Best Open-World Games To Explore In 2025

Open-world games offer players large worlds to explore, often with a massive amount of side and optional content. While these games often overlap with the RPG genre, they can also be in other genres, like racing or stealth games. The common thread through all of the games on this list are worlds that players can explore with a large amount of freedom, often with persistent progression to build your character and tackle increasing challenges. While not every open-world game contains a large explorable world, that expiration and discovery is a key part of what makes open-world games special.

Some of the most notable games in the genre are also some of the best-selling games of all-time, like The Witcher 3 and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, touting huge worlds full of side quests, lovable characters, and new places to explore. Despite the heavy focus on exploration, these games also often feature deep narratives as well, although there are exceptions to that as well. Many of the games on this list are fairly modern, thanks to an increase in size and depth to the open-worlds due to more powerful hardware introduced with more modern consoles. Below you can see our picks for the best open-world games you can play right now. These span a variety of platforms, including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, and we've tried to lean into games that are still widely available and well worth playing in 2025.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• Developer: Rockstar
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Multiplayer: Yes

Red Dead Redemption 2 is an incredibly deep cowboy simulator, touting an expansive version of the Wild West. Made by one of the best open-world developers, Rockstar, it shouldn't come as a surprise that this game is incredibly detailed and full of side stories to discover in its large world. Plus, Red Dead Redemption 2 features a massive narrative about the death of the Wild West, offering an incredible story for you to engage with in between exploring the world. The simulation aspects can't be overlooked either, whether it's slowly riding your horse to the next destination, or taking care of you or your horse's hunger needs, to just stumbling upon a strange situation between NPCs. Plus, it features Red Dead Online, a multiplayer experience set in the same open world, so you can play cowboy with your friends.

Dragon's Dogma 2

• Developer: Capcom
• Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Genre: RPG
• Multiplayer: No

Dragon's Dogma 2 won't be for everyone, but if you love responsive open worlds and games filled with systems, you will likely love it. The world features tons of NPCs, who can be interacted with in multiple interesting ways, including being killed--either by you, the plague, or roving monsters. The combat and classes offer depth to its RPG systems, and while it contains a fast-travel system, it's designed for you to not use it, emphasizing that this is an experience where the journey is far more important than the destination. That said, these systems create a lot of pushback, so if you are looking for a more relaxed or checklist-style open-world experience, look elsewhere.

Forza Horizon 5

• Developer: Playground Games
• Platforms: PS5 (April 25), Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Genre: Racing
• Multiplayer: Yes

One of the few non-RPGs on the list, Forza Horizon 5 features an open-world version of Mexico for you to race around. Sitting somewhere in between arcade racing and simulation, Forza Horizon 5 has plenty of secrets to discover in its open world, along with events like jumps or point-to-point races that you can find and start throughout the world itself. While the main races do happen in instanced versions, the tracks are made up of parts of the open world, creating a seamless racing experience. It's not just one of the best open-world games out there, but also one of the best racing games. Plus, it has two expansions that add new environments to race through, including a Hot Wheels-themed area.

No Man's Sky

• Developer: Hello Games
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
• Genre: Survival-Crafting
• Multiplayer: Yes

Sure, one open world to explore is cool, but what about an unlimited number of worlds? No Man's Sky offers an infinite universe of procedurally generated worlds for you to fly to and explore, letting you seamlessly run around the surface of a planet, fly into the atmosphere, and then move through space before landing somewhere else. You can explore these worlds to find new plants, resources, and creatures, which you can collect and use. You can become a merchant, a builder, or a fighter across a universe shared with other players in multiplayer. Plus, Hello Games regularly releases free updates for the game, so there are new systems being added, offering new ways to interact with the massive universe of No Man's Sky.

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Sea of Thieves

• Developer: Rare
• Platforms: PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Multiplayer: Yes

If you've ever thought that a pirate's life was for you, Sea of Thieves has an ocean begging to be explored. A co-op multiplayer experience by design, you can gather your crew and sail the seas, plundering islands and ships for loot. There are quests to take on, and you can even steal treasure from other players you may encounter out on the open seas. (A PvE mode has also been introduced since launch, in case you don't want to contend with hostile players.) Plus, Sea of Thieves is an ongoing game, with updates regularly adding new content to engage with. Who hasn't wanted to gather a few friends, sing a sea shanty, and search for hidden treasure?

