Best Open World Games That Still Have Players Hooked in 2026

by

Open world games are hugely popular, but many aren’t worth playing. It’s not about being negative – it’s simply that publishers realized players will spend a lot of time in a game if it has a large map, even if the gameplay isn’t great. The games listed here are worth your time. We’ve compiled twenty titles available on PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox that offer genuinely engaging experiences beyond just a big world and lots of things to find.

When choosing the best open-world games, we focused on how immersive they are. Do these games feel dynamic and real even when you’re not directly interacting with them, or do they become static? And is it genuinely worthwhile to explore beyond the main story, or does the game world feel empty and repetitive once you stray from the beaten path? The games listed here – on PS5, Switch, and across multiple platforms – all excel in these areas.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch

Released in May 2015, The Witcher 3 remains the gold standard for open-world RPGs, which isn’t ideal for the developers who’ve followed. CD Projekt Red created three unique regions – Velen, Novigrad, and the Skellige Isles – each with its own atmosphere, politics, and quests, and the side stories are just as well-written as the main plot. Instead of simply heading to a marker and fighting, the monster hunts Geralt takes on require investigation: you gather clues, research the creature, and prepare accordingly.

A free update released in December 2022 brought improved graphics with ray tracing, a smoother gameplay experience at 60 frames per second on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, a photo mode for capturing in-game moments, and the ability to continue your progress across different platforms. The Complete Edition includes both major expansions – Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine – offering over 50 hours of additional content. Blood and Wine stands out with its large, detailed region of Toussaint, which is as impressive as the best parts of the main game.

2. Red Dead Redemption 2

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Rockstar spent about eight years crafting this game, and the incredible detail really shines through. Red Dead Redemption 2’s 1899 American West feels incredibly alive, with things like realistic weather impacting how characters act, a dynamic wanted system that varies by location and who sees your actions, and a thriving wildlife population where animals hunt each other even when you’re not around. Your camp also evolves over time, changing based on the story and how much you invest in it. No other open-world game has achieved this level of immersive environmental detail.

Beating Red Dead Redemption 2 as Arthur Morgan takes around 60 hours if you really explore everything. The game is intentionally paced slowly, encouraging you to spend time on activities like hunting and fishing – they’re not just optional extras, but feel like essential parts of life in the game world. If you were hoping for the fast action of a typical GTA game and didn’t enjoy it, that’s likely because the game’s slower style wasn’t what you expected.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Platforms: Switch, Switch 2

Breath of the Wild was incredibly popular, selling ten million copies within just three days of its May 2023 release. Nintendo expanded the world of Hyrule in exciting ways, adding floating Sky Islands above and a vast, dark underground area called the Depths below – which mirrors the surface but offers unique resources and enemies. Players can use the Ultrahand ability to grab and combine objects, building everything from vehicles to weapons using found parts. The Fuse ability lets you attach materials to weapons, changing how they work and increasing their power.

While most puzzles have around five possible solutions, the most rewarding ones are those you discover on your own. When it comes to open-world games on the Nintendo Switch, nothing else offers players quite as much freedom to be creative.

4. Elden Ring

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Elden Ring came out in February 2022 and quickly became a huge success, selling 25 million copies by June 2024. The game’s rich world and backstory were created with help from George R.R. Martin, focusing on the overall setting rather than specific plot details. This approach gives the game world a deep and intriguing history that’s rare in open-world games. Unlike many games, Elden Ring doesn’t hold your hand. It provides a mostly blank map and lets you explore the world and discover things on your own, riding your spectral steed, Torrent.

Released in June 2024, the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expands Elden Ring with a new area called the Land of Shadow. It includes large, challenging legacy dungeons, over 100 new weapons, and boss battles that are even more difficult than those in the original game – and that’s a high bar! If you’re tired of games that hold your hand, Elden Ring, especially with this expansion, offers a truly challenging experience.

