaw if you want a guided adventure with room to wander. This is our choice for beautiful landscapes, memorable duels and a strong sense of place.
Among the best open-world games, Ghost of Yōtei is particularly appealing if cinematic samurai adventure matters more to you than ticking off every map marker. There are plenty of activities, but what sticks with you is the experience of being there.
6. Crimson Desert: Best action-packed fantasy world
One of the best open-world games for action fans, Crimson Desert sends Kliff into Pywel, an enormous fantasy landscape with large battles, traversal abilities, quests and plenty of things to discover off the main road. It’s more interested in giving you a wide range of activities than asking you to follow a narrow RPG class system.
That ambition is part of the attraction, although players looking for a tight, focused narrative may find the sheer number of systems overwhelming. Pick it if you want to experiment with movement, get into fights and see what catches your attention over the next hill.
Among the best open-world games, Crimson Desert is particularly appealing if action-packed fantasy world matters more to you than ticking off every map marker. There are plenty of activities, but what sticks with you is the experience of being there.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: Best creative problem-solving
Tears of the Kingdom expands Hyrule above the clouds and deep below its familiar surface. Ultrahand and Fuse let you build vehicles, combine objects and solve problems in ways that feel uniquely yours. It’s a game where an improvised contraption can be just as satisfying as defeating the enemy it was designed to avoid.
Not everyone enjoys building machines or experimenting with physics. If you want every puzzle to have one clear intended answer, the freedom may feel messy. But for playful exploration, almost nothing else comes close.
Among the best open-world games, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is particularly appealing if creative problem-solving matters more to you than ticking off every map marker. There are plenty of activities, but what sticks with you is the experience of being there.
8. No Man’s Sky: Best endless space exploration
No Man’s Sky turns the universe into a place to travel, catalogue, build in and repeatedly return to. You can discover planets, establish bases, upgrade starships and pursue expeditions without committing to a linear story every time you log in.
Some of its appeal comes from self-directed goals, which means it can feel aimless if you need a dramatic plot pushing you forward. For people who like exploration as a hobby, that endlessness is a selling point rather than a weakness.
Among the best open-world games, No Man’s Sky is particularly appealing if endless space exploration matters more to you than ticking off every map marker. There are plenty of activities, but what sticks with you is the experience of being there.
9. Minecraft: Best creative sandbox
Minecraft still understands something fundamental about what makes the best open-world games work: a new world is most interesting when you can alter it. Mining, building, farming, fighting and travelling all feed into a game where your home and the landscape around it slowly become records of what you’ve done.
Its simple visual style and loose objectives won’t win over everyone. There is no lavish cinematic campaign carrying you through the world. But if your ideal adventure involves deciding what to do and then making it happen, Minecraft belongs on any serious open-world shortlist.
Among the best open-world games, Minecraft is particularly appealing if creative sandbox matters more to you than ticking off every map marker. There are plenty of activities, but what sticks with you is the experience of being there.
10. Grand Theft Auto V: Best city sandbox and mayhem
Los Santos combines a large urban playground with Michael, Franklin and Trevor’s interconnected crime story. Outside the missions, you can drive, race, explore the surrounding countryside or simply see how much chaos the city can handle.
Its satire and mission structure won’t be to every taste, and some open-world systems have become more sophisticated since release. The appeal remains its sense of freedom and the density of activities packed into one recognisable place.
Among the best open-world games, Grand Theft Auto V is particularly appealing if city sandbox and mayhem matters more to you than ticking off every map marker. There are plenty of activities, but what sticks with you is the experience of being there.
How to choose from the best open-world games
Red Dead Redemption 2 is our first pick for a world that feels alive, while The Witcher 3 is hard to beat when you want side quests with actual stories. Elden Ring is more demanding, but the sense of discovery is extraordinary. For a modern city, pick Cyberpunk 2077; for historical landscapes and sword fights, Ghost of Yōtei is an excellent choice.
The best open-world games for creative players are Minecraft and Tears of the Kingdom, although they give you very different tools. No Man’s Sky is the best fit when your idea of an evening is discovering another planet and starting another project. Crimson Desert serves up busier fantasy action, while GTA V remains a great option for city-sized chaos.
Which open-world game is easiest to start?
Minecraft in Creative mode offers almost no pressure if you’d rather build than fight. GTA V and Cyberpunk 2077 give you familiar mission structures, while Red Dead Redemption 2 introduces its world through a slower story. Elden Ring is the hardest recommendation for a complete beginner because its combat and progression expect you to learn through failure.
Official source: Rockstar Games: Red Dead Redemption 2.
