Best Of
10 Best Open-World Games to Play
Compare ten open-world games for stories, discovery, role-playing and creative exploration, with edition guidance and official trailers.
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The best open worlds give you a reason to care about the space between objectives. That might mean an unpredictable journey, a town full of consequences, or a mountain you want to climb simply to see the view. These ten recommendations cover different approaches rather than treating map size as the deciding factor. Some are mature, demanding adventures; others make experimentation more inviting. The named edition helps you identify the purchase, while the description explains what kind of freedom actually makes the game worth considering.
For more options, explore our Zelda games guide.
10. DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH
Death Stranding 2 makes the route itself a major part of the problem. Terrain, equipment, and the connections you establish can turn a delivery into a small planning exercise with a satisfying result. It suits players who enjoy preparation and a strong author-led story alongside open exploration. The unusual premise is part of the appeal, but it will not suit everyone seeking constant combat. Choose it when moving through a landscape carefully sounds worthwhile, and when you want the world to feel connected to the work you do within it.
Official trailer — PlayStation. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – “No Rain No Rainbow” Launch Trailer | PC Games.
9. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II gives freedom a grounded historical setting. Learning how to behave, fight, and navigate society matters alongside deciding where to travel. That can make progress feel earned in a different way from an adventure built around instant mastery. Choose it if you enjoy role-playing a person with limitations and letting practical problems shape the day. Its systems ask patience, and a careless choice can have consequences. It is a strong fit for players who want an involved RPG rather than a frictionless sightseeing trip.
Official trailer — Warhorse Studios. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Official Launch Trailer.
8. Ghost of Yōtei
Ghost of Yōtei combines a striking landscape with a revenge-driven adventure. Following leads and choosing where to investigate give exploration a purpose beyond collecting everything visible on the map. It is the recommendation for players who want cinematic action and a strong central character within an open setting. This is a PS5 release, so check platform availability rather than assuming it shares every platform with Ghost of Tsushima. Choose it for the relationship between atmosphere, travel, and confrontations, not for a city-simulation level of everyday interaction.
Official trailer — PlayStation. Ghost of Yōtei – Launch Trailer | PS5 Games.
7. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
Cyberpunk 2077 makes Night City feel like more than a backdrop through its neighborhoods, characters, and different approaches to a job. Building a character around preferred tools changes how you handle a problem, while side stories can become as memorable as the main plot. Ultimate Edition includes the base game and Phantom Liberty, which requires the base game when bought separately. Choose it for an urban RPG with substantial narrative content. Its first-person viewpoint and mature themes are part of the package, not optional genre details.
Official trailer — Cyberpunk 2077. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition — Official Launch Trailer.
6. Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced
Grand Theft Auto V offers a busy urban playground alongside a story told through three protagonists. Switching characters gives the campaign different perspectives on the same world, while the surrounding city supplies room for detours. Choose it if you want driving, cinematic missions, and a satirical setting rather than a deep fantasy character build. GTA Online is a distinct ongoing multiplayer experience; do not assume its structure is the same as the single-player campaign. PC editions also have different requirements, so check the version before purchasing.
Official trailer — PlayStation. Grand Theft Auto V: The Official Launch Trailer | PS4.
5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Skyrim makes a distant ruin or an unexpected conversation a plausible reason to abandon your current plan. Its character development supports many approaches, while towns and wilderness give those choices somewhere to play out. Special Edition is the version highlighted here, with Anniversary content sold through different packages and upgrades. Choose it if wandering and shaping a character matter more than following a tightly paced story. Its age shows in some systems, but the freedom to assemble your own sequence of discoveries remains the central attraction.
Official trailer — Bethesda Softworks. Skyrim Special Edition – Trailer.
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Complete Edition
The Witcher 3 connects a large landscape to stories about the people living in it. A contract or village problem can reveal competing interests rather than simply produce another creature to defeat. The Complete Edition combines the main game with Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Choose it for a story-led RPG in which exploration regularly leads to a substantial conversation or decision. Geralt is an established character, so the role-playing comes from how you handle situations rather than inventing an entirely blank protagonist.
Official trailer — PlayStation. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition – Launch Trailer | PS4.
3. ELDEN RING
Elden Ring makes uncertainty useful. If a route or opponent is too demanding, another path may offer a new tool, a different challenge, or simply a better understanding of the world. That freedom changes how its difficult action feels without removing the need to learn combat. Choose it if you enjoy interpreting a landscape and discovering connections without a constant set of instructions. The base game is a complete recommendation; Shadow of the Erdtree is a separate expansion requiring it. Expect challenge to be part of exploration rather than a rare interruption.
Official trailer — BANDAI NAMCO Europe. ELDEN RING – Rise, Tarnished | Official Launch Trailer.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Tears of the Kingdom gives you tools that can change how you cross Hyrule. A vehicle, a clever arrangement of objects, or a different route may solve the same problem, making exploration feel personal. The Switch 2 Edition is the version highlighted, with the original Switch release representing the same underlying adventure. Choose it if experimentation is your favorite form of freedom. It earns its place by making the world a place to work with, rather than only a large space to travel across.
Official trailer for the original game; the featured Switch 2 Edition enhances the same adventure. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Official Trailer #3.
1. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 gives travel a deliberately unhurried rhythm. Weather, wildlife, towns, and chance encounters create reasons to pay attention even when no major mission is underway. Its campaign follows an established character within a gang whose circumstances are changing. Choose it if atmosphere and a substantial story matter as much as the ability to roam. The pace is slower than many action games, which is part of its appeal for the right player. Red Dead Online is separate from the single-player story experience discussed here.
Official trailer — Rockstar Games. Red Dead Redemption 2 Launch Trailer.
Which Game Should You Start With?
For a strong story, choose Red Dead Redemption 2 or The Witcher 3. Elden Ring suits discovery through demanding combat, while Tears of the Kingdom favors creative solutions. Skyrim is the pick for building your own route through an RPG, and Cyberpunk 2077 offers an urban alternative.