5. Grand Theft Auto V

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Grand Theft Auto V first came out in September 2013, and has been re-released multiple times – on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2014, and again on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in March 2022. It’s incredible that Rockstar has now sold over 200 million copies across three different console generations, but the world of Los Santos keeps players coming back. The game features a huge and varied map, including a busy city, deserts, forests, mountains, and even an underwater area. There’s a ton to do, from complex multi-part heists and manipulating the stock market during missions, to activities like triathlons, yoga, base jumping, and exploring a heavily guarded military base.

Grand Theft Auto V’s unique design allows players to experience the city through the eyes of three distinct characters – Michael, Trevor, and Franklin – each offering a different story and gameplay style. Even with ongoing updates to GTA Online planned through 2026 and the release of GTA 6 expected in fall 2026, it remains the most comprehensive open-world crime game currently available.

6. Cyberpunk 2077

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch 2

Wow, the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 back in December 2020 was a total mess. It was so bad, CD Projekt Red actually got investigated for how they talked to investors! They even had to pull the game from the PlayStation Store for six months. But honestly, it’s amazing how far the game has come. After the big 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion in September 2023, it’s genuinely fantastic now, and I really think it deserves to be looked at for what it is today – a truly great game.

Night City is divided into six unique areas—City Center, Watson, Westbrook, Heywood, Pacifica, and Santo Domingo—each with its own style, people, and gang presence. The recent 2.0 update completely changed how skills, the police, and cyberware work. Most missions let you play how you want—stealthily, with guns blazing, through hacking, or by talking your way through—and your choices at the beginning of the game greatly affect V’s story. Even among other open-world games on the PlayStation 5, Night City remains incredibly detailed and packed with life.

7. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Platforms: PS5

Released in October 2023, Spider-Man 2 quickly became the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever, with 2.5 million copies sold in its first day. The game’s map is much larger than the original, now including Brooklyn and Queens in addition to Manhattan – roughly doubling the playable area. New web wings allow players to glide quickly between swings, making it faster and more enjoyable to travel across the city and preventing long stretches from feeling like a chore.

In Spider-Man 2, you’ll control both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, switching between them during the story and freely while exploring the city. Peter gains powerful new symbiote abilities, adding a unique and fast-paced combat style to his moves. The game features iconic villains like Venom, Kraven the Hunter, and the Lizard. And on the PlayStation 5, the way you swing around the city is unlike anything else in open-world games.

8. Ghost of Tsushima

Platforms: PS5, PC

Ghost of Tsushima was originally released by Sucker Punch in July 2020, with an expanded Director’s Cut following in August 2021. This version included the Iki Island expansion and took advantage of the PlayStation 5’s features, like the DualSense controller’s realistic vibrations that let you feel different surfaces underfoot. The game’s navigation system, which uses the wind as a guide, is a particularly clever design choice, and it made many other open-world game waypoint systems seem simplistic in comparison.

I’m really into how the combat works in this game! It’s all about mastering four different stances – Stone for taking on swordsmen, Water against shields, Wind for dealing with spears, and Moon for those really tough brutes. The key to getting good is learning to switch between them during fights, it’s super satisfying. Plus, they added a free co-op mode called Legends where you can play with up to three friends through the story or try out survival challenges. And for PC players, it launched in May 2024 with support for ultrawide monitors and you can even run it with uncapped frame rates, which is awesome!

9. Horizon Forbidden West

Platforms: PS5, PC

Horizon Forbidden West, released by Guerrilla Games in February 2022, significantly improves on the machine combat of the original Zero Dawn. The game features 42 different types of machines, each with specific parts that can be targeted and destroyed. Damaging these components not only changes how the machines fight, but also affects what items they drop. In fact, the most effective strategy is often to disable a machine’s weapons and turn them against it – and it feels great to do so! The game’s expansive open world includes six diverse regions, like deserts, beaches, swamps, and snowy mountains, each populated with unique machines.

