Open-World Games That Offer the Best Value for Money

Ugh, buyer’s remorse – we’ve all been there, right? You see a game, it looks awesome, maybe you grab it or get it as a gift, thinking ‘This is totally my thing!’ Then you actually play it, and it’s just… not. It’s like it’s a totally different genre than what you were hoping for. Or even worse, you beat it super fast and it feels way too short for the price. It’s a real bummer, especially if you lost the receipt!

Despite the cost of many games, there are still great deals available. For gamers looking for immersive, open-world experiences without spending a fortune, these games offer excellent value. They’re large, engaging titles that are frequently on sale at very affordable prices.

We’re concentrating on classic, single-player games that frequently have big discounts, and we’re excluding free-to-play titles. That means we’re not including Elden Ring because even at its lowest price of $29.95 on PC, it’s still a bit expensive for what we’re looking at. It’s a great value for the amount of gameplay, though. The same goes for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which rarely go on sale.

Minecraft has also been left out.

10. Yakuza 0

Japan’s Economic Bubble at an Economic Price

Simply suggesting any lengthy, open-world game isn’t enough – a short, enjoyable experience is often better than one that drags on forever. The games we’re looking at all offer at least 40 hours of worthwhile gameplay. Most Yakuza/Like A Dragon titles fit this bill, though some maintain a consistently higher level of fun than others.

If you’re looking for a long and engaging game, Yakuza 0 is a great choice. You can easily spend over 60 hours completing the main story, side missions, and other activities. It usually costs around $20 digitally, but is frequently on sale for a very low price. Not only is there a ton of content, but it’s consistently high quality – the side stories are often humorous, heartwarming, or just plain strange, and the main story is always compelling.

9. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

Metal Gear’s Swansong

The Metal Gear series has shifted dramatically over time. Early games were straightforward with overly complex narratives, while later installments, like Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, prioritized open-world gameplay at the expense of a compelling story. The game’s development was famously troubled, and the final product felt incomplete due to cut story elements and Konami’s focus on generating revenue through in-game purchases for online bases.

Fortunately, minor issues can be overlooked thanks to the game’s two large maps filled with diverse areas, giving players plenty of freedom to approach challenges however they prefer. You can play aggressively for a straightforward experience, or take a stealthier, more challenging – but ultimately more satisfying – route. With over 80 hours of gameplay, it’s an incredible value at around $19.99, and is often available for $10 or less during sales.

8. Horizon Zero Dawn

When FOMO Gets Realized

Many PlayStation 4 or 5 owners may already own this game. It was given away for free in 2021 as part of the Complete Edition, so check your library! If you don’t have it, it’s available at a good price on most platforms, including PC. It’s worth waiting for a sale, and I highly recommend getting the Complete Edition, which includes the excellent “The Frozen Wilds” expansion.

Horizon Zero Dawn is, at its core, a solid open-world adventure game. It offers a large world to explore, a story that gets better as it goes, and lots of optional things to do – though some are more interesting than others. It includes familiar features like save points, collectable items, character upgrades, and supporting characters. While none of these elements are groundbreaking on their own, they all work together to create a really well-rounded and fun experience, making it one of the best games in its class.

Horizon Forbidden West also fits, but it is going to be more expensive.

7. Grand Theft Auto 5

No Need to Rob a Bank To Buy This One

Okay, so a lot of us were seriously getting impatient waiting ten years for Grand Theft Auto 6, and it kinda stung seeing Rockstar focus so much on keeping Grand Theft Auto 5 Online alive. But honestly, it’s actually worked out pretty well for those of us who still want to jump into the original game. You can find it super cheap now, it’s always on sale, and it pops up on subscription services all the time. It’s a great way to experience the story without breaking the bank!

You could easily spend months enjoying the main story of the game, and Los Santos is a city you’ll want to return to again and again. While the 30-hour story is well-done, GTA 5 truly excels because of its open-world freedom – just exploring and causing a little chaos is incredibly fun and never gets old.

If we take GTA Online into account, GTA 5 would be first.

6. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Multiple Ports, Multiple Prices

How much The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim costs varies depending on which version you choose. Because it’s available on so many platforms, including the Nintendo Switch, there are lots of ways to experience the game. If you really get into it and don’t rush the main story, you can easily spend over 100 hours playing.

Honestly, what keeps me coming back to Skyrim isn’t really the main story, it’s how totally immersive it is. It just feels good to play, and the sheer number of mods available is insane! Even without mods, the world is huge, there are tons of different ways to build your character, and you can really feel like you’re living a life in it. It’s a game where you just wander around and discover things, and that’s what makes it so addictive.

5. Batman: Arkham City

Goes Easy on the Bat-Credit Card

The early Batman: Arkham games weren’t the expansive open worlds later entries became. Batman: Arkham Asylum was more focused, with players exploring the asylum and needing specific tools to unlock new areas – similar to games like Metroidvania. Later, Batman: Arkham City, Arkham Origins, and Arkham Knight shifted towards a more traditional open-world style of gameplay.

While Arkham Knight has a longer story campaign, Arkham City offers a more consistently engaging experience and takes longer to fully complete for those who aim to find everything. Most people consider Arkham City the better game, though how long it takes to finish depends on whether you choose to hunt down all of the Riddler’s puzzles. Even if you only play the main story, you can expect around 10–15 hours of gameplay, which is a great deal considering how affordable the game usually is.

If you’ve somehow missed out on the Arkham games, definitely keep an eye out for the Batman Arkham Collection! It pops up on sale every now and then for about $8, and honestly, it’s a steal. As a huge fan, I can tell you it’s an amazing deal for a ton of great gameplay.

4. Just Cause 2

Swooping In On Sale

Fans often debate whether Just Cause 2 or Just Cause 3 is the best game in the series. Just Cause 2 offers a much longer experience – it takes around 86 hours to complete everything and free the game’s country, Panau, from its dictator. However, it originally came out for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2010 and hasn’t been re-released, meaning players need to still own those older consoles, or have the PC version, to fully enjoy it.

You can play all the Just Cause games on Xbox One and Series X/S, and they’re available online at great prices right now. While the core gameplay isn’t complicated, Just Cause 2 is incredibly enjoyable – it gives you everything you need to create total chaos and destruction, and it’s wonderfully over-the-top.

3. Fallout: New Vegas

War Never Changes, But Prices Do

While newer Fallout games exist, many fans who enjoy fast-paced action believe Fallout: New Vegas is the high point of the series. Playing as the courier trying to recover a stolen package in the ruins of Las Vegas takes around 50 hours, and even longer for players aiming to see all possible endings and outcomes.

Because Fallout: New Vegas is an older game and widely available, it’s very affordable—especially if you already have Xbox Game Pass. While it does show its age occasionally, PC players can use mods to update the graphics, fix bugs, or even add completely new things to do, giving the game a lot more replay value.

2. Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar’s Longest Single-Player Campaign

Rockstar Games consistently delivers excellent value with its open-world titles, but for a compelling single-player story, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the best choice. Even playing quickly, the main story will take around 50 hours to complete. However, most players will spend much longer exploring the world, completing side missions, and enjoying the various activities the game offers. What’s impressive is that RDR2 feels consistently meaningful; every task and mission feels important and contributes to the overall experience.

I’ve been watching for deals on Red Dead Redemption 2 and you can usually snag it for around $15, especially on PC – it’s a steal considering how massive and amazing the game is! And that’s just the single-player story. There’s also Red Dead Online, which is the multiplayer part. It’s kept me busy for hours, though it doesn’t quite have the same pull as GTA Online, it’s still really fun and has a unique vibe.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

It’s hard to imagine a better fantasy RPG than The Witcher 3, and it still holds up incredibly well today. While the Complete Edition, with its two substantial expansions, is the best value, even the base game is a fantastic deal, especially when you can find it for under $5 on Steam or GOG.

Having a lot of content doesn’t matter unless it’s good, and The Witcher 3 truly excels in both areas, surpassing even CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077. It’s not just the sheer amount of playtime – over 100 hours – but how rewarding and engaging almost every moment feels. In fact, many players consider the side quests to be even better than the main story, setting a new benchmark for open-world games.

2026-01-21 00:06