Open-world games are inescapable nowadays, and the genre is definitely not skipping October 2025. On paper, the upcoming month might have the strongest lineup of open-world projects of all time, even if a few releases have either gone through troubled development cycles or have garnered their share of pre-debut criticism. Regardless of whether you game on a PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, or PC, you will have the opportunity to visit a myriad of sandboxes over the coming weeks.
It remains to be seen which, or if any, October 2025 open-world games will rise to the top and cement themselves as all-time greats. For the time being, all we can do is look through the full lineup and highlight what each title plans to offer, allowing players to make an informed decision on which projects they should keep an eye on.
The games are listed in order of release. Also, only open-world projects that will be coming out on PC and consoles, no mobile exclusives.
Updated on September 24, 2025: Gearbox has delayed Borderlands 4's Switch 2 debut, so it has been removed.
Ghost of Yotei
Sucker Punch's Highly-Anticipated PS5 Sequel To Ghost Of Tsushima
Ghost of Yotei
- Released
- October 2, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
Except for one Pokemon-shaped title, Ghost of Yotei is October 2025's biggest open-world gam e, and there is nothing to suggest that it will fail to be among the month's best releases. Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima is still one of the most beautiful games on the market, guiding players through a stunning version of historical Japan. The sequel is set roughly 300 years later and tells a story fueled by revenge, with Atsu (the protagonist) going on a mission to kill the samurai/ronin who wiped out her family.
Ghost of Yotei PS5 File Size and Pre-Load Date Revealed
The exact PS5 file size and pre-load date for the highly anticipated sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei, has now been revealed.
Ghost of Yotei will, unsurprisingly, be set around Mount Yotei, which is found on the island of Ezo (aka, Hokkaido). Besides a fresh setting and a new story, Sucker Punch has spoken about a desire to improve on GoT's open-world structure, which relies quite a bit on repetition. While the sequel might end up having less optional content, it will hopefully be more diverse and memorable. Ghost of Yotei's combat will also feature a wide assortment of weapons, expanding on its predecessor's already fantastic gameplay.
Seafarer: The Ship Sim (Early Access)
Take To The Sea And Build A Career
Seafarer: The Ship Sim
- Released
- October 7, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Independent Arts Software GmbH
- Publisher(s)
- Astragon Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Exploration, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC
Seafarer: The Ship Sim seems to take the SnowRunner formula and shift it to the sea. You embark on a career revolving around transporting packages across the ocean, a process that will likely involve slowly building up a fleet of ships that get more impressive and complicated as your business grows. Using Unreal Engine 5, Seafarer specifically advertises an open-world, so you should have a fairly big sea to sail in. As this will be released to Steam early access, please go in expecting a work-in-progress.
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance
A Free Open-World MMORPG
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance
- Released
- October 9, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Blue Protocol is a franchise that has struggled to get going, with the original Bandai Namco game not receiving a Western release. Consequently, the upcoming Star Resonance will likely be most people's first exposure to the IP, and the free-to-play open-world game looks fairly promising.
Set in Magna, the game appears to bring to life a vast and gorgeous world, all while delivering class-based combat. The latter is action-based and real-time, and the version in the beta was arguably the best part of the experience. The project also heavily promotes customization, along with cross-platform multiplayer support. While combat should be good, Star Resonance does not ignore everything else, even allowing players to explore professions that have nothing directly to do with fighting.
Honestly, games like Blue Protocol: Star Resonance are quite common nowadays, so it will need to hit the ground running.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
October's Biggest Open-World Game (In Theory)
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
- Released
- October 16, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Pokemon is untouchable, at least in terms of reach and popularity. Whenever a new mainline entry drops, it is pretty much guaranteed to be that month's biggest release, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A will almost certainly be that game for October 2025. Taking trainers back to Kalos, the campaign is surprisingly set in Lumiose City rather than an expansive open-world that explores the region. While most Pokemon adventures incorporate cities, they are usually just temporary stops and not the full focus; consequently, Legends: Z-A will need to justify this decision.
Upcoming Role-Playing Games People Are Excited For
While plenty of RPGs have been announced for 2026 and beyond, these upcoming role-playing games are especially exciting.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A has had a weird pre-launch life. Despite its direct predecessor, Arceus, being well-liked, the upcoming game has struggled more than normal to build serious momentum, with its promotional material sparking concern among fans. A lot of that discourse revolves around the visuals, an area that has been an issue for the franchise's recent core releases. The switch to real-time combat might also take some getting used to, while the early reveal of DLC did not go down too smoothly.
