10 Best Open-World Games to Play Right Now
You have a free weekend, a backlog that keeps growing and no clear idea which giant map deserves your next hundred hours. This list gives you ten open-world games, counted down from No. 10 to No. 1, with a clear reason for every place.
Every game here is built around a world you can wander without being pushed down a corridor. Some reward patience with stories that unfold over dozens of hours. Others reward curiosity, where a wrong turn leads to a hidden shrine, a horse ride into a snowstorm or a stolen car that carries you across a city in minutes. The ranking looks at what each world does best, not just how big the map is, because a huge map that feels empty is simply a long walk.
Platforms and release details are checked, not guessed. Each entry lists where the game can be played, based only on the publisher, store and platform information we could confirm. Where a newer version exists, such as a Nintendo Switch 2 edition, a PC port or a remaster, we say so and give the date. That matters in the UK, where some versions arrive later than others and a new edition can cost more than the version you already own. The Witcher 3 is a good example: its Switch 2 remaster is a separate purchase at £45.99, with owners of the original Switch version getting it free.
The picks range from games that are several years old to ones that are still getting new versions. The older titles still hold up because their worlds were built with care, while the newer ones come with bigger maps and more modern systems. You do not need to play them in any order. Each entry starts with the story set-up, then explains why the world works, who it suits and where to find it. We keep to set-up and conflict, so there are no endings to spoil.
If you only have time for a few, start with the mood you are in. A slow, character-driven ride suits some readers far better than a fast sandbox. A dark fantasy world full of monsters will appeal to others. A few picks come with a clear warning about difficulty, because a game can be brilliant and still punish you for a bad first hour. Pick the one that fits the time you have, not the one with the biggest reputation. Each entry also gives the release years, so you can see how old a world is before you commit. If you are shopping on a budget, check discounted editions before paying full price.
Think of this as a shortlist from one gamer to another. You will probably disagree with some placings, and that is part of the fun. Let’s get into it 👇
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10. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 puts two Spider-Men in one city. Peter Parker and Miles Morales both want to protect New York, but the city keeps pulling them in different directions. When a new wave of trouble breaks out, Peter has to deal with his own problems while Miles juggles his life and his costume. Venom and the hunter Kraven are both moving through the streets, and the two heroes must work together before the city falls apart. The stakes are personal as well as public, because both heroes have people they care about in the line of fire.
Swinging through New York is the best part. The city is dense, the traversal feels fast without losing weight, and switching between Peter and Miles changes how you approach fights and missions. Miles’s electric powers give combat a different rhythm from Peter’s gadgets and acrobatics.
Why it ranks here: It sits at No. 10 because the city is a joy to move through, but the story is the thinnest of the ten and the combat is busy. Horizon Forbidden West, at No. 9, has a richer world and a more focused sense of exploration. Spider-Man 2 is still a strong pick for anyone who wants a bright, fast city.
Who should play it: Players who want a bright modern city and do not mind a steady stream of side missions.
Where to play: PlayStation 5 (October 2023). The PC version arrived on Steam and the Epic Games Store in January 2025.
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9. Horizon Forbidden West
Aloy is a hunter who has spent years learning to read the ancient machines that roam the land. In Horizon Forbidden West, she travels west into a region where a deadly Blight is spreading and the land is changing shape. She is searching for the source of the sickness, and every answer she finds leads to a bigger question about what the old world left behind. Whether anyone can be trusted with the old world’s secrets is an open question. The danger comes from the machines, the rival groups and the Blight itself.
The machines are the reason to play. Hunting a large machine feels like a planned encounter, with weak points and set-piece moments. The west is bright, varied and full of ruins, so exploring feels like a reward rather than a chore. The story is serious and the cast is strong, though some side quests feel routine.
Why it ranks here: It sits at No. 9 because its combat and landscapes are excellent, but its story and structure sit just behind the top picks. Spider-Man 2, at No. 10, has better traversal but a thinner world, which is why Horizon is higher. Hogwarts Legacy, at No. 8, has a more playful tone, while Forbidden West is more focused on tense hunts.
Who should play it: Players who enjoy hunting machines, exploring ruins and following a determined heroine through a dangerous land.
Where to play: PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 (2022). The Complete Edition launched on PC on 21 March 2024.
8. Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy sends you to the wizarding world in the late 1800s, long before the familiar Harry Potter years. Your character is a student at Hogwarts who must work out why ancient magic is stirring across the land, and the school’s teachers and portraits are not always willing to help. The school is only the start of the map. Castles, forests and villages stretch out beyond the walls. You begin with little more than a wand and a lot of curiosity.
