You’ll find many animals to hunt, monsters to kill, and many mysterious areas to explore. You’ll have to explore the wilderness around you to uncover secrets and scavenge for tools, weapons, clothing, and more. And you’ll have to monitor your health, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and cold while you do so. The Long Dark is a first-person survival game that takes place in the open world environment of the Canadian wilderness. Titles like Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption 2, Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, Fallout 4, No Man’s Sky, etc., are some of the best singleplayer open world games. These games excel at creating unforgettable experiences, where every corner hides a new quest, mystery, more breathtaking sight, all while letting you carve your own path.
Partially procedural animations make traversal and combat feel fluid and kinetic. When the Joker’s TITAN-mutated blood starts to slowly kill him, he infects Batman and Gotham’s hospitals with his disease. Arkham City’s open world is a maze of skyscrapers, steel, and neon, glinting in the dark and fully accessible with Batman’s ability to fly. Kicks and punches straight from the comic books send criminals crying home – hearing thugs react in fear and surprise when the Batman has appeared never gets less satisfying. Arkham City’s story is a truly gripping tragedy, and much of the game’s narrative is told in-game without the use of cutscenes, keeping you immersed the whole time.
A Sci-Fi Open World RPG: Cyberpunk 2077
It’s one for Potter fans, but is a solid modern RPG, having launched in 2023, so worth it even if you don’t love the franchise. Gearbox’s 2012 FPS RPG would be higher on any other list, but with a semi-open world that features a string of massive areas separated by loading screens, it only just counts. With billions of guns and a great story, anyone who likes shooting things will love this, but it’s not a true open world.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Red Dead Redemption 2 is an absolute masterpiece of an open world experience. Rockstar spectacularly reimagined the 1899 United States, and in doing so, they created a game that will reign supreme over its genre for years to come. Arthur Morgan is also one of the most iconic protagonists to ever exist in the industry. In the process, you’ll have to deal with merchants, blacksmiths, swordsmiths, and more. You’ll have to loot and scavenge, craft, and cook food, potions, equipment, and weapons, all crucial to your journey and the quests that it holds.
#12 Rebel Galaxy
With its endless landscapes of forests, deserts, mountains, and oceans, every step is an adventure waiting to happen. By day, gather resources, craft tools, and create anything you can dream of. By night, fend off creepers, skeletons, and zombies in a fight to survive. Whether you’re exploring caverns, farming, or just hanging out with friends in multiplayer, Minecraft transforms the open world into a canvas for creativity and adventure.
A sequel that improves on its predecessor in every way, Horizon Forbidden West continues Aloy’s journey through a lush, post-apocalyptic world. The stunning visuals and diverse environments make the exploration even more thrilling, and the combat against robotic creatures is as engaging as ever. It’s one of those games where the world feels alive, and every corner of it holds a new adventure. The custom ships and probes are deep, and as you travel across the stars, you have a real sense of splendor.
There was a time when No Man’s Sky would’ve been touted as one of the biggest open-world titles ever created. Mainly, while there was a universe with millions upon millions of planets to explore, there was never a reason to really explore them. Open world games offer unmatched freedom to take things in unexpected directions, which makes them very satisfying.
When I first piloted my ship, it felt like stepping into Han Solo’s boots minus the Wookiee co-pilot. Compared to other sandbox games like No Man’s Sky, Minecraft excels in its creativity. There’s no goal until you make one for yourself, and that’s the beauty of it. This is a true example of a world limited only by your imagination. What I love about Far Cry 6 is how it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Unlike Red Dead Redemption 2, which is heavy on reality, this game lets you go wild.
Another Ubisoft game, the RPG style Assassin’s Creed titles were all great, but it’s the ancient Greek Odyssey that’s ffx the best of the bunch. Run around as an assassin, doing assassin things, in this epic open world that is truly massive. This is as much about having a fun playground to cause chaos in than the story.
First and foremost, we considered world design because it’s the heart and soul of any sandbox game. A game can have mind-boggling mechanics or an epic story, but if the world doesn’t feel alive and worth exploring, it’s a dealbreaker. From towering cities to lush forests, it’s how the game’s world is built that matters. Everspace 2 throws players into a cloned pilot setting off on his own adventure to establish where he belongs in this universe.
The game’s sprawling world is stuffed with sidequests, and allows you to totally customize your character’s class, encouraging you to play the game however you want. Combat is up-close and personal, and the game pits you against equals, so each fight feels like a real risk. One of the game’s more untraditional mechanics is a needs system, requiring you to eat and sleep to stay in good shape.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 immerses you in an epic fantasy world where you play as the Arisen, a hero chosen by fate. Explore varied landscapes filled with formidable monsters and complete heroic quests. With AI companions called Pawns, engage in strategic and spectacular combat. Your adventure focuses on exploration, decision-making, and skill development.