It can sometimes feel as though open-world games are a dime a dozen these days, which can in turn make finding a good one incredibly challenging. This is because designing an interesting setting is just the first of many small steps toward making a great open-world game, with developers also needing to fill their worlds with engaging and worthwhile content and then find ways to tie them into the narrative.
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.
Thankfully, there are many developers who have mastered this art, and, collectively, these studios are responsible for some truly phenomenal games. The best open-world games on the PlayStation 5 push the console to its absolute limits, offering players some of the most stunning locations in video game history. They're well worth a visit, particularly for those who are fans of adventure.
26 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition
OpenCritic Rating: 54
Whether or not these are actually the definitive versions of the original 3D Grand Theft Auto trilogy is a matter of debate. In fact, most people would probably be in agreement that they aren't. However, at this point in time, these ports offer the only way to experience this once-groundbreaking trilogy on the PS5 and are still a whole lot better than a lot of modern open-world games despite their many flaws.
The controls have aged pretty poorly and the updated visuals leave a lot to be desired, but the games remain enjoyable nonetheless. They also serve as an excellent reminder of the franchise's importance to the open-world genre, having helped to inspire countless other titles over the years. Of the three games, San Andreas has aged the most gracefully, but Grand Theft Auto 3 and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City can still be a lot of fun.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition
- Released
- November 11, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
25 Assassin's Creed Mirage
OpenCritic Rating: 76
For many, Assassin's Creed Valhalla served as a palate cleanser of sorts, helping them to wash away the stale taste of the series' tired and tested formula. However, for those who still find themselves yearning for the familiarity of classic Assassin's Creed games, Assassin's Creed Mirage might just be worth a look.
Mirage is set in ninth-century Baghdad, thus providing players with a detailed glimpse into a part of the world that is so often overlooked by Western media. The gameplay may be a little drab in places, but the setting is anything but, making this a great title for those who enjoy exploring rich and vibrant open worlds.
Assassin's Creed: Mirage
- Released
- October 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Bordeaux
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
24 Dying Light 2
OpenCritic Rating: 76
Both of the Dying Light games offer up a refreshing take on the open-world formula, with the ever-present threat of zombies helping to completely transform the way that players interact with and explore their surroundings. The fluidity of the game's parkour system and the paraglider help a lot in this regard, allowing players to remain on their toes and escape from danger at just a moment's notice.
Sure, there are plenty of great open-world games where players need to worry about their surroundings, with the likes of Fallout 4 and Elden Ring being some of the first to spring to mind. However, while these games tend to promote the idea that there could be danger around every corner, Dying Light 2 players are instead conditioned to believe that there more than likely is.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
- Released
- February 4, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Techland
- Publisher(s)
- Techland
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5
23 Immortals Fenyx Rising
OpenCritic Rating: 79
Those on the lookout for open-world PS5 games like Breath of the Wild could definitely do a lot worse than Immortals Fenyx Rising. Released in late 2020, it provides players with a wonderfully well-realized world to explore and a surprisingly solid combat system that combines melee attacks and godlike powers to great effect.
Where Immortals Fenyx Rising really shines though is in the narrative department, with its take on Greek mythology managing to be both funny and engaging. Like in a lot of other open-world Ubisoft games, the core gameplay loop can start to feel a little repetitive after a while, but most players should be able to power through.
Immortals Fenyx Rising
- Released
- December 3, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Quebec
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia, Xbox One, PC, Switch
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
22 Assassin's Creed Valhalla
OpenCritic Rating: 83
Those who grew up playing Assassin's Creed games (or indeed any franchise with annual releases) will know that the same old formula can grow tiresome after a while. This is ultimately what led to Ubisoft mixing up their approach for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, with many big changes being made for the PS5 launch title.
