The 25 Best Open World PC Games

With its expansive universe and unparalleled freedom of space exploration, Starfield represents a giant leap forward for open world RPGs. Bethesda's long-awaited new IP lets you traverse the stars in a customizable starship, with over 1,000 unique planets to discover across its incredibly ambitious and visually stunning sci-fi galaxy. Blending deep role-playing progression with engaging first-person space combat, Starfield gives you an astonishing amount of agency to leave your mark in a reactive world shaped by your choices and abilities. Like many Bethesda games before, it has a few turbulent spots with technical glitches. However, Starfield successfully launches the spacefaring adventure Bethesda fans have waited years for and sets a new bar for open world games with its innovative setting and sheer scale.

Once derided at launch for overpromising, No Man's Sky has evolved into the boundless space exploration game it originally aspired to be thanks to numerous expansive updates. With over 18 quintillion procedurally generated planets, this ambient 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 own path in a reactive world, realizing much of its sky-high sci-fi potential. Although some comparisons to Starfield have been made, No Man's Sky relies more heavily on procedural generation, while Starfield aims for deeper storytelling and roleplaying within its sci-fi universe.

With its picturesque tropical seas and swashbuckling pirate action, Rare's shared world Sea of Thieves delivers exciting high-seas adventures whether you're voyaging solo or with a crew. Sailing your customizable pirate ship to exotic islands in search of buried treasure, getting into naval battles and boarding enemy vessels, and drinking rum with your scurvy mateys in seedy taverns makes this a fantastical pirate simulator come to life. Though light on narrative, Sea of Thieves succeeds as a social sandbox full of emergent player-driven stories emerging from its dynamic oceanic world brimming with possibilities for memorable piratical escapades. Sea of Thieves received a major boost in popularity thanks to its inclusion on Xbox PC Game Pass, exposing it to a substantial built-in subscriber base.

Guerrilla Games' sci-fi action adventure RPG Horizon Zero Dawn made a triumphant migration to PC, bringing its lush post-apocalyptic world and thrilling creature battles to a whole new platform with incredible graphics options. Letting PC gamers finally experience Aloy's journey across a vividly realized sci-fi future where mechanical beasts rule the earth delivers on the game's unique premise. Though held back by some technical growing pains at launch, Horizon Zero Dawn's PC port opened up this imaginative action/RPG gem to a wider audience, letting them customize the experience and enjoy its intense clashes with towering metal machine monsters.

Blending history with visceral melee combat, Kingdom Come: Deliverance drops you into a strikingly realistic medieval world filled with period-authentic details and RPG progression. Taking the role of a humble blacksmith's son swept up in a bloody civil war in 15th-century Bohemia, you'll live, fight, and negotiate your way through a complex reactive world where your choices shape your hero's journey. With its intricate swordplay, open-ended quests, and emphasis on realism, Kingdom Come: Deliverance provides an immersive medieval life simulator that's brutally unforgiving yet rewarding for open world action RPG fans seeking a unique historical adventure.

Bringing the vibrant futuristic city of "Night City" to life with incredible visual splendor, Cyberpunk 2077 lets PC players wield unparalleled power in shaping their mercurial mercenary's journey through this story-driven open world sci-fi action RPG. Cyberpunk 2077's neon-bathed metropolis and wildly flexible player progression really shine on capable gaming rigs, providing a much smoother and more customizable experience compared to the troubled console versions at launch. For all its bugs and stumbles, Cyberpunk 2077's ambitious open world still impresses on PC with its realized cyberpunk aesthetic and cast of compelling characters to meet, factions to join, and cybernetic abilities to unlock. The game has continued to receive improvements,  including the massive Phantom Liberty expansion and the newly released 2.0 update. In its current form, Cyberpunk 2077 deserves to be mentioned among the best open world PC games.

Ubisoft's action epic Assassin's Creed Odyssey brings ancient Greece to life in stunning detail on PC, letting players fully immerse themselves in the Peloponnesian War from the perspective of a mercenary caught between Athens and Sparta. With several graphics options and expanded control settings, Odyssey's already spectacular open world of blue Aegean seas, expansive landscapes, and bustling Greek cities becomes even more breathtaking, making it the definitive way to experience this RPG entry in the long-running assassin series. While staying true to the tenets of the franchise, Assassin's Creed Odyssey takes the action to new heights on PC through breathtaking visuals, deeper roleplaying progression, and the freedom to fight on both land and sea however you see fit in this grand Greek saga.

A genre-defining open world fantasy epic, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim realizes its incredible scope and ambition like never before on PC with stunning graphics, user interface customization, and mod support. Letting "Dragonborn" heroes fully customize and immerse themselves in Skyrim's snow-capped wilds, labyrinth dungeons, and bustling Nord towns, this definitive version makes Bethesda's masterwork more stunning and replayable than ever a decade later. Though it still suffers from vintage Bethesda jankiness, Skyrim's lived-in high fantasy world filled with heroic quests, mystical lore, and liches and dragons to slay remains an open world RPG lover's dream realized at its full potential on PC.