Okay, so I finally checked out the Burning Shores DLC for Horizon Forbidden West, and wow, it’s awesome! It adds this totally new volcanic island area – basically, what’s left of Los Angeles – and it looks incredible on my PS5. But the best part? Guerrilla has confirmed they’re already working on a third Horizon game! So, don’t worry, Aloy’s adventure isn’t over yet!

10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch

Originally launched in November 2011, Skyrim is now available on a huge range of platforms – from PC and older consoles like the PS3 and Xbox 360, to current-generation systems like the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and even Nintendo Switch. It briefly appeared on Amazon Alexa too – a bold move by Bethesda! The Anniversary Edition for PS5 and Xbox includes everything from the original game, plus all three DLC expansions (Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn) and over 500 pieces of Creation Club content.

This province features five large cities, countless dungeons to explore, and lengthy questlines for groups like the Companions, College of Winterhold, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood. The Switch version is surprisingly enjoyable on the go, with motion controls that work really well for quick play sessions. And on PC, a massive modding community has created over 70,000 modifications on Nexus Mods, many of which significantly improve the game beyond what official updates have done.

11. Baldur’s Gate 3

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

As a huge fan, I was so excited when Larian Studios finally released Baldur’s Gate 3 last August after being in early access for three years, and it totally swept the awards season – winning Game of the Year at The Game Awards, BAFTAs, GDC, and basically everywhere else! What’s really amazing is how much freedom it gives you. It’s built on the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules, so you can approach almost any situation with fighting, talking, using your surroundings, or mixing it all up. Seriously, even just in the very first fight on the nautiloid, there are at least six different ways you can play it!

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a massive game, taking around 100 hours to complete all three acts, with the first act alone offering a full game’s worth of content. Your choices truly matter, influencing companion stories and even leading to characters dying or becoming enemies later on. If you enjoy the unpredictable, story-driven experiences of games like RimWorld, Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a similar feeling within a classic fantasy RPG framework.

12. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Platforms: Switch, Switch 2

Released with the Nintendo Switch in March 2017, Breath of the Wild revolutionized open-world game design. Its realistic physics engine makes the world feel truly interconnected – fire reacts to the wind, metal attracts lightning, ice melts with heat, and even the weather impacts Link’s health. The vast world of Hyrule is filled with over 900 hidden Korok seeds and 120 shrines, encouraging exploration without holding your hand.

You can challenge the four Divine Beasts in any order you like. In fact, skilled players have beaten the game in under 30 minutes by heading straight for Ganon with very little preparation. This level of freedom is what makes Breath of the Wild so special and why it remains a standout open-world game on the Switch, even after the release of Tears of the Kingdom.

13. Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

After a couple of delays, Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched in March 2025 and quickly became a hit, selling over 3 million copies in its first month – making it the fastest-selling game in the series since Origins. Set in 1579 Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the game lets you play as two characters: Naoe, a stealthy shinobi skilled in assassination and parkour, and Yasuke, a historical samurai and the first known African to hold the title in Japan, who excels in direct combat with a katana.

The game world changes with the seasons, featuring beautiful autumn leaves, snowy winters, blooming cherry blossoms in spring, and intense summer storms. These changes impact how you see the world, how characters act, and what you can do. The map is large and diverse, covering areas like Harima, Yamashiro, and Omi, and includes over 100 places to discover. You can switch between playing as Naoe and Yasuke, who have very different abilities, which keeps the gameplay fresh even after many hours of play.

14. Ghost of Yotei

Platforms: PS5, PC

Ghost of Yotei, launching in 2025, shifts the action from the 1274 Mongol invasion of Tsushima to 1603 Hokkaido. The game takes place around Mount Yotei, a dormant volcano in Hokkaido, and follows Atsu, a woman hunting down a band of criminals known as the Yotei Six. Players will explore a diverse environment featuring hot springs, thick forests, volcanic areas, and seaside villages.