Genshin Impact

• Developer: Hoyoverse
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mobile
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Multiplayer: Yes

One of the few free-to-play games on the list, Genshin Impact offers a massive open world heavily inspired by Breath of the Wild. There are puzzles to solve, monsters to defeat, and a long list of quests to complete. Genshin Impact has received multiple new regions since launch, expanding the open world even further. While Genshin Impact is free-to-play, it does feature gacha mechanics, asking you to roll for new characters who are available for a limited time. You can earn rolls by playing and you can see everything Genshin Impact has to offer without a full roster, but if the idea of gambling for new characters sounds unappealing, you'll be better off with a different open-world game.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

• Developer: Insomniac Games
• Platforms: PS5, PC
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Multiplayer: No

While all three Marvel's Spider-Man games developed by Insomniac Games feature open-world versions of New York for you to swing around, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 offers the biggest and highest fidelity version of it. Offering fun exploration via web-swinging, there are side quests, collectibles, and puzzles to seek out across the city and complete. On top of that, there is an excellent Spider-Man story for you to experience as well, offering a complete package for anyone who loves the webhead or just wants to explore a detailed version of New York City.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

• Developer: MachineGames
• Platforms: PS5 (April 17), Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Multiplayer: No

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle isn't a traditional open-world game, as it features multiple levels across the globe, but it does scratch that itch in a unique way. While not every level is massive, there are multiple large areas, like Vatican City, which have a variety of secrets to find and collect. These levels are incredibly detailed, letting you experience these places in a way not found in many video games. Discovery is a huge part of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, so if that's what draws you to open-world games, it's a great game for exploring detailed spaces. You even get a fantastic Indiana Jones story as the cherry on top.

Elden Ring

• Developer: From Software
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Switch 2
• Genre: Action RPG
• Multiplayer: No

Elden Ring takes the difficult and methodical combat From Software is known for and places it into an open-world setting. Of course, that undersells just how well-realized that open world is and how perfectly it works with the intense combat. You are encouraged to explore, as there are limited map markers and few specific objectives outlined for you, allowing you to discover caves, dungeons, and hidden bosses. This exploration and discovery is what open-world games are all about, and Elden Ring rewards players for finding and scouring new areas, so long as you can defeat whatever enemies are lurking in the space. Plus the horse has a double-jump, something you won't find in most open-world games.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

• Developer: Nintendo
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Switch 2
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Multiplayer: No

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom--and its predecessor Breath of the Wild--are perfect for open-world fans who love exploration. Hyrule is filled with puzzle shrines to tackle, enemies to defeat, and chests to crack open. Building upon Breath of the Wild's foundation, Tears of the Kingdom offers a ton of freedom when it comes to exploring the world, thanks to the Ultrahand ability. This allows you to combine different objects to build flying robots, monster trucks, and long bridges, giving you complete control over how you explore the open world, on top of being able to go in whichever direction you please. Even if you spent tons of time exploring Hyrule in Breath of the Wild, this adds a new dynamic to the world--and there are new areas in the sky and deep underground to check out, too.

If you're getting a Switch 2, you'll be able to enjoy an enhanced Switch 2 Edition.

Cyberpunk 2077

• Developer: CD Projekt Red
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Switch 2
• Genre: RPG
• Multiplayer: No

Cyberpunk 2077 may have had a rough launch back in 2020, but the first-person RPG has become one of the best open-world games thanks to updates and the spectacular Phantom Liberty expansion. You get to explore the massive Night City, which is filled with futuristic vehicles, and tons of side activities. You can steal cars, take down rogue criminals, or perform criminal jobs yourself. You can get yourself a ton of cyber enhancements and follow in the footsteps of Johnny Silverhand as you take on the corporation ruling the city in a fantastic main narrative, matched in scope by the large open world. Phantom Liberty adds a distinct story that stands as some of the best Night City has to offer, and which can impact your understanding of the broader story in surprising ways depending on when you engage with it.

A Switch 2 version is on the way.

Ghost of Tsushima

• Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Multiplayer: Yes

Ghost of Tsushima takes inspiration from Assassin's Creed with its open-world experience. Offering opportunities for both intense samurai sword action and quiet stealth-focused sequences, Ghost of Tsushima excels thanks to a gorgeous open world. It has plenty of side activities, including some less-common ones, like composing Haikus or slicing through bamboo. It also has a visually stunning open world, using saturated colors to decorate its mountain ranges and open fields. While there are a few options for samurai open-world games set in Japan, Ghost of Tsushima is one of the best, and its sequel, Ghost of Yotei, is set for release sometime in 2025.

