The 26 Best Open World Games to Play Right Now

• Developer: CD Projekt Red
• Rating: M for Mature

The quintessential open world game that most folks swear by is CD Projekt Red's magnum opus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. That's due to the game's overwhelming variety when it comes to its grand campaign, epic sidequest with missions that feel like they could pass for mainline content, a bevy of activities to do, and a gorgeous fantasy medieval realm worth exploring. Geralt of Rivia's riveting combat maneuvers are fun to master, plus his interactions with everyone he comes across (especially his female compatriots!) sometimes make for some hilarious moments. Once you've poured enough hours into the main campaign, do that once again by delving into the amazing Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone expansions via the Complete Edition of this action RPG classic.

• Developer: CD Projekt Red
• Rating: M for Mature

At long last, Cyberpunk 2077 has realized the full potential that was promised back during its 202 launch. Thanks to a steady rollout of updates, CD Projekt Red's much-maligned first-person action RPG is worth playing (more so on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC). In this game, you'll live out your days in the criminal underbelly of "Night City" as you run into unsavory characters and get embroiled in all sorts of outlaw activity. Cyberpunk plays host to explosive firefights, vicious melee encounters, road trips via designer cars & motorcycles, and one of the deepest character customization systems you'll ever come across. Be sure to hop into the Ultimate Edition to play beyond the main campaign via the worthwhile Phantom Liberty expansion.

• Developer: Rockstar Games
• Rating: M for Mature

Rockstar Games has mastered the art of best-in-class open world games thanks to its pop culture sensation known as the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Grand Theft Auto V is one of the franchise's strongest efforts to date and well worth checking out if you haven't already (which is quite shocking to us!). GTA V gives you three characters to play with - retired bank robber Michael De Santa, street gangster Franklin Clinton, and drug dealer & gunrunner Trevor Philips. As you make your way through the Los Angeles-based "Los Santos," you'll get caught up in well-planned heists, memorable shootouts, and a whole host of other criminal ventures. From a third- or first-person perspective, you'll get to see and do everything Los Santos has to offer.

• Developer: Rockstar Games
• Rating: M for Mature

Now that the first Red Dead Redemption is available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, fans now have two more modern ways to experience one of the greatest Wild West simulators ever made (Xbox One owners can enjoy it with a boost in graphical fidelity and performance thanks to backward compatibility). As ex-outlaw John Marston, you're forced to work for the government as a hired gun after it takes your wife and son captive. The adventure you'll embark on here includes themes of the neverending cycle of violence, masculinity, redemption, and the "American Dream." Exploring the "American Frontier" on horseback and activating the slow-motion "Dead Eye" mechanic to shoot own multiple bad guys in quick succession is so damned satisfying.

• Developer: Rockstar Games
• Rating: M for Mature

Once you've reached that tearjerker of an ending for RDR 1, you'll surely be compelled to see how John Marston's life played out before all that went down. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel that explores the life of Arthur Morgan, who's a member of the "Van der Linde" gang right alongside John. You'll find yourself sucked into a highly immersive rendition of the Wild West that throws government forces, rival gangs, and more foes at you while you help your gang accrue as much money as possible during mass robberies. Shootouts, horseback riding, hunting, and fulfilling a bounty system are just a sample size of RDR 2's greatest pieces of content.

• Developer: Nintendo EPD
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

When the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, it came out of the game strong with one of the greatest launch games of all time The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. That's due to the absorbing nature of the vast open world of "Hyrule" and the sizable offering of content on offer for players that dip into it all. As Link, players head out on a vast journey full of epic boss fights, mind-bending puzzles, and explorative segments that will even take you gliding through the sky. You'll quickly become addicted to activating towers and shrines along the way as you look to reclaim Link's iconic "Master Sword" and gain the strength needed to confront Calamity Ganon.