Like some of the more recent God of War games, Valhalla is steeped in Norse mythology, making it a great title for those with an interest in Vikings and the Aesir gods. The game primarily takes place in Anglo-Saxon England, allowing players to visit numerous counties and cities, including Yorkshire, London, and Lincolnshire.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
- Released
- November 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- Stadia, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
21 Stellar Blade
OpenCritic Rating: 82
Although quite different thematically, Stellar Blade is a lot like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth when it comes to the design and implementation of its world, with the game boasting several large open-world areas that are linked together by smaller, more linear sections designed to drive the narrative forward. Some may refer to this type of game design as semi-open-world. Whatever it is, it works incredibly well.
Ahead of the game's release, a lot was made of the appearance of the main protagonist, but the environments that she's tasked with exploring are every bit as stunning as EVE herself. The world's chock full of collectibles and upgrades for players to track down too and the combat system is pretty much as good as they come. Those looking for a fun time can definitely find that here.
Stellar Blade
- Released
- April 26, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
20 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition
OpenCritic Rating: 81
It would be difficult to talk about the best open-world PS5 games without at least mentioning Skyrim, even if the game's PS5 port did come as a bit of a letdown. Much like its predecessors, the game helped to push the boundaries of what many thought possible in open-world titles, with its wonderfully well-realized setting offering deeper immersion than anything that came before it.
A lot of this stems from the fact that just about anything is possible in Skyrim, particularly with the help of mods. Unlike a lot of other console games, the PS5 and Xbox Series ports of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition do actually feature fairly robust mod support, though those with access to a powerful PC would probably be better off playing the game there instead.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda Softworks
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium (Special Edition)
19 Street Fighter 6
OpenCritic Rating: 92
Street Fighter 6 remains a fighting game first and foremost, but the introduction of World Tour Mode could prove to be a real game-changer in the long run. The idea of being able to run around the streets of a fictional city and start fights with just about anybody is simple enough on paper, but the execution here is really quite masterful, and there's still plenty of room for growth.
That the developers were somehow able to integrate a coherent story into all of this is no small feat and deserves a tremendous amount of credit. Granted, this type of open-world Shenmue-esque experience is never going to replace the genre's traditional Arcade Mode, but it does complement it quite nicely and has the potential to deliver a much more enjoyable narrative without having to dilute the combat.
Street Fighter 6
- Released
- June 2, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Arcade
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
18 Hogwarts Legacy
OpenCritic Rating: 84
Trying to compare Hogwarts Legacy to the best open-world games on the PlayStation 5 is an incredibly tricky task. On the one hand, it's probably the best Harry Potter game ever made and does an incredible job of allowing players to live out all of their wizarding world fantasies while adding to the series' rich lore. However, just as its RPG mechanics are fairly generic, most seem to be in agreement that Hogwarts Legacy is a great game in spite of its open-world mechanics rather than because of them.
Other than Hogsmeade, being able to explore the areas surrounding the titular castle adds very little to the overall experience. In fact, many of these areas arguably dilute and detract from the game's quality by forcing the player to trek across an unnecessarily large landscape and engage with content that feels like it's only there for the sake of making the map feel just a bit less baron. Again, Hogwarts Legacy is a great game, and thus, technically speaking, a great open-world game, but those expecting an Elder Scrolls-style experience will undoubtedly be left wanting more.
Hogwarts Legacy
- Released
- February 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Software
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
17 Animal Well
OpenCritic Rating: 89
Described by its publisher as the very first open-well type game, Billy Basso's Animal Well bears all of the trappings of a great open-world title. Save for a few locked doors and a handful of secret areas, players are able to freely explore pretty much all of its sizable map right from the get-go and are actively encouraged to do so by the plethora of secrets that are hidden throughout the game's carefully crafted world.
Some will perhaps try to argue that a Metroidvania can't be classed as open-world due to parts of the map being locked behind story progress or the need for certain items. Using this definition, though, genre-defining titles like GTA 3, Shenmue, and even the Switch-era Zelda games can't be classed as open-world either, which seems like a somewhat ridiculous argument to make.
Animal Well
- Released
- May 9, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Shared Memory
- Publisher(s)
- Bigmode
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania, Puzzle