From Software's dark fantasy open world RPG Elden Ring fully realizes its awe-inspiring open world on PC with stunning visual enhancements and great performance bringing the Lands Between to life. Seamless vast scenery, fluent combat, and jaw-dropping spectacle complement Elden Ring's intricate world design. Rewarding exploration, as well as infamously challenging boss battles, culminate in a genre masterwork of unrivaled scope and scale. A watershed game that represents a bold evolution of the Dark Souls formula, Elden Ring provides a riveting pilgrimage through the realms of demigods that no PC gamer should miss out on experiencing in its full glory. Brave the high difficulty of this legendary action RPG and you'll quickly be immersed in another one of the best open world games on PC.

Riding onto PC with enhanced graphics and additional technical refinements, Red Dead Redemption 2's open world western truly comes alive with incredible fidelity, immersion, and stunning wilderness and cities that solidify it as a landmark achievement in interactive storytelling. Though still restrained by some overly deliberate pacing, Arthur Morgan’s gripping tale of loyalty and loss in the dying days of the Old West remains an unparalleled adventure that thrives on PC with incredible performance and jaw-dropping detail, bringing every rustic frontier town and windswept plain to life like never before. A mature narrative that is unmatched in its presentation, RDR2 is an unforgettable elegy for the outlaw era that PC gamers can now experience at its very best.

Rockstar's acclaimed open world magnum opus Grand Theft Auto V expands its outrageous criminal escapades and urban mayhem to PCs, enhancing "Los Santos" and "Blaine County" with greater visual fidelity and smoother performance to let you truly unleash chaos. With its scathing satire, varied urban landscape, and wealth of constantly entertaining things to do and explore, GTAV on PC allows the wildest heists, stunts, and police chases with the best possible performance. Despite its age, the signature GTA formula still shines on PC where player freedom and immersion serve to reignite the anarchy and dark humor at the heart of this landmark entry in one of gaming's most iconic franchises.

CD Projekt Red's dark fantasy RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt unlocks its full potential on PC through gorgeously rendered graphics, polished performance, and extensive mod support that complements its mammoth open world and absorbing characters. With immersive visuals and excellent battle mechanics, monster hunter Geralt of Rivia's gritty adventure is elevated on PC as the definitive way to experience the war-torn landscapes, mythical beasts, and compelling drama of the Continent. Even years later, The Witcher 3 stands as an exemplary open world action RPG masterpiece on PC with incredible technical prowess underscoring its immersive writing, compelling choices, and unforgettable questing. If you loved the show and read the books associated with Geralt of Rivia's adventures, then you have to hop into this latest pick on this list of the best open world PC games.

As a comprehensive remake of the 2002 crime drama classic, Mafia: Definitive Edition brings this mobster tale of betrayal and vengeance to modern PCs with gorgeous visual flourishes and overhauled gameplay enhancing its gripping cinematic narrative. Shootouts, car chases, and dramatic story beats pop with new intensity on PC through the power of the updated engine and effects that make "Lost Heaven's" seedy underbelly more atmospheric than ever before. Though it adheres closely to the original script, Mafia's Definitive Edition provides welcome gameplay innovations and an incredible new presentation that makes it the best way for PC gamers to revisit this landmark in emergent open world storytelling.

Halo's thrilling return to form is complemented by the series' first true open world campaign that provides Master Chief extra freedom across the stunningly realized landscapes of "Zeta Halo," fully optimized for PC with incredible graphics and adjustable options. Traversing the ring's sprawling, ancient environments and undertaking dynamic objectives lets PC players approach Halo Infinite's intense combat scenarios on their own terms, evolving the classic Halo formula into a more open-ended experience. With an exhilarating fusion of sandbox shooting and exploration-driven gameplay, Infinite successfully launches the iconic shooter franchise into a bold new era centered around Master Chief's free-roaming heroic journey.

Ubisoft’s tropical shooter Far Cry 6 ignites on PC with stunningly realized visuals of the island paradise Yara deteriorating under dictator Anton Castillo’s (Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito) oppressive rule. From jungles to cities, PC enhancements make exploring this immersive guerrilla warzone playground and toppling Castillo’s regime through creative chaos even more of a visually enthralling sandbox. Despite narrative shortcomings, Far Cry 6 thrives on PC by providing an incredibly detailed and reactive open world shooter backdrop that feels tailor-made for employing improvisational tactics against a ruthless enemy regime.

Former PlayStation exclusive Days Gone gets a new lease on life on PC with improved graphics and smooth performance bringing its haunting post-apocalyptic world teeming with "Freakers" to life. Fighting overwhelming hordes of zombie-like threats and exploring the striking Pacific Northwest wilderness is more immersive than ever with PC optimizations underscoring motorcyclist Deacon's gritty narrative. Though it doesn't innovate much on open world tropes, Days Gone finds renewed purpose on PC by presenting its grim survival story and tense freaker battles at their best. This zombie romp is another fine choice for gamers on the lookout for the best open world PC games.