Ghost of Tsushima 2 keeps the wind-based navigation players loved in the first game, but now offers more ways to get around thanks to Hokkaido’s diverse landscapes. The fighting has been completely redesigned, moving away from the stance system of the original. While previews show a world much bigger than the first game’s Tsushima Island, we won’t know the full size until the game is released.

15. No Man’s Sky

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch

Okay, so No Man’s Sky had a rough launch back in 2016. Everyone was mad because a lot of the cool stuff they’d shown off wasn’t actually in the game. But what happened next was incredible. This tiny team, like 25 people, spent the next eight years constantly updating it – and I mean constantly! They added everything you could imagine: building bases, playing with friends, exploring underwater, piloting living spaceships, stomping around in mechs, managing settlements, and these huge expedition events. Seriously, the game I’m playing in 2026 is basically a completely different game than the one that came out in 2016. The only thing that’s really stayed the same is how the worlds are created, which is pretty amazing.

With over 18 quintillion uniquely generated planets, the universe in No Man’s Sky is vast and always different. If you enjoy games like RimWorld and are looking for a truly open-ended experience with detailed base-building and unpredictable events, No Man’s Sky offers that on a console. It’s particularly remarkable that the Switch version can run the complete game while you’re on the go.

16. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 launched in February 2025, continuing the story of Henry of Skalitz in 15th-century Bohemia amidst the Hussite Wars. The game features realistic survival elements – you need to sleep to save your progress and eat to keep your energy up. Importantly, your combat abilities improve by actually playing the game, not just by increasing numbers on a screen. The game world is set in the Kuttenberg region, a historically significant city within the Holy Roman Empire, and includes the nearby countryside, forests, and villages.

Battles involve aiming attacks at specific parts of your enemy’s body and learning to anticipate their moves to block or dodge. Mastering the combat system takes significant practice. You can also progress by talking to people, crafting potions, and studying books. This RPG doesn’t hold your hand, which some players will appreciate, while others may find it frustrating.

17. Forza Horizon 5

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Forza Horizon 5 was initially released for Xbox and PC in November 2021, and later became available on PS5 in April 2025. The game features a vast open world inspired by Mexico, spanning 107 square kilometers – making it the biggest map in the Forza Horizon series. Players can explore diverse environments like a snow-covered volcano modeled after Popocatepetl, lush rainforests, sandy deserts, historic cities, charming coastal towns, and ancient Mayan ruins. Each area has unique surfaces that impact how vehicles handle.

Forza Horizon 5 launched with more than 500 cars, and the selection has grown with frequent updates. The game features Horizon Arcade, which creates spontaneous, cooperative challenges that any player nearby can easily jump into. Compared to many role-playing games, Forza Horizon 5 makes better use of its open world map, even though it isn’t focused on fighting.

18. Dragon’s Dogma 2

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Dragon’s Dogma 2 came out in March 2024 and quickly sold over 2.5 million copies. Unlike many open-world games, it makes traveling between locations truly dangerous. The game world isn’t filled with convenient fast travel points; instead, the roads connecting major cities like Vernworth and Bakbattahl are full of threats. You’ll encounter dangerous creatures like griffins, goblins, and cyclops, and these enemies will challenge you no matter your character’s level.

With the Pawn system, you can hire AI companions created by other players. These companions learn about quests and enemy locations as their owners play, and can offer you helpful hints if they’ve already completed quests you haven’t. The game features 10 different character classes, called Vocations, like Mage, Archer, and Mystic Spearhand, each offering a unique way to fight. Plus, it’s still incredibly satisfying to climb on top of large enemies and attack their weak spots – it’s a standout feature in open-world games.

19. Minecraft

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch

I still can’t believe how huge Minecraft is! It came out way back in November 2011, and it’s now officially the best-selling game ever, with over 300 million copies sold – it’s way ahead of any other game. What’s really cool is the Bedrock Edition; it works on pretty much everything – PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, computers, iPhones, and Androids – and you can play with anyone, no matter what device they’re using. It’s awesome being able to build with friends regardless of their platform!

