It could be said that open-world games encapsulate gaming's best attributes and push them to their logical extremes — they offer fully fleshed-out alternate realities for the player to explore as they wish, generally affording them unprecedented levels of agency and freedom in determining their path through it. An open-world game has the potential to, almost literally, become a second life for the player to disappear into.
So it should come as no surprise that some of the gaming industry's most prolific titles manifest as open-world games. As luck would have it, a generous number of titles are at players' fingertips if they happen to have an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. But which world should someone dive into next? What are the best open-world games on Xbox Game Pass?
Updated on September 19, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Game Pass does not welcome new open-world games every other week, but you still have more than enough options to keep you busy for years. If you are not sure what is available, I recommend checking out all the Game Pass open-world games; if you just want a rundown of the best, read on below.
A game's quality is not the only deciding factor in its ranking. For instance, if a major open-world game has just been added to Game Pass, it will be listed at the top initially. Also, we are going to be strict with the definition of "open-world," so semi-open titles or 2D Metroidvanias will be excluded.
1 Grounded 2 (Game Preview)
Building On A Rock-Solid Foundation
Grounded 2
- Released
- July 29, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Early Access Release
- July 29, 2025
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Grounded has been a Game Pass staple for years, and Obsidian's inspired take on the survival genre is still available for everyone to play; however, its sequel is now also part of the subscription service's Ultimate tier, making it arguably the better option for newcomers. Before saying anything else, it needs to be noted that Grounded 2 is still in early access, so the current campaign is not complete. That said, the game is still very playable and improves upon its predecessor in plenty of ways, providing a larger playground along with fine-tuning most of the mechanics.
Grounded 2: All Creatures & Their Loot
There are many creatures in Grounded 2, most of whom are insects, but there are also arachnids and mollusks. Each of these can be killed for loot.
Obsidian did not try to reinvent the wheel; instead, the developer opted to mostly stick to what worked in the first game. Fortunately, Grounded is an absolutely fantastic open-world co-op game, so a sequel that offers the same but more is an obvious success story. As a solo option, Grounded 2 is an above-average survival experience, but the game is definitely designed to be played with friends.
2 Oblivion Remastered
A Great Remaster Of One Of The Best Open-World Games Of All Time
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
- Released
- April 22, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Open-World, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, PC
Rumors aside, Oblivion Remastered was announced and released on the same day, making it instantly one of the biggest projects of 2025. While tagged as being a "remaster," this version provides such a substantial boost in visuals that it does, at the very least, look like a different game. Oblivion Remastered is absolutely gorgeous and comfortably among the most visually striking open-world games on Game Pass.
Oblivion Remastered: 8 Best Early-Game Weapons, Ranked
These early-game weapons in Oblivion Remastered can carry you through Cyrodiil’s toughest starter quests with damage, sustain, and unique effects.
Gameplay-wise, Bethesda and Virtuous primarily attempt to preserve the original's strengths and quirks, albeit with a few tweaks to help modernize some aspects of the experience. Despite still being similar at its core, the combat benefits from improved enemy feedback, which makes a huge difference to the quality of the action. The remaster has other improvements as well.
3 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Welcome To The Zone
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- Released
- November 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- GSC Game World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Open-World, Post-Apocalyptic, Survival
- How Long To Beat
- 36 hours
For a while, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl seemed destined to never come out, and the fact that it is readily available nowadays on Game Pass serves as a testament to GSC's dedication and perseverance. Putting aside any question of quality for the moment, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's existence should be celebrated. Thankfully, the open-world game is also pretty darn great, as long as subscribers know what they are getting into. The franchise has earned a reputation for delivering challenging titles that emphasize survival and vulnerability. The 2024 entry is probably the most accessible yet, and it is still very difficult and capable of overwhelming newcomers.
Set within The Zone, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 drops players into a cutthroat hellscape defined by desperation, greed, and relentless survival. There are mutants, magic artifacts, and plenty of weapons, even if ammo can be scarce. The world is massive, far surpassing anything else in the series, and frequently stunning, a consequence of utilizing Unreal Engine 5. Survival games are not that rare, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a unique breed that is rich in atmosphere and world-building. The gameplay complements the tone well through things like a radiation system and item management. Even if someone has never played a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Game before, they should give the latest release a try. That said, they should prepare themselves for the occasional bug.
4 Minecraft
The Ultimate Sandbox
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Mojang
- Platform(s)
- 3DS, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
- How Long To Beat
- 129 Hours
No game encourages freedom and exploration the way that Minecraft does. As soon as players spawn into the world, there are no boundaries restricting what they do next. Building a mansion in the forest, mining to the depths of the world, or crafting the most intricate roller coaster are all options on the table.
Though there are no quests sprinkled throughout the world of Minecraft, the ability to do anything so chosen is the game’s main appeal. Minecraft is the ultimate sandbox project, and players are only limited by their imagination. Mojang's masterpiece has been an inescapable part of the gaming industry for so long that a recommendation is unnecessary by this point. Anyone remotely familiar with gaming is aware of Minecraft, and they almost certainly know if the project is for them or not. In terms of open-world Game Pass games, almost no other project comes close to matching Minecraft's importance.
5 Tom Clancy's The Division 2
A Great Third-Person Shooter With A Lot Of Content
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
- Released
- March 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
I know that Ubisoft's open-world games are not extremely popular nowadays, but the publisher has produced plenty of great projects within the genre. Tom Clancy's The Division 2 has been around for quite a while by this point, and it offers a very impressive experience that can be enjoyed as both a straightforward PvE romp or a co-op option.
Personally, I prefer to treat the game as a single-player RPG set within a well-realized version of Washington, and it even manages to scratch my looter-shooter itch. However, most people seem to opt to play with a friend, which can help make the fairly lengthy campaign go by more quickly.