Ubisoft's Viking Saga is an incredible experience on PC with elevated visual splendor and consistent combat that fully immerse players in the invasion of 9th-century England. With increased open world immersion and polished mechanics, Eivor's grand saga of raiding and expansion unfolds with greater scope and impact on PC. Though it doesn't reinvent the franchise's lauded formula, Valhalla's incredible recreation of the Viking age shines on PC as an enthralling Assassin's Creed adventure on par with the series' finest.

Ancient Egypt is brought to life in exquisite detail through the excellent graphics and performance of Assassin's Creed Origins on PC, making Bayek's journey through sand-swept deserts and bustling cities even more immersive. Stealthy assassinations, intense combat, and exploration of the game's grand open world feel more fluid and expansive with the power provided by the platform. As a revitalizing evolution of the Assassin's Creed formula, Origins thrives on PC as both a beautiful ancient world to uncover and an impactful origin story for the iconic "Assassin's Brotherhood."

The sequel to Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor expands its original "Mordor" sandbox with a striking nemesis system and large-scale sieges and marks the welcome return of the striking "Nemesis System." The game is optimized for PC through polished visuals and performance bringing Tolkien's world to life. Amidst Shadow of War's action-packed battles versus fortified orcs and monstrous beasts, influential choices and diverse skill trees provide meaningful RPG depth to Talion's vengeful quest. By evolving its predecessors' core formula with new layers of strategy and personalization, Shadow of War becomes an engaging open world Tolkien fantasy that finds its true home on PC.

Bethesda's acclaimed post-nuclear open world RPG comes fully realized on PC with mod support that elevates the retro-futuristic Wasteland to new levels of interactivity and customization. Exploring the intricately detailed "Commonwealth," building unique settlements, and making influential choices as the sole survivor in a haunting world affected by your every move make Fallout 4 a hallmark of open world freedom. Though held back by repetitive missions and simplified dialogue compared to its predecessor, Fallout 3, Fallout 4 is an ambitious, content-rich sandbox powered by PC mods to craft a truly unique apocalyptic adventure. Action RPG fanatics will get a worthwhile adventure here in this latest pick on this list of the best open world PC games.

As a thrilling trip into 1940s Los Angeles, L.A. Noire truly finds its home on PC with 4K visuals and expanded options that make developer Team Bondi's beautifully atmospheric crime drama even more immersive. Investigating grizzly murder scenes and interrogating shady suspects with "MotionScan" technology gains greater impact when every facial tic and subtle tell becomes heightened through advanced PC rendering. An inventive open world detective story aided by Rockstar, L.A. Noire stands out as a cinematic genre-bender tailor-made for PC gamers seeking a stylish and emotionally resonant trip into the dark heart of postwar America.

Hideo Kojima's genre-defying epic comes to PC with polished performance and expanded features that enhance its meditative journey of rebuilding connections across a fractured future America. Death Stranding's subtle themes and enigmatic story gain greater resonance with refined visuals underscoring Sam Bridges' arduous coast-to-coast trek. While divisive for its deliberate pacing and eccentricities, Death Stranding's PC treatment elevates its repetitive gameplay and eerie dystopian atmosphere, reaffirming Kojima's bold and unforgettable vision.

Kojima's final Metal Gear masterwork delivers tactical stealth action at its best on PC through polished 60FPS gameplay and visually enhanced texture work. Refined controls, an expanded view distance, and additional graphical options complement MGSV's flexible infiltration and tight combat across diverse open world battlefields. For all its truncated storytelling, The Phantom Pain remains the most emergent and customizable game in the Metal Gear series thanks to the PC presentation maximizing its sandbox elements and emphasizing Snake's high-tech gadgetry.

Swinging onto PC with superior visuals and additional customization options, Marvel's Spider-Man delivers an exhilarating open world web-slinging experience that puts players in the iconic red suit like never before. Fighting crime across a beautifully realized Manhattan as Peter Parker's stalwart alter-ego with intuitive web-based movement and combat empowers fans to fully embody the friendly neighborhood hero. Insomniac's Marvel opus translates seamlessly to PC, letting players customize their web-head adventure while also hinting at an exciting new era of Sony blockbusters expanding beyond the PlayStation ecosystem. This top-tier Marvel Comics adventure is a bonafide recommendation for gamers searching for the best open world PC games.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human's sprawling open world city is a parkour playground for PC gamers, with towering skyscrapers to scale and undead horrors to evade across the rooftops. The crumbling streets down below are packed with decaying zombies and are ripe for exploration, from abandoned plazas to ramshackle slums. Keep a watchful eye while sneaking through darkened back alleys, as the infected can spring out from anywhere. As a pure open world experience is concerned, Dying Light 2's massive urban landscape offers PC players an exhilarating mix of parkour freedom and horror survival.