
Everyone needs an escape sometimes, and for many people, open-world video games are the perfect solution. They offer a huge amount of freedom and things to do – from improving your character to discovering hidden areas – making it easy to lose yourself for hours. Luckily, there are tons of great open-world games available on all gaming consoles.
Games offer a wide range of experiences, from deeply engaging adventures to simpler titles that let you relax and disconnect. Whether they pull you in completely or allow you to switch off and unwind, these games are all enjoyable in their own way.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
A World Of Wonder
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild offers incredible freedom – you can truly do almost anything. The game gets you going quickly, and its world is stunning, especially on the new Switch 2. You can easily set out for a specific goal, but you’ll likely find yourself lost in exploration for hours.
Time passes quickly, and before you know it, it’ll be bedtime. This new Hyrule is incredibly immersive, offering stunning sights, smooth combat, and beautiful graphics.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Sometimes, You Must Smash
Sometimes players just need to let off some steam, and Donkey Kong Bananza is a great way to do it. The game features large, open environments where you’re free to cause chaos however you like, whether it’s through punching things or using explosives.
Even with all the chaos, the game is a blast to explore, offering hidden collectibles and opportunities to improve your abilities. It’s so engaging, you’ll lose yourself in the experience and forget you’re even playing a game!
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
An Affordable Housing Market
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a relaxing game where you create a life for yourself. It starts a little slowly, but once you get settled on your island, you’ll have plenty to do! You can build a home and then learn how to make furniture and decorations to personalize your space, both indoors and out.
Players can grow things like apple trees and then sell the fruit for money on their island, or they can visit friends’ islands to find better prices. Each day offers new things to do, similar to real life, and the routine can actually be relaxing and help you focus on the present.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
Shiver My Timbers
While previous Assassin’s Creed games included sailing, Black Flag truly put it at the forefront, immersing players in the world of pirates. Although the game has a traditional assassin storyline, the pirate experience is what really makes it stand out.
As a pirate fan, I’m really excited about how much freedom you’ll have sailing around the Caribbean in this game! It’s not just about the open world, though – the developers are adding things like crew members singing classic sea shanties, even songs like ‘Dead Horse’ and ‘Fish in the Sea’! It’s details like that which are going to really make you feel like a pirate from the 1700s, and I can’t wait.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Life In The Old West
If you’re more into cowboys than pirates, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the game for you. It’s set in 1899, at a time when the Wild West and the outlaw lifestyle are disappearing. You play as a member of the Van der Linde gang, trying to enjoy one last adventure. Expect plenty of action, from bank and train robberies to simply causing trouble in towns.
Players can also experience the game as Arthur Morgan, choosing to reform and avoid crime. Regardless of how you play, Red Dead Redemption 2 remains the most immersive Western game available, truly making you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Your Superhero Escape
If you’ve ever wanted to be a superhero without the costume and role-playing, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a great video game option. You can play as either Peter Parker or Miles Morales, swinging through New York City and stopping crime to experience what it’s like to be the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Players will also be able to experience well-known Spider-Man adventures featuring characters like Kraven the Hunter and Venom. What really stands out is how naturally the web-swinging works – it’s so fun, players will likely choose swinging around the city over simply using fast travel.
Hogwarts Legacy
You’re A Wizard, Player
Ever since the first Harry Potter movie came out in 2001, there have been video games based on the series, but most weren’t very enjoyable. Hogwarts Legacy broke that trend by letting players design their own student and experience life at Hogwarts long before Harry Potter’s time.
Players get to experience life as a student at a magical school – they can take classes, learn spells, build friendships, and explore the campus by walking or flying on a broomstick. It’s a dream come true for any Harry Potter enthusiast, offering everything fans love about the series, except the actual ability to do magic.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
Too Many Lives To Name
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is an action role-playing game where you choose a ‘Life,’ or class. What makes it different is that you can switch between classes whenever you want, unlike many other RPGs that lock you into a single one.
I’m really enjoying how diverse the Lives are in this game! They’re all different, and each one levels up in its own way. If you want to be a fighter, like a Paladin, you level up by battling. If you’re into cooking, playing as a Cook and making dishes is how you progress. And if you prefer gathering resources, you can be a Woodcutter and chop wood to level up. Honestly, whatever kind of gameplay you’re in the mood for, there’s a Life for you – it’s awesome!
Tetris Effect
The PSVR’s Selling Point
Originally launched on PS4 with VR compatibility for the PSVR headset, Tetris Effect isn’t just a great Tetris game—it’s a completely immersive experience. It’s hard to explain the feeling unless you try the VR version yourself. The colorful blocks, dynamic music, and stunning visuals create a mesmerizing, dreamlike state that will captivate you.
Tetris Effect: Connected is a calming, mentally stimulating, and wonderfully creative experience that blends different types of media seamlessly. While the game is enjoyable in general, and the added multiplayer is a nice touch, playing it in VR on PS4 is truly the best way to experience it.
No Man’s Sky
To Infinity And Beyond
No Man’s Sky offers a potentially endless gaming experience for players of all kinds. The game builds planets automatically, allowing you to fly your spaceship to them and explore each one.
Players can explore planets and wildlife, construct habitats, connect with others, and even playfully disrupt things with security drones. Though there’s action, it’s mostly a relaxed space exploration game for anyone who’s ever dreamed of venturing into the vastness of space and discovering what’s out there.
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2026-01-04 11:35