• Developer: Nintendo EPD
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

Once you've completed Breath of the Wild, you'll be inspired to re-enter its version of Hyrule in the amazing follow-up Tears of the Kingdom. This time, Link must save Princess Zelda and her kingdom once again from the harrowing menace known as Demon King Ganondorf. This time, you'll find yourself making your way across a series of floating islands, perusing through a collection of puzzle-laden dungeons, and utilizing "Zonai" devices to aid Link during combat & exploration. New features such as "Ultrahand," "Fuse," "Ascend," "Recall," and "Autobuild" play a huge part in all the cool creations you can turn from a dream scenario into a mechanical reality.

• Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
• Rating: M for Mature

Sony Interactive Entertainment's first-party studios are great when it comes to crafting quality third-person experiences. Sucker Punch Productions crafted one of the best open world games of all time from that winning template via Ghost of Tsushima, which follows the adventure of a revenge-fueled samurai fighting for the people of Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan. As Jin Sakai, you'll have to adopt the ways of the samurai and an assassin as you rely on honorable & dishonorable methods to get rid of the invading Mongols. Intense swordplay, nail-biting stealthy sections, and cinematic duels are just a few of the best parts of this top-tier action/adventure game. Pick up this edition of Ghost of Tsushima so you can enjoy the Iki Island expansion.

• Developer: Guerrilla Games 
• Rating: T for Teen

The next two games on this list come from another highly respected development studio that falls underneath the Sony Interactive Entertainment banner. Development studio Guerrilla Games crafted Horizon Zero Dawn, a post-apocalyptic adventure that pits a young hunter named Aloy against a race of robotic wildlife. You'll need to make good use of your bow & arrow and additional hunting tools to take down the massive mechanical beasts you'll come across to gather the leftover items needed to make your equipment better over time. After playing this game for a few hours, you'll be compelled to get to the bottom of Aloy's origins and play through The Frozen Wilds expansion.

• Developer: Guerrilla Games 
• Rating: T for Teen

Now let's dive into the sequel to the last game on our list of the best open world games you need to add to your current playlist. Horizon Forbidden West transports Aloy to a post-apocalyptic version of the Western United States, which introduces players to a whole new batch of robotic animals and rival tribes to confront. With an expanded map to traverse, you'll have a ton of fun swimming, battling animalistic machines, and sailing through the skies. Reliable tools, such as the "Shieldwing," "Focus Scanner," "Diving Mask," and "Pullcaste" will give you the means to cover every part of post-apocalyptic California, Nevada, and Utah. The Burning Shores expansion is worth checking out once you've completed this game's main campaign, by the way!

• Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
• Rating: M for Mature

Bethesda Softworks's Elder Scrolls franchise has earned plenty of kudos for featuring one of the most engaging medieval fantasy-inspired open world locales gamers have ever seen. One of the most memorable entries in that franchise is the fifth mainline installment, Skyrim. For a game that's been around since 2011 and has been featured on three generations of consoles, it still resonates with gamers far and wide even to this day. Taking on the role of a "Dragonborn" will introduce you to a vast realm full of dragons, elves, orcs, and tons more fantastical beings. Some of the best side quests gamers have ever come across are featured here - you're going to need more than one playthrough to see the totality of Skyrim's greatness.

• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
• Rating: M for Mature

Far Cry 3 is the game responsible for giving Ubisoft one of its most celebrated games of all time and locking in the formula for the series from that point forward. Thank god Far Cry 3 Classic Edition brings the game over to PS4 and Xbox One! So here's the deal for all the uninitiated reading this right now - after you and your friends end up getting kidnapped by a crazed crew of pirates on the "Rook Islands," you escape their grasp and embrace a quest for revenge as Jason Brody. You'll experience all the madness of this game from a first-person viewpoint during your clashes with evil island residents, hop on jet skis & other assorted vehicles to get around the island expeditiously, and go hunting for different animals to craft all sorts of essential items.

• Developer: Kojima Productions
• Rating: M for Mature

The definitive edition of Death Stranding you need to play for the very first time at this very moment is Death Stranding Director's Cut. You'll find yourself wowed by the game's mysterious post-apocalyptic version of the United States that is crawling with some sort of paranormal threat. As Sam Bridges (played by The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus), you're tasked with reconnecting the last human remnants of the US by delivering tons of packages to colonies spread out across grassy landscapes. You'll need to endure some rough terrain and assorted enemies while you try to transport your goods & bring the world back together during a downtrodden period. The storyline at the heart of this game may be hard to wrap your head around, but you'll have a great time getting to the bottom of it.