Death Stranding

• Developer: Kojima Productions
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Genre: Adventure
• Multiplayer: No

Have you ever felt the urge to explore nature? What about exploring nature while delivering packages? Death Stranding offers just that in a post-apocalyptic America, one where nature has reclaimed much of the world. Yes, you will spend some time shooting enemies and going through the wild story that could only come from Hideo Kojima, but much of this experience is about moving from place to place. You get to construct bridges or use the ones left by other players in a game as much focused on exploration and the journey as any game in the genre. That said, if the idea of trying to take countless packages across unpaved landscapes sounds a bit frustrating, you may want to pick another game on the list. Or if it was exactly your thing and you want even more, its sequel, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, releases on June 24, 2025 on PS5.

Mad Max

• Developer: Avalanche Studios
• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Multiplayer: No

The middle years of the Xbox One/PS4 generation were filled with middling open-world games, and if you didn't know any better, you might lump Mad Max into the group. It follows a pretty standard structure of exploring the open desert wasteland, completing side activities and struggling to survive amongst the vicious gangs that have survived to this point. Mad Max excels in its third-person combat and it delivers on the car-combat mechanics you would expect from a game based on the film franchise. It's become a hidden gem among open-world games, and one that gives you a vehicle-centric twist that many others on this list don't provide.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

• Developer: Monolith Productions
• Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Multiplayer: No

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is an excellent open-world checklist game, set in the Lord of the Rings universe. It has great combat, taking inspiration from Arkham Asylum and Assassin's Creed, offering both the responsive brawling and stealth approaches. On top of being set in the Lord of the Rings universe, Shadow of Mordor also has the unique Nemesis system to help it stand out among the crowd. This system makes certain Orc enemies remember your actions, with some moving up the ranks for defeating you or taking the spot of a high-ranking Orc you took out.

Yakuza 0

• Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
• Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
• Genre: Action RPG
• Multiplayer: No

The Yakuza series feature a unique take on open-world games, using a smaller area like Kamurocho, but still filling it to the brim with side activities and missions. While the series features a ton of games, Yakuza 0 remains arguably the best place to start. It's a more modern entry in the series and, as a prequel, sets up the overall story of the franchise and its characters. Both Kiryu and Majima are playable characters, introducing you to some of the best video game characters in the business. Yakuza 0 has tons of great minigames, like running a cabaret club and racing pocket RC cars (complete with their own storylines that can vary from heartwarming to downright bizarre).

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

• Developer: Warhorse Studios
• Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Genre: Action RPG
• Multiplayer: No

Warhorse Studios' Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an open-world RPG set in a realistic 15th century medieval Europe. Not only does it offer the freedom and depth you would expect from a good open-world game, but it weaves realism into its systems, perfect for those seeking a less fantastic experience. You need to bathe regularly, need a special drink to save, and generally have to deal with a high level of friction, making it an ideal open-world game for people who enjoy that friction. It's got a strong main narrative and a protagonist who is truly just a guy, letting you get a feel for what it would be like to be a normal person in medieval Europe.

Ghostwire: Tokyo

• Developer: Tango Gameworks
• Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Genre: Horror
• Multiplayer: No

Ghostwire: Tokyo is a divisive game, but there aren't many examples of a real city being remade so intricately in a video game. This version of Tokyo is filled with Yokai, but you can visit real historical landmarks and explore a visually incredible city. If you don't enjoy horror, this may not be for you, but the unique combat system and horror-inspired enemies create a different kind of open-world game, even if it still has all of the side content and collectibles you would expect from the genre.

Octopath Traveler 2

• Developer: Acquire and Square Enix
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
• Genre: Turn-based RPG
• Multiplayer: No

Octopath Traveler 2 is a gorgeous turn-based RPG made in the HD-2D art style used in games like the first entry in the series and Dragon Quest 3: HD-2D remake. While Octopath Traveler 2 doesn't offer a seamless open space to explore, it does offer a ton of freedom in how you explore the world. Since you can choose any of the eight characters' stories to start with, and you can choose to tackle the different stories in whatever order, you have the freedom that is expected in these genres.

