Navigating New Realms: An Exploration of 20 Open World Games!

The gaming landscape is ever-evolving, constantly adapting and innovating to meet the preferences and demands of its wide audience. One genre that has been making significant waves in recent years is open-world gaming.

Open world games are considered to be a unique breed of game that offers players an extensive, often vast gaming universe to explore freely. Unlike traditional linear games or even some MMO games, open world games don't confine you to restrictive designs or specific gameplay narratives.

Instead, you're given the keys to a dynamic, immersive world where every decision, every action, and every exploration option contribute to a uniquely personal gaming experience. For many avid gamers, this is the main appeal of open world games: they provide a gaming landscape teeming with endless possibilities, much like what you might find in certain MMORPGs.

Overall, the success of an open-world game lies in its ability to balance freedom and structure. While providing players with a broad landscape to explore, these games also incorporate structured elements like missions, quests, and storyline arcs that guide gameplay, while still allowing for a high degree of player autonomy.

We ranked the top 20 open world games that stand out for their innovation, storytelling, and player freedom.

The Best 20 Open World Games

Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Immerse yourself in a richly-detailed fantasy world filled with morally complex quests and mythical creatures. Navigate this world as Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter, whose decisions ripple through the story. Traverse different regions, meet memorable characters, and face off against challenging foes.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Immerse in the Wild West's rugged beauty, complete with stunning landscapes and an engaging storyline. As outlaw Arthur Morgan, your personal choices will dictate your gang's destiny in a rapidly modernizing America. Encounter diverse wildlife, join in heists, and experience the immersive cowboy life.

Skyrim

Explore an intricately detailed fantasy realm and shape your destiny with crucial decisions that drastically impact the world. Choose your path, from a magic-wielding wizard to a fearsome warrior, in your epic quest against dragons. Interact with diverse factions, cast powerful spells, and uncover ancient prophecies.

Fallout 4

Venture into a post-apocalyptic world where you're challenged to build, explore, and fight to survive. As a Vault Dweller, you'll uncover the secrets of Boston's nuclear wasteland, ally with factions, and shape the world's future. Modify weapons, develop settlements, and negotiate with different factions for survival.

Grand Theft Auto V

Navigate through a sprawling, chaotic city rife with crime, offering numerous side missions. Swap between three uniquely flawed characters, each with intertwining storylines, in this satirical reimagining of modern-day Southern California. Engage in high-speed chases, pull off heists, and navigate the criminal underworld.

Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Embark on a thrilling journey in a gorgeously designed world teeming with puzzles and adventures. Without a set path, traverse Hyrule at your leisure, devising creative strategies to outwit enemies. Solve intricate puzzles, battle formidable bosses, and master innovative combat mechanics.

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

Step into the sandals of a Greek hero and traverse a world saturated with rich history and mythology. Experience epic battles, influence the course of ancient Greece, and unravel the secrets of your past.

Ghost of Tsushima

Explore feudal Japan in a compelling quest for honor, complemented by stunning visuals and a captivating narrative. As the island's last samurai, you'll employ either stealth or direct combat in this visually cinematic experience. Master the way of the Ghost, experience traditional Japanese culture, and protect your homeland.

Minecraft

Unleash your creativity in a sandbox environment where you can construct and destroy at your whim. Strive to survive in this uniquely blocky, procedurally generated world, crafting tools, and erecting structures along the way. Explore vast biomes, face nocturnal threats, and experience the thrill of discovery.

Cyberpunk 2077

Delve into a dystopian future where your decisions significantly shape the narrative. Customize your character in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamor, and body modifications, and navigate your way through moral ambiguities. Engage in gunplay, master hacking, and navigate relationships with diverse characters.

Elder Scrolls Online

Immerse yourself in a vast fantasy world where you can explore, quest, and create with friends and fellow adventurers. Whether you choose to battle, craft, steal or explore alone or with friends, Tamriel offers endless adventures. Conquer dungeons, master various crafting professions, and participate in massive PvP battles.

Final Fantasy XV

Journey across a vast, visually spectacular world on an adventure featuring beloved characters. Embark on a road trip with your companions, camping, driving, and combating massive beasts in this heart-rending tale of friendship and destiny. Experience heartfelt camaraderie, witness beautiful sunsets, and engage in strategic combat.

Death Stranding

Deliver crucial cargo across a desolate world, combating terrain, bandits, and supernatural forces. As Sam Bridges, your mission is to reconnect isolated cities to a critical communications network, crossing vast wastelands to bring humanity together. Experience unique gameplay mechanics, navigate through challenging terrains, and unravel a philosophical narrative.

Days Gone

Navigate a perilous post-apocalyptic world brimming with danger and potential. As Deacon St. John, a drifter and bounty hunter, you'll strive to survive against infected creatures, hostile humans, and wildlife in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. Experience dynamic weather, craft weapons, and navigate a world in constant flux.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Traverse a vibrant, post-apocalyptic world where nature has reclaimed the ruins of a forgotten civilization. As Aloy, you'll uncover your mysterious past while living amidst primitive tribes and ruins inhabited by mechanized creatures. Learn to exploit robotic enemies' weaknesses, discover tribal cultures, and unravel ancient mysteries.

Far Cry 5

Traverse a diverse, fraught landscape, combating a fanatical doomsday cult. In rural Montana, lead a resistance against a charismatic, enigmatic preacher who has taken dictatorial control of Hope County. Liberate outposts, go hunting and fishing, and experience a rich narrative.

No Man's Sky

Voyage through a procedurally generated universe, discovering and naming new planets. Traverse galaxies, encounter unique species, trade, fight, and strive to survive in this ever-evolving online universe teeming with celestial wonders. ​​Experience solitude in the vast cosmos, engage in space battles, and terraform planets.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Experience life in tumultuous medieval Europe, complete with realistic combat and a gripping storyline. As the blacksmith’s son Henry, you'll navigate political intrigues, historical events, and the hardships of life in a war-torn kingdom. Master realistic medieval combat, experience period-accurate architecture, and understand historical contexts.

Just Cause 4

Embrace the thrill of chaos and destruction in a sprawling open-world action adventure. Playing as Rico Rodriguez, employ a varied arsenal of tools and weapons to wreak havoc across diverse, dynamic biomes. Experience extreme weather events, pilot various vehicles, and dismantle a private army.

Watch Dogs 2

Immerse in a world of underground hackers in a detailed, dynamic open-world depiction of San Francisco. As Marcus, employ hacking and stealth tactics to take down a city-wide corrupt operating system. Hack into every electronic device, experience a vibrant culture, and expose corporate corruption.

Each of these games offers something unique for every gamer. Whether it's fantasy realms filled with dragons, dystopian cities of the future, or reimaginations of historical eras, these games provide diverse universes just waiting to be explored. So pick up that controller and set off on your next open-world adventure!