One of the best aspects of open-world games is the ability to appreciate their beauty. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a good example of a huge and engrossing open world that is as fun to traverse as it is to fight in, and it's now even better on Switch 2. However, while exploring bold, bright, and colorful worlds is fun, it’s also a blast to destroy them.
Features That Need To Be In Every New Open-World Game
Open-world games will change how players engage with them for the better after these features are added.
For anyone with a chaotic need to destroy, these open-world games will not disappoint. From fighting hordes of non-stop enemies to blowing stuff up in huge plumes of fire and smoke, these games will satiate that hunger for sure. Part of the fun will be players constantly trying to outdo themselves and make a bigger destructive mess than before.
Grand Theft Auto 5
Wanted Dead Or Alive
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Released
- September 17, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
The Grand Theft Auto series practically created the chaotic energy of open-world sandbox games. The series' latest entry, Grand Theft Auto 5, gave players a bigger world to explore and destroy, and with three protagonists to switch between at almost any point.
The Wanted rating system is still present, so players can shoot up areas, blow up cars, and run away from the police like a tornado of ruin. The multiplayer is an even wilder experience, and players are still actively living their best lives online with friends.
Just Cause 2
Grappling With Chaos
Just Cause 2
- Released
- March 23, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Third-Person Shooter, Action
Just Cause 2 is the moment when the series got good, and the ensuing sequels equal this game’s level of chaotic energy. The vast, destructible open world offered vehicles, weapons, and stunt opportunities aplenty, along with a suspicious number of explosive fuel tanks to shoot at.
Two key gameplay elements will hook players from the start. First, they have a grappling hook, which can swing them around and also give them enough air to glide around on their parachute. Second, this grappling hook can be attached to nearly any object, meaning players can hook an enemy to a gas tank and then watch the fireworks, and that's just one fun and explosive example.
Far Cry 6
Take Down Tyranny
Far Cry 6
- Released
- October 6, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
Starting with Far Cry 3, Ubisoft took the series into wilder territory, which was for the better. The latest entry, Far Cry 6, may not be the favorite among fans, but it’s the one that offers some of the craziest ways to take enemies down.
Best Open-World Games With Science-Based Combat
These open-world games incorporate science and sci-fi into their weapons, ensuring you can zap your enemies to the next life.
The game revolves around toppling a tyrannical government, and players can take over bases and cause explosions all in the name of freedom. Better yet, players can recruit animal companions to assist them in combat, like a crocodile, making Far Cry 6 like a more political and crude version of Pokemon.
Red Faction: Guerrilla
Knock It Down
Red Faction: Guerilla
- Released
- June 2, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
The one thing missing in a lot of open-world games is true freedom when it comes to environment destruction. That’s why Red Faction: Guerrilla stands out, because nearly every vehicle and structure in the game can be destroyed, and the game actively encourages players to go nuts in doing so.
It doesn’t matter if players are using guns, grenades, or their trusty hammer; buildings will fall. Mars is not the most beautiful open-world setting for a game, but it sure is a fun one to destroy stuff in.
Borderlands 4
Guns, Guns, And More Guns
Borderlands 4
- Released
- September 12, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Borderlands 4 is the first game in the series to have a fully realized open-world design that is seamless from beginning to end. Fans of the franchise know what to expect from this latest iteration: lots of guns.
While some weapons can be likened to basic rifles and pistols commonly seen in Call of Duty games, most weapons are more varied, as they can explode, light enemies on fire, poison enemies, and so on. The core gameplay loop of taking on quests, shooting enemies, and getting even zanier guns is what keeps fans coming back, more so than the narrative, and Borderlands 4 is the pinnacle of that formula.
Saints Row 4
Super-Powered Gangsters
Saints Row 4
- Released
- August 20, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Open-World
The Saints Row series is like an even wackier version of Grand Theft Auto, with Saints Row 4 displaying peak zaniness. In this entry, the world is invaded by aliens, and after escaping a simulation, players get superpowers. Also, they are the President of the United States.
Best Open-World Games With Ridiculous Gameplay
Punch rocks, catch humans, and sail like a pirate in these strange open-world games.
Players can run around like The Flash or freeze enemies like Mr. Freeze, plus there are a wild number of guns, like one that can expand an enemy’s head like a cartoon. For anyone who wants to run around a city, fight aliens, and wield cool superpowers, Saints Row 4 is the game to play.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster
West Is Back
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster
- Released
- September 19, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a remaster/remake of the original game, featuring photographer Frank West in the mountainous city of Willamette, Colorado. Instead of taking in the scenery, West is there to capture a zombie outbreak on film. When there’s a problem with his ride, West is stuck in a mall and has to survive wave after wave of zombies inside and outside the mall grounds.
Thankfully, players can create weapons from ordinary objects, such as taping knives to boxing gloves or using a lawnmower, to clear the lines of mall-enticed zombies. It’s more goofy than scary, as the zombies shuffle along like normal cannon fodder, making them the perfect target for West's latest makeshift weapon.
Days Gone
The Most Disturbing Zombies In A Game To Date
Days Gone
- Released
- April 26, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action, Adventure
Days Gone is the exact opposite of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, as the zombies found in this game are terrifying. They sometimes appear in small groups, like most zombie games, but the more intense areas will have zombies roaming around like swarms of ants, easily amounting to a hundred or more attacking at once.
This makes outrunning them more intense, as there is no easy way to take them out without getting overwhelmed. While this PlayStation-published zombie game doesn’t have as dramatic a story as, say, The Last of Us, Days Gone can certainly be terrifying and chaotic in its own right.
Most Important Co-Op Games
Without these titles, the world of co-op gaming may not have evolved in the right direction.