Minecraft creates its worlds using a system where a specific number will always create the same landscape, allowing players to easily share cool places to start a game. Survival mode in the current version includes the main world, the Nether, and the End, as well as newer areas like the Trial Chambers and Deep Dark. Minecraft is often credited with popularizing the idea of open-world games where players set their own goals. The Switch version is especially great for playing on the go, as it’s easy to lose track of time and play for hours!

20. Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Platforms: Switch, Switch 2

Released in July 2022, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 boasts a remarkably detailed open world on the Nintendo Switch. It features vast and varied environments – from grassy plains and canyons to ruins and caves – all connected without any loading screens. Built on an updated engine from Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the game really maximizes the Switch’s capabilities.

The game features fast-paced, action-based combat where characters take on roles like Tank, Healer, or Attacker, and you can switch these roles between characters in your party. A unique system called Ouroboros allows two characters to combine into a more powerful form with its own special moves. The main story will take between 80 and 120 hours to complete, depending on how much optional content you explore, and the ‘Future Redeemed’ expansion adds another 20+ hours of gameplay. For a deep RPG experience in an open world on the Switch, this game offers a scale and depth that’s unmatched.

What Makes a Great Open World Game?

As a gamer, I’ve always thought it’s funny how easily developers can make a game look big, but it doesn’t actually matter. What really makes a game great isn’t just a huge world, but smart design. These games on this list prove that – they’re amazing because of how they’re built, not just how much space there is. They skip all the empty filler you find in so many open-world games and focus on what’s truly important.

  • Rewarding exploration without telegraphing everything. The best open world games don’t put an icon on every interesting thing. Finding something unmarked should feel like an actual discovery, not a notification you haven’t collected yet.
  • Systems that run independently. Weather, NPC schedules, faction conflicts, and ecological behavior should function whether you’re present or not. A world that only activates when you walk into it isn’t a world.
  • Side content is written with the same care as the main story. The difference between Witcher 3 and most open world games is that the side quests in Witcher 3 have real writing behind them. Fetch quests dressed up as side quests are not content.
  • Movement that’s enjoyable without a destination. Traversal needs to feel good on its own terms. Horseback riding in RDR2, web-swinging in Spider-Man 2, and driving in Forza Horizon 5 are all worth doing for their own sake. If fast travel is the preferred option, the traversal has failed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best open world games on PS5?

Some of the best open-world games on PS5 are Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Horizon Forbidden West, Elden Ring, and Cyberpunk 2077. These games really showcase the PS5’s power with quick loading and incredibly detailed worlds.

What are the best open world games on Nintendo Switch?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild are the best open-world games available. Other excellent choices that play well on the go include Skyrim Anniversary Edition, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, The Witcher 3, Minecraft, and No Man’s Sky.

Are there any good open world games like RimWorld?

RimWorld is a colony simulator that doesn’t have a typical open world, but it shares qualities with other popular games. Like No Man’s Sky, it offers a deep and engaging exploration experience. It provides the creative freedom of Minecraft, the unpredictable world events of Dragon’s Dogma 2, and allows players to shape the story in a similar way to Baldur’s Gate 3.

What is the biggest open world game?

No Man’s Sky features an almost unimaginable number of planets – over 18 quintillion, created through procedural generation. While some games, like The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, offer large, handcrafted worlds – Daggerfall’s map covers around 161,600 square kilometers – much of that space is undeveloped. This highlights that a large world isn’t necessarily a content-rich one, a point Daggerfall demonstrates well.

What new open world games are coming in 2026?

Several highly anticipated games are slated for release in 2026. Grand Theft Auto 6 is currently planned for fall 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Fable is also aiming for a 2026 release on Xbox Series X/S and PC. From the developers of The Witcher 3, a new game called The Blood of Dawnwalker is expected next year. And Crimson Desert, developed by Pearl Abyss, launched in March 2026.

Read More

2026-05-21 19:53