Video games have the power to transport players into fictional worlds where anything is possible. It doesn't matter if the setting is deep in outer space or in the rolling hills of a fantasy kingdom, exploration matters a lot, and when it comes to feeling fully immersed in a game, the ability to go anywhere, anytime is a sensation that is pretty hard to beat.
28 Xbox One Games With Huge Open-World Maps
The eighth console generation allowed for some massive open-world maps; here are some of the biggest available on Microsoft's Xbox One.
What's more, if players also gain access to a different traversal method aside from walking, that adds an extra level of excitement, as suddenly those far-off locations can be accessed in a much shorter period of time. The maps don't need to be endless all the time, or even ridiculously large. Just having the option of visiting the outer reaches of the environment is a nice touch that makes these games all the more enjoyable.
No Man's Sky
An Entire Universe At Your Fingertips
No Man's Sky
- Released
- August 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood
- Developer(s)
- Hello Games
No Man's Sky is easily one of the most impressive open-world games ever made, giving players a procedurally generated universe that could quite literally take a lifetime to explore. Players can stand on a single planet and venture from one side to the other, then hop in their ship and fly across the galaxy to another world and do it all over again.
This constant loop of near-infinite exploration is aided by the intricate procedural generation systems that ensure these worlds are never completely empty, with each having its own unique resources, creatures, and even weather. No game fits the "anything is possible" description quite like No Man's Sky, and despite a rocky start in the early days, it has blossomed into a truly breathtaking exploration experience.
Elden Ring
Anything You Can See, You Can Go To
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
Elden Ring takes the directionless FromSoftware exploration style and scales it up to an open world with more ambition and grandeur than ever. From the moment players load into the world, they are greeted with a sprawling landscape that simply invites them to discover it, and rather than having placeholder mountains or giant unreachable peaks in the background, pretty much every structure and every rock can be reached in one way or another.
The Biggest Open World Games, Based On The Size Of Their Maps
Open-world games are beloved for their massive maps. Here are some of the biggest open worlds that gamers can explore in the genre.
This allows the world to feel attainable yet daunting at the same time. With so many directions and possible paths to explore, it can be hard to know where to start, but once players manage to get used to the lack of markers and clear guidance, they will become fully immersed in a dark fantasy setting that pushes the open-world genre forward several years on its own.
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Straight From The Ground To The Skies
Xenoblade Chronicles X
- Released
- December 4, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Animated Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Monolith Soft, Nintendo SPD
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Open-World
Xenoblade Chronicles X remains one of the most ambitious open-world RPGs ever created. It's a vast sci-fi epic that grants players true freedom to explore an alien planet teeming with wonder and danger. The game offers a seamless landscape of continents, floating islands, and colossal creatures, all explorable from the very start, and the introduction of the flying Skells brings the skies and oceans even closer.
The ability to traverse the surface one minute and then take flight and reach the clouds in a matter of seconds is something that needs to be experienced to be appreciated. Every mountain, jungle, and shimmering plain is reachable, but more importantly, they are filled with secrets and treasures to find, encouraging players to go above and beyond and really see every tiny corner of the world.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
The Entire Planet Is Waiting To Be Explored
Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Released
- August 18, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Asobo Studio
- Genre(s)
- Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a breathtaking game that at times feels more like an interactive movie than a playable experience. Players can choose between a variety of different aircraft and then take to the skies, gliding effortlessly across cities, fields, and oceans without any fear at all.
The reason the game is so astounding is that players can pretty much see the entire planet within a single game. Thanks to satellite imaging, the Earth has been brought into the virtual world with a pretty stellar level of accuracy, letting players take their planes to all kinds of landmarks and wonders, or even their own homes, in what is the premier flight sim experience for fans of all things aviation.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Gorgeous Vistas Right From The Start
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the Zelda game to top all Zelda games. The world is enormous, and players can see everything from atop the mountains, with structures appearing in the distance behind lush forests and seemingly impossible peaks becoming accessible with the right set of tools and the mindset to go with them.
The game thrives on choice, as players can decide to climb, glide, run, or ride across the landscape, each with their own purpose, but each being just as fun as the others. It takes some time to actually choose where to go, as the world is so beautiful and magical that players may need a moment to take it all in and appreciate the level of vastness that lies right in front of their eyes.
Just Cause 3
Seeing The Whole World From The Skies
Just Cause 3
- Released
- November 30, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Studios
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Third-Person Shooter
Just Cause 3 is a hilarious action game that cares far more about chaos and fun than it does about cinematic storytelling. Players have a toy store's worth of tools to use to traverse the world, but what makes the exploration so fun is how the different methods flow into one another, as players can grapple, then glide, then parachute down and do it all over again.
The map itself is also incredibly large; it's one of the biggest open-world maps that players will ever explore. Thankfully, they can get around pretty quickly, swooping through the skies and shooting across rooftops, all while completely destroying enemies who never stood a chance against a flying secret agent with a load of guns in his pocket.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Perfect Medieval Setting
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt redefined what open-world storytelling could be, maintaining solid story threads throughout but still allowing players to explore its expansive environment however they please. The Continent covers everything from war-torn plains to haunted swamps to bustling cities, with each region being filled to the brim with character and stories to tell.
Best Games To Play If You Like The Witcher 3
Players who have completed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can try out these similar games if they want to go through another action-packed experience.
What sets The Witcher 3 apart is how its freedom never feels empty. Every detour leads to a story worth hearing, meaning that no exploration ever feels like it finishes with a roadblock or dead end. It invites players not just to travel, but to live within its borders, exploring the world as the story unfolds in a way that few other games can even come close to.
Fuel
Virtually Endless Roads To Follow
Fuel
- Released
- June 2, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- rp
- Developer(s)
- Asobo Studio
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Sports
Fuel is an often-overlooked marvel of open-world design that takes the concept of a racing game and thrusts it into a gigantic post-apocalyptic landscape where all there is to do is drive. Its world spans over 5,000 square miles of continuous terrain, making it one of the largest open environments ever created. From scorched deserts to abandoned forests and storm-lashed plains, every region feels harsh yet hauntingly beautiful, giving players an enormous amount of ground to cover in a single game.
The game's commitment to scale was really ahead of its time. There are no invisible walls or artificial limits, just endless roads and the organic thrill of discovery. The lack of barriers may seem daunting, but with fewer restrictions comes a greater desire to see more of the world and to continue exploring the vast, dusty landscape.
10 Best Open-World Games If You Want An Escape From Reality, Ranked
Struggling to deal with the real world? These open-world games have you covered, offering expansive worlds and lengthy play times as a distraction.