• Developer: Rocksteady Studios
• Rating: T for Teen - M for Mature

Rocksteady Studios shocked us all when it released one of the greatest Batman games of all time, Batman Arkham Asylum. To build on their rousing success and prove that their first hit wasn't a fluke, the studio went on to create two god-tier sequels - Arkham Asylum and Arkham Knight. Now you can play all three games for the first time or revisit your warmest memories of them via the Nintendo Switch exclusive Batman: Arkham Trilogy. All three games contain gripping narratives, the revolutionary "Freeflow" combat system, a huge selection of Batman's most essential gadgets, side missions featuring a who's who of Batman's Rogues Gallery, and the clever "Detective Vision" mechanic that aids you as you solve all sorts of mysteries. You can hop into all three games on PS4 and Xbox One via the Batman Arkham Collection.

• Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
• Rating: M for Mature

The Yakuza franchise is pretty daunting, we have to admit - THERE'S 23 GAMES IN IT, FOR GOD'S SAKE! Do you want to know the best starting point? Yakuza 0! Taking place before the first game, players will enter the criminal underworld of Japan's "Kamurochō" and "Sotenbori" as both Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. A Yakuza conflict brought on by different groups' desire to control the "Empty Lot" leads to chaotic brawls that let you tap into different styles of combat and pick up random items to bash them over the heads of your enemies. Exploring this game's cityscape leads to some less violent moments, such as running a cabaret, playing classic Sega arcade games, dancing at the local disco, and so much more.

• Developer: Rare
• Rating: T for Teen

What started as a less-than-stellar pirate simulator eventually blossomed into one of the most feature-rich online experiences that developer Rare thankfully stuck with and upgraded over time. This game's take on a pirate's life is full of lively endeavors to undertake, such as manning a massive ship, sailing the high seas in search of undiscovered islands, hunting for all sorts of valuable treasure, and completing a host of quests for all the assorted NPC's you and your swashbuckling crew come across. Sea of Thieves is in its best state to date nowadays thanks to cool crossover events with Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean and the point-and-click classic IP Monkey Island, PvP & PvP modes, and a massive open world for sea-faring aficionados.

• Developer: Techland
• Rating: M for Mature

Development studio Techland first came to fame thanks to the first Dead Island. But it became a highly respected game maker after it went on to make the parkour-influenced open-world, zombie-filled game Dying Light. Players take on the role of Kyle Crane and are forced to fight for their lives against the rampaging undead - running, leaping, and climbing come into play while you simultaneously use melee & ranged weaponry to take down the walking dead constantly circling you. Experiencing this game via its four-player co-op mode is the way to go if you want to take down zombies with a friend within the quarantined zone of "Harran."

• Developer: FromSoftware
• Rating: M for Mature

The massive fanbase of the Demon's/Dark Souls series always imagined what it would feel like to endure its overwhelming challenge within a vast open world. That dream scenario came to fruition once FromSoftware birthed its magnum opus, Elden Ring. Exploring the varied biomes in this "Soulsbourne" action RPG in any order you see fit truly fits the description of "choose your own adventure." Prepare yourself for mind-blowing discoveries and nail-bitingly hard boss fights as your "Tarnished" warrior so you can get your hands on the powerful "Elden Ring" and rule over the "Lands Between" as the new "Elden Lord." You'll get your money's worth from this game's main campaign and Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.

• Developer: Insomniac Games
• Rating: T for Teen

Respected development studio Insomniac Games did its homework by studying plenty of Marvel Comics lore to craft its critically acclaimed unique take on the tumultuous life of the world's most celebrated web swinger. The best way to play this Spider-Man simulator is through this remastered edition, which includes the base game, all of the extra costumes, and campaign expansions that shine the spotlight on Spidey's encounters with even more villains. The first time you swing through New York City and pull off a backflip in midair before you even touch the ground will blow your mind. Once you've wrapped up Spidey's clash with the "Sinister Six" here, hop into Miles Morales' equally "amazing" adventure ASAP!