Overthrown
A Sandbox City Builder
Overthrown
- Released
- October 16, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Brimstone
- Genre(s)
- City Builder, Sandbox, Farming
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Overthrown has been in early access and Xbox Game Preview since December 2024, so it is not exactly new. However, the 1.0 version launches in October, and it will also come to the PS5. With a colorful BOTW aesthetic and cartoonish gameplay that has an element of silliness to it, Overthrown drops you in a proper sandbox that you can explore freely. Essentially a kingdom builder, you are put in charge of acquiring the resources required to expand your realm, both in terms of size and civilians.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
The Long-Awaited Sequel To One Of The Greatest RPGs Of All Time
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
- Released
- October 21, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Chinese Room
- Publisher(s)
- Paradox Interactive
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
If Pokemon Legends: Z-A is struggling to send its fanfare into overdrive, then Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 seems to be trying to kill its hype. On paper, The Chinese Room's title should be October 2025's biggest open-world game, as the world has been screaming for a sequel to 2004's Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines for roughly two decades.
However, that is not the reality we live in, and discussions about the project have been muted. Bloodlines 2's development woes are well-documented, so it makes sense that interested players are exercising cautious optimism and keeping expectations relatively in check. Bloodlines 2 did not help matters by revealing that two clans would be DLC, a decision that went down so poorly that Paradox Interactive had to reverse course.
Taking place in Seattle, Bloodlines 2 casts you as an elder vampire and a vampire detective combo, dropping you into a choice-driven campaign that will let you rule the night and challenge the balance of power. "Visceral" combat that varies from clan to clan is advertised as well.
World of Sea Battle (Early Access)
A Free Pirate Seafaring Adventure
World of Sea Battle
- Released
- October 21, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Thera Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Thera Interactive
- Early Access Release
- October 21, 2025
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC
Apparently, October 2025 has a thing for oceanic open-world games, as World of Sea Battle is also set to enter early access. Unlike the sim-based Seafarer, Thera Interactive's project is an MMORPG that takes you back to the Golden Age of Sail, enabling you to captain a wide assortment of historical ships and engage in battles on the open waters. If you win, you get to raid and loot ships. Competitive multiplayer is, unsurprisingly, part of the equation, although the game will also have PvE and co-op.
World In The Abyss (Early Access)
Survival Open-World Game With Underwater Exploration
World in the Abyss
- Released
- October 22, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Lazy Cat Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Lazy Cat Studio
- Early Access Release
- October 22, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC
OK, two is a coincidence, but three is a trend. World in The Abyss is another open-world game entering early access that has you exploring uncharted waters, although this one should be quite different from October 2025's other releases. Mainly, World in The Abyss is a survival game played from a third-person perspective, and you explore under the sea rather than travel over it. Besides the underwater aspect, you will also need to build and defend a base. If you are specifically craving a survival open-world game, definitely check out World in The Abyss when it enters early access.
Misery
Co-Op Survival Roguelite
Misery
- Released
- October 23, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Sticking with the survival genre for the time being, Misery wears its STALKER influence proudly and loudly, although its Steam description also mentions that it should hit the mark with fans of Lethal Company. The Republic of Zaslavie is primarily a wasteland, and you and your friends are stuck guarding a research institute. The story's inciting incident is a siren that signals you to rush into a bunker; after that, you have to venture out daily to pick up resources and explore. The Zone is filled with strange and dangerous anomalies, so you have more to worry about than just satisfying your hunger and keeping your exposure to radiation down.
Vampires: Bloodlord Rising
Another Vampire-Themed Open-World Game
Vampires: Bloodlord Rising
- Released
- January 30, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Mehuman Games
- Publisher(s)
- Toplitz Productions
- Early Access Release
- January 30, 2026
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
Entering early access two days after Bloodlines 2, Vampires: Bloodlord Rising could be swallowed up by its much bigger contemporary. Still, the game has a few elements that set it apart, including seemingly prioritizing base building in the form of managing and customizing a castle. Bloodlord Rising also promotes a vast world, a follower system where you can convert NPCs, and powers that impact combat and traversal. Also, the campaign is choice-driven, along with supporting co-op multiplayer.