You can go to different regions of the map as you choose and discover secret areas and side quests, making it an open-world game in multiple ways. You can also swap between day and night in Octopath Traveler 2, changing the available NPCs and opening up new areas. Each party member also has two unique overworld abilities, one for day and one for night, like pick pocketing or putting people to sleep. Plus, it has a strategic combat system and several excellent stories, making it an ideal choice for anyone that enjoys turn-based combat.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey

• Developer: Ubisoft
• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Multiplayer: No

Most Assassin's Creed games are open-world games, but the modern kind, from Origins onward, takes that to the next level. In this case, we have Assassin's Creed Odyssey on the list for blending a massive open world with a strong narrative throughline. The base game offers over 100 hours' worth of side missions, bounties, naval combat, and so much more for you to sink your teeth into, with multiple DLCs that add even more open-world areas. The RPG elements give you tons of customization for your weapons and armor, and you can still take a stealth-first approach, making this a buffet of great content. It's one of the best Assassin's Creed games in the entire series.

Fallout 4

• Developer: Bethesda
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Genre: RPG
• Multiplayer: No

Bethesda is one of the most prominent developers when it comes to open-world games. It has classics like Fallout 3 and Skyrim, and while it has arguably missed with recent releases--looking at you Starfield--Fallout 4 is a happy medium. It doesn't have as much RPG depth as Fallout 3, but it makes up for it with the size of its open world, which is filled with small dungeons to explore and tons of side activities to complete, and shooting that doesn't feel like an afterthought. There are fun companions, and if you are into it, base-building systems that are surprisingly deep. Fallout 4 also has a great DLC in Far Harbor, which features a strong narrative if you found the one in the base game to be lacking. Those who play on PC can also check out our list of the best Fallout 4 mods, which can further improve and expand the game.

Batman: Arkham City

• Developer: Rocksteady Studios
• Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
• Genre: Action-adventure
• Multiplayer: No

While you might be able to argue that Batman Arkham Asylum is an open-world game, Batman: Arkham City is undeniably one. Significantly larger than the first game, Arkham City takes the hand-to-hand brawling and stealth takedowns and expands them into a large city. Not only is it one of the best superhero stories in a video game, but the expanded world lets you glide and grapple like you're really Batman navigating a city. There are Riddler Trophies galore, along with other side quests and collectibles, scratching that checklist open-world gaming itch.

Sunset Overdrive

• Developer: Insomniac Games
• Platforms: Xbox One, PC
• Genre: Third-person Shooter
• Multiplayer: Yes

Sunset Overdrive had the unfortunate fate of being an Xbox One exclusive, resulting in it being severely underplayed. This open-world game features all of the side activities, collectibles, and enemies you would expect, but what makes it special is the movement, something Insomniac Games nailed long before making the Spider-Man games. There are rails to grind, walls to run on, and buildings to leap off of, coalescing in a fluid and fast movement system that works incredibly well with third-person shooting. It's colorful and silly, making Sunset Overdrive a blast to play.

Satisfactory

• Developer: Coffee Stain Studios
• Platforms: PC
• Genre: Management Sim
• Multiplayer: Yes

Satisfactory might be primarily about building factories, but it is an open-world game at its core. You have a large alien planet that you can explore alone or with friends, along with combat and resources to discover in the world. The vast majority of your time will be spent creating elaborate factories with spider-webs of conveyor belts, but the open-world exploration plays a big enough role to put it on this list, even if it isn't a traditional open-world game. Plus, the factory building is so satisfying that anyone mildly interested in the concept should check it out.

State of Decay 2

• Developer: Undead Labs
• Platforms: Xbox One, PC
• Genre: Survival-crafting
• Multiplayer: Yes

State of Decay 2 is an open-world survival game, where you must recruit survivors, build communities, and take down hordes for the undead in one of the best zombie games. Supporting co-op multiplayer and a short narrative story, the main juice in State of Decay 2 involves exploring the open-world and choosing when to take risks--and when to take your toys and go home--to find resources and new survivors. This loop creates stressful situations and tough choices, while offering a deep and extensive zombie apocalypse to play in.

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

• Developer: Konami
• Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
• Genre: Stealth-Action
• Multiplayer: No

The final game in the Metal Gear Solid series--no, Metal Gear Survive does not count--Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain takes place in a large open-world, offering nearly endless opportunities for stealth-action. There are outposts to take down, soldiers and resources to collect via Fultons, and a creative main story from Hideo Kojima. While there are complaints against it, mainly the unfinished narrative, the freedom and creativity you get from combining the intricate stealth-combat mechanics with an open world creates a fantastic game and one of the best stealth-action experiences you can have.