• Developer: Insomniac Games
• Rating: T for Teen

Well, here you go! Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales puts the young electrifying Spidey hero in the driver's seat for this amazing side adventure. While primarily stationed in his main New York borough of Harlem, Miles has to contend with the "Roxxon Energy Corporation" and the mystifying Tinkerer. With the regular Spider-Man's melee prowess and a suite of lightning-based abilities, playing as Miles Morals can actually be a bit more fun for some. This stop-gap between the first Insomniac Spider-Man game and its sequel is an enriching experience that gives one of the best Spidey characters the focus he deserves.

• Developer: Insomniac Games
• Rating: T for Teen

Once you've become acclimated with Peter Parker and Miles Morales' respective Insomniac open world adventures, you'll be compelled to check out how their paths intertwine in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. This massive sequel lets players switch between both Spidey's and navigate an expanded version of the "Big Apple." Alongside your web swinging is a new web wings mechanic that lets you soar through the air and zip at amazing speeds while flying through air tunnels. As two versions of your everyday neighborhood Spider-Man, you'll stop random crimes while focusing on eliminating the double threat of Kraven the Hunter and Venom.

• Developer: Avalanche Software
• Rating: T for Teen

It took forever and a day, but avid followers of the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" finally got the open world game they've been craving ever since the books and films blew up in popularity. Hogwarts Legacy allows you to create and customize your very own young male/female wizard, explore the inner & outer locales of "Hogwarts," and get acquainted with the outer school grounds to explore various locales. During your time spent making friends during your stay at Hogwarts, players will acquire all sorts of offensive/defensive magic spells for combat, take on different classes to acquire even more mystical skills, and get caught up in an intriguing storyline revolving around an ancient secret. Hogwarts Legacy is an epic journey that will enrapture anyone who considers themselves a diehard Harry Potter fan.

• Developer: Larian Studios
• Rating: M for Mature

Baldur's Gate 3 came out of nowhere to emerge as the best video game of 2023 for a good majority of gamers who put hundreds of hours into it. This tactical RPG takes the tabletop fantasy role-playing system of Dungeons & Dragons and produces a rewarding open world experience in the process. As your player-made protagonist, you'll come through every corner of the "Forgotten Realms" with your party members at the ready whenever danger arises. Deep dialogue threads, jaw-dropping moments that elicit laughter at some points, and a super deep combat system that tests your mastery of 12 character classes & 46 subclasses are enough to keep you entrenched in the greatness of Baludr's Gate 3. This one has a co-op option, too!

• Developer: Hello Games
• Rating: T for Teen

Hello Games did the work! After launching their first foray into a space-exploring simulator in a disappointing state, the developers behind No Man's Sky went back to the lab to fulfill all the promises it made players before launch. With over 18 quintillion procedurally generated planets, this glorious space survival/adventure game offers near-infinite frontiers to explore, with unique alien lifeforms and mysteries in a massive sandbox universe. Despite its rocky start, No Man's Sky now delivers on the promise of letting players journey through lush, vivid cosmic biomes, find mind-bending ancient relics, and choose their path in a reactive world, realizing much of its sky-high sci-fi potential. Doing all that space exploring with a friend via co-op is the move to make, by the way!

• Developer: Playground Games
• Rating: E for Everyone

Salute to the Forza Horizon series for marrying an open-world concept to a racing game! The most recent entry in that amazing spinoff franchise is Forza Horizon 5, which drops car enthusiasts onto a location that's patterned after Mexico. That tropical landscape features a wide range of biomes, changing seasons, and track layouts to compete on, plus a whole lot of open roads to drift across with a wide array of vehicles from several manufacturers. Taking on the AI and attempting to cross the finish line in the first place while competing against human players becomes an addicting gameplay loop quite quickly.