6 Skyrim
Timeless Open-World RPG
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 35 Hours
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has long been a definitive staple of the open-world catalog, and it’s likely to remain that way until the next chapter of the mainline Elder Scrolls saga manifests. Even today, players still wander the snowy tundra, lush forests, and decrepit dungeons of Skyrim in droves, which is no mean feat considering the base game was released in 2011.
If for some reason someone is yet to embark on the epic tale of the Dragonborn, now’s as good a time as any. And if they already have, then they can pick from an extensive selection of mods that are available for Xbox consoles and fabricate a new twist on a familiar adventure.
7 Palworld
A Blend Of Concepts That Works Surprisingly Well
Palworld
- Released
- January 19, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Pocket Pair, Inc.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Shooter, Survival
- How Long To Beat
- 36 Hours
Coming out of nowhere and instantly establishing itself as one of Game Pass's best open-world games, Palworld is almost unbelievably good, especially considering it is still in Game Preview. Pocket Pair aimed for the stars by delivering a project that, on paper, appears to spread itself too thin to offer any real depth in one field; however, somehow, the 2024 game comes together to create a surprisingly cohesive experience. Now, this is still an early access release that is a work in progress, so anyone who jumps in should expect to encounter a few bugs and issues along the way. Palworld runs pretty well for this type of release, but it is still a ways off from completion, so expectations should be kept realistic. That said, the current version has more than content to justify a recommendation on its own, all with the knowledge that the future should come with a stream of new updates.
What is Palworld? Well, that question is somewhat difficult to answer. Before its debut, it was described as "Pokemon with guns," a reductive statement that holds some truth but hardly paints a full picture. Set in a fairly impressive open-world, Palworld is – first and foremost – a survival exploration game. Players will need to set up a base, manage their food, and craft items to increase productivity and protect themselves from the elements. That is all well and good, but the novelty comes from the introduction of Pals. Players can catch a wide assortment of monsters who fit different types. Along with helping out in battles, Pals are also crucial for exploration and base-building. They even need to be taken care of since they also get hungry.
Palworld casts a wide net that allows it to cater to various audiences. People yearning to catch them all will find an engaging monster-collection game with well-designed creatures with a genuine purpose. Survival fans will find a fairly accessible experience that offers depth and challenge through its combat and team management. Meanwhile, players who wish to explore a fresh-feeling realm will find a lot to love in Palworld's open-world. While not the biggest or the most beautiful setting in the genre, Palpagos Islands is a fun sandbox to explore.
8 Forza Horizon 5
Drive Through Mexico
Forza Horizon 5
- Released
- November 9, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Playground Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
Playground Games' Forza Horizon series has served as a reliable source for ambitious open-world racing games, and the fifth entry maintains the high standard synonymous with the license. Set in Mexico, Forza Horizon 5's map is considerably more diverse than its immediate predecessor, with each region having its own aesthetic that allows it to stand out.
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Like with all of these games, Forza Horizon 5 blends realistic visuals and an authentic world with over-the-top arcade-style gameplay, and it is a match made in heaven. Playground consistently crafts sandboxes that are just a blast to drive around in, and FH5's map is overflowing with content that caters to both single-player and multiplayer preferences
9 Diablo 4
Flawed Modern Take On A Classic RPG Formula
Diablo 4
- Released
- June 5, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
Blizzard's latest games seem to reliably attract controversy. While garnering a positive reception at launch, Diablo 4's reputation turned sour incredibly quickly, with the goodwill not even surviving until the launch of the first season. Nowadays, the action RPG feels like a bit of an afterthought that is struggling to attract attention beyond its core playerbase, which can be quite volatile. Consequently, Diablo 4's Xbox Game Pass debut was not as exciting of an event as it arguably should have been, despite the game being comfortably one of the biggest names added to the service in 2024.
With all the negativity, one would be forgiven for forgetting that Diablo 4 is still a decent isometric hack and slash game. Sure, the endgame could be significantly better, and some of the post-launch updates did more harm than good. However, the campaign is generally solid, offering nearly 30 hours of entertainment. Obviously, Diablo has never been about the main story, but that does not mean players cannot treat the 2023 entry as a single-player experience with a definitive ending.
Before its release, Diablo 4 marketed its open-world heavily since it was a first for the series. Sanctuary is large, diverse enough, and filled with replayable content thanks to the procedurally generated dungeons. It is not amazing, but there are not all that many open-world hack and slash projects.
10 Microsoft Flight Simulator
Travel Across Earth's Skies
Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Released
- August 18, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Asobo Studio
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Flight Simulator
- How Long To Beat
- 37 Hours
Not every person who owns an Xbox Series X/S will gravitate toward Microsoft Flight Simulator, but there are undoubtedly people who specifically purchased the console to play this flight sim. After spending a year as a PC exclusive, Asobo Studio's project finally made its way to Microsoft's latest hardware, and even a couple of years after its launch, the 2021 release is still among the console's most impressive technical showcases. As its title suggests, the game seeks to accurately recreate the experience of piloting a plane, at least to the point that gaming allows. While somewhat realistic, Flight Simulator is relatively accessible by the subgenre's standards, so newcomers who have never sat down in a virtual cockpit can rely on a detailed tutorial to teach them the basics.
Generally, Flight Simulator's gameplay is structured around flight plans, which are linear by design. However, players are given free rein in how they approach routes since they can plan their own flights through the World Map mode. Essentially, Earth is Microsoft Flight Simulator's open-world, and while players might not be able to land and go for a stroll, they can witness the planet's majesty from the skies.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is also available on Game Pass.