Not all video games need to boast massive budgets, inhumane crunch hours, and so much detail that developers break their backs to let players enjoy state-of-the-art tech in their games. Sometimes, it's perfectly fine for smaller studios to try their hands at various gaming genres instead.
9 Best Sci-Fi Open-World Games
Open-world sci-fi games can be difficult to get right due to just how vast they can be, but these games manage to nail it.
The AA moniker is unfairly looked down upon, with people feeling like these games lack both the creativity of indie projects and the big-budget spectacle of AAA gaming. However, as the following open-world games will make abundantly clear, this sphere of gaming can still lead to some interesting results that are worth checking out.
8 Maneater
Players Control A Shark That Chows Down On Everything In Its Path To Grow Stronger
Maneater
- Released
- May 22, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Tripwire Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Maneater is a violent game that lets players control a shark that slowly gets stronger by chomping down on people and fish. There's no discrimination here, especially since the shark needs to get stronger to take their revenge on the shark hunter who killed their mother.
Despite the gameplay loop itself being somewhat bland, the presentation for this title is surprisingly excellent and will leave fans hooked early on. Based on how much players can tolerate repetitive gameplay, they can reach the end of a satisfying video game where players slowly get stronger and eventually get their revenge.
7 Sable
The Game Revolves Around A Rite Of Passage
Sable
- Released
- September 23, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Shedworks
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Players will love Sable and its zen exploration, placing them in the shoes of the eponymous protagonist who must go through a Rite of Passage to be accepted by her clan. She is set loose in a world full of puzzles that can be explored on her trusty hover bike.
Uncovering the mystery at the heart of Sable is pretty engrossing and will keep players engaged for hours on end. The exploration is relaxing, and players can tackle challenges at their own pace to really elevate the experience.
6 Outward
A Tough Open-World Survival Game
Outward
- Released
- March 26, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
One of the hardest open-world games players can get their hands on, Outward can be frustrating, especially in the early goings. The survival mechanics are punishing and will cause players to face a variety of negative situations over and over again.
7 Best Open-World Games To Play While Waiting For GTA 6
GTA 6 might be still some time away from release, but luckily, there are some solid open-world titles to enjoy in the meantime.
However, players must learn from their mistakes and learn the best ways to survive and earn gold. Paying off the Blood Price is easier said than done and only marks the beginning of a heroic experience that is way bigger in scope than most people would expect.
5 Palworld
Pokémon Fans Love The Open-World Survival Spin On The Monster Catching Gameplay
Palworld
- Released
- January 19, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Developer(s)
- Pocket Pair, Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Shooter, Survival
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
Obvious inspirations aside, Palworld has done a great job of letting fans experience a monster-catching game with unique mechanics from another developer. Acquiring Pals and assigning tasks to them to help their base become stronger is way more captivating than most people would assume.
The idea of Pokémon with guns sounds absurd, but Palworld manages to make this work in so many fun ways. It helps that the open world encourages exploration and lets players acquire a ton of valuable resources to make valuable progress.
4 The Witness
Solving Puzzles In This Open-World Game Is A Blast
The Witness
- Released
- January 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Alcohol Reference
- Developer(s)
- Thekla Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
The Witness is one of the most overlooked open-world games players can get their hands on. Players find themselves on an island full of puzzles that let them explore and solve these brain teasers at their own pace.
The game is clearly inspired by Myst, with players getting lost in an open world that is brimming with numerous mysteries. Given how the developer of this game, Jonathan Blow, is credited for sparking the rise of indie gaming, it's easy to see why The Witness also displays his brilliance in a well-executed game with tight and refined areas.
3 No Man's Sky
A Huge Galaxy With Endless Opportunities To Explore
No Man's Sky
- Released
- August 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood
- Developer(s)
- Hello Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
No Man's Sky faced a tough launch before eventually salvaging its reputation to become one of the best open-world games for players who prioritize exploration over everything else. This amazing adventure takes place in several unique biomes and planets as they find resources, establish bases, interact with other sentient creatures, and strive to reach the center of the galaxy.
8 Best Historical Fantasy Open-World Games, Ranked
These striking open-world games mix historical settings with many fantastical elements, blurring the line between fantasy and reality.
Even after reaching what is supposed to be the end of the game, No Man's Sky has so many things to do that players can be lost in this title for ages. It's the perfect example of how plentiful content can make up for simple gameplay mechanics to let players enjoy a fun title.
2 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
A Massive Improvement Over The First Game With Great Exploration
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Released
- February 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Warhorse Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Warhorse Studios is one of the most impressive developers in modern times, given how they decided to make a realistic medieval open-world game as their very first title. Despite some issues, Kingdom Come: Deliverance was a promising title that showed what this developer was capable of.
The sequel is a polished and engaging experience that makes combat against multiple people less frustrating while also letting Henry's journey end on a satisfying note. It's an excellent open-world RPG that any fan of this wildly popular genre mashup should check out.
1 Outer Wilds
An Amazing Open-World Puzzle Game Where Knowledge Is Currency
Outer Wilds
- Released
- May 28, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
The fact that Outer Wilds managed to captivate so many people despite its 22-minute time loop shows just how satisfying this adventure game is. Players find tidbits of information and useful clues scattered across the galaxy that do a great job of filling in the blanks and clueing players in on what they have to do.
The fact that exploration itself will drive progress in a satisfying manner while still making players feel a sense of accomplishment is a huge part of what makes Outer Wilds tick. It's one of the best video games ever made and shows that AA gaming should not be slept on.
Open-World Games That Focus On Combat Over Exploration
These open-world games might feature a mix of exploration and combat, but they focus more heavily on combat and challenging encounters over discovery.