The Assassin’s Creed franchise can be thanked for helping create modern standards for open-world games. With each new Assassin’s Creed, the worlds got bigger and filled with more stuff to do, but then things became a bit bloated with the release of Assassin’s Creed Unity, which had too many icons on the screen. Flooding a map with too much can make players feel like they are playing a checklist simulator rather than an open-world game.
Best Open-World Games That Let You Customize Everything
These open-world games offer freedom beyond expansive areas to explore by letting you customize almost everything in sight.
That’s why these open-world examples are worth recommending. They may have a lot of stuff to do in their big expansive worlds, but rarely will things feel unnecessary. It’s all there waiting to be discovered to enrich the lives of curiosity of players. Red Dead Redemption 2 comes close with great story features to find, but it’s also pretty empty all things considered. These other games strike a better balance.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Test Your Skills In Mini-Dungeons
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild features an enormous version of Hyrule, which is desolate after a post-apocalyptic event. Still, there are towns to visit, random NPCs, monster camps, and more, all of which don’t clutter the map in any significant way. The biggest feature of the map is the Shrines, and there are over a hundred, which may seem like a lot, but Nintendo made each one special. Not only are they designed to help Link upgrade his stats, but the puzzles inside are brain twisters, which will make players feel like they are getting smarter.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
A Story Behind Every Monster
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt changed how quest systems should operate in big sprawling RPGs. Every little task players take on will lead to something bigger, even if it feels like a fetch quest involving returning some cookware. The map itself is vast without a lot of trinket collecting of any kind, so if something appears in the world and looks off, chances are it’s connected to something important, either with a main or side quest. This makes the world feel less like a video game and more like a real world filled with magic, mystery, and danger, even if players aren’t finding something every minute.
Fallout 4
Scavenging For Reality
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Fallout 4 is a more explicit post-apocalyptic world that is filled with rubble, irradiated soil, and mutants. What fans like about it and the Fallout series overall is that they can travel to known locations from reality, albeit through the lens of a video game, which is cheaper than traveling.
Most Chaotic Open-World Games
These open-world games don't hold back, giving players all the tools they need to cause limitless chaos in their respective worlds.
The game takes place in the Boston area, and players can find fantastical versions of attractions like Fenway Park, Faneuil Hall, and Old North Church. This makes the world more interactive for history buffs or players who grew up in the Boston area, making every discovery exciting beyond getting more loot for crafting. No one structure or monument feels like a waste of space, even if it isn’t based on something.
Elden Ring
Danger Lurks Around Every Corner
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Elden Ring is full of danger as a Soulslike between the normal monsters, mini-bosses, and actual boss encounters. If something looks suspicious, like a big open field with nothing around it, or a cave, chances are something tough lurks inside. On the plus side, they are often guarding a cool piece of gear, so defeating these terrors will always feel extra rewarding. There are no traditional villages to speak of, but occasionally, there will be a cryptic NPC with a story to tell, from witches to talking jars, plus traversing this bleak world is more fun than most, as the mount, Torrent, can double jump.
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Welcome To New L.A.
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
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Open-World
Xenoblade Chronicles X takes place on a foreign planet wherein a new colony, labeled as New L.A., has set up shop. There isn’t much in the way of notable locations like villages or moments, but it’s still a compelling world to explore because of the danger, like Elden Ring. In every area of the game, players will find towering monsters that can kill the party in a single hit. However, it will be rewarding to return to these colossi later as a stronger party or once players unlock their Skells, which are the mechs of this RPG world. Xenoblade Chronicles X’s world is massive and seamless, letting players feel like they are lost on a terrifying new planet.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Rebuilding Society
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
- June 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a bit empty on the surface because humanity has retreated underground in both Mexico and Australia, the two continents that players can explore. There are seemingly miles of in-game stretches wherein players can only see plains, rivers, and mountains, which makes the appearance of a bunker or some sort of structure more exciting.
Best Open-World Games Available For Free On PS5
Ignore the stigma of free-to-play open-world games, because these freebies, available on PlayStation 5, are absolutely awesome.
Also, discovering the remnants of railways or highways is great because with the right materials, players can repair these structures to reconnect bunkers and stations once more. Also, this is the one open-world game wherein players can share their structures via asynchronous multiplayer. One world will be different from another depending on how the servers connect, so in a way, rebuilding the world is a global team effort.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Men
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is not the biggest map compared to other entries, but what can be explored in the various boroughs of New York City is interesting. As either Peter or Miles, players can swing or glide around the city, looking out for various side activities like stopping random thieves or solving some tech-based puzzles, which adds to the role-play of being Spider-Man. If a building looks unique, chances are there is a secret hiding around it, including The Avengers Tower. Thanks to its density, this is one open-world map that players will be compelled to 100% as it won’t take long, and every upgrade will feel significant.
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Building Mother Base
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action, Open-World
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain has several open areas to explore. The main goal, beyond the story, is to build up Mother Base, the hub area, and players can do that by finding supplies and recruits in these biomes. Players will find enemy bases, and if they knock out an enemy, they can then send them back to Mother Base and assign them to a duty like weapon research. Stats are randomized, so it’s a bit like finding Pokemon, compelling players to try and obtain the very best for their utopia on the ocean. Beyond random recruitment, there are other secrets hiding in these areas, like specific one-of-a-kind characters, including Hideo Kojima himself, animals, or rare weapons.
Upcoming Open-World Games That Will Let You Do Anything
These upcoming open-world games are packed with a ton of activities and gameplay features for players to enjoy.