The castle is the highlight. Corridors, hidden rooms and portraits make the school feel alive, and every wander through the grounds feels like the books come to life. Combat mixes spells and dodges, and the broom is fun to ride. The main story is familiar, but the side quests and wider exploration are where it earns its place.
Why it ranks here: It sits at No. 8 because it is a treat for fans, but its story is less bold than the picks above. It sits below Horizon Forbidden West at No. 9 for its tighter combat. It sits above GTA V at No. 7 because its magic is more inviting for fans of the setting.
Who should play it: Fans of the wizarding world who want to walk the halls, explore at their own pace and build their own character.
Where to play: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (February 10, 2023). A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition followed on 5 June 2025.
7. Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V is set in Los Santos and Blaine County, a sunny and sprawling version of Southern California. Three criminals live very different lives. Michael is a former bank robber in witness protection who finds retirement dull. Franklin is a young hustler looking for a way out of small jobs. Trevor is unpredictable, violent and loyal to very few people. Their paths cross as they plan heists and dodge the authorities and rival crews, torn between the lives they want and the ones they keep getting dragged back into.
The city is the star. Los Santos is packed with radio stations, traffic, strange characters, and the map rewards you for wandering with no plan. Switching between three protagonists gives the story variety, and the heists are some of the most memorable set pieces in open-world design. Some missions run long, but the mix of humour and chaos keeps it fresh.
Why it ranks here: It sits at No. 7 because the city and the heists are outstanding, but the story is less focused than The Witcher 3 at No. 6. Against Hogwarts Legacy at No. 8, it has far more variety.
Who should play it: Players who like a mix of heists, comedy and a city that rewards experimenting without a plan.
Where to play: PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (2013), PC (2015), and PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S (2022). Rockstar announced free upgrades for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S owners in June 2026.
6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt follows Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter with a sharp tongue and a strict code. War is spreading across the Northern Kingdoms, and Geralt is searching for Ciri, a young woman whose powers many people want to control. The Wild Hunt, a spectral army with a terrifying leader, is chasing her too. Geralt has to track rumours, follow the trail of monsters and make choices that change whole towns. Few people he meets can be trusted.
What makes the game stand out is the way every side quest feels like a small story. Villages, cities and monsters are written with care, and your choices have lasting consequences. The combat is solid but secondary. The writing gives the land a history few open worlds manage.
Why it ranks here: It sits at No. 6 because its side quests and writing are among the best in the genre. It sits below Ghost of Tsushima at No. 5 because that game’s combat and landscapes feel more consistently exciting. It sits above GTA V at No. 7 because its story is more personal.
Who should play it: Players who want a long, character-driven story with moral choices and monster hunting that feels grounded.
Where to play: PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S through the Complete Edition from 14 December 2022. The Switch 2 remaster, The Witcher III: Wild Hunt – Remastered, launched on 29 September 2026 as a separate purchase at £45.99, free for original Switch owners.
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5. Ghost of Tsushima
Set on Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan in 1274, Ghost of Tsushima follows Jin Sakai, the last surviving member of Clan Sakai. A Mongol fleet led by Khotun Khan overwhelms the island’s samurai, and Jin must decide how far he will go to win it back. Honour says to meet the enemy face to face. Survival pushes him towards harsher tactics, and he becomes The Ghost, a guerrilla fighter who uses stealth, fear and surprise. The island is under siege, its villages are frightened, and every choice carries a cost.
The island looks like a painting, especially its wind-blown grass fields. Stealth and duels are both satisfying, and the wind and wildlife guide you towards side activities in a natural way. The Director’s Cut adds Iki Island and PlayStation 5 features. The story is simple, but the animations and music make each encounter feel like a set piece.
Why it ranks here: It sits at No. 5 because its atmosphere and combat are the most consistent in this list. It sits just below Cyberpunk 2077 at No. 4 because Night City has more depth and sharper quests. It sits above The Witcher 3 at No. 6 because its open world feels more focused.
Who should play it: Anyone who loves samurai stories, stealth and cinematic landscapes, especially players who want a tighter world than the biggest RPGs.
Where to play: PlayStation 4 (2020) and PlayStation 5 with the Director’s Cut (2021). The PC version launched on 16 May 2024. Wikipedia
4. Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 takes place in Night City, a rich and dangerous metropolis where chrome implants and corporate power shape daily life. You play as V, a mercenary who wants one big score and a better life. The plan goes wrong when a chip carrying the personality of rockerboy Johnny Silverhand is installed in V’s head. Johnny is a ghost of a legendary rebel, and the chip threatens to take control. V must decide whether to hunt the chip’s source, serve the corporations or find a way out alone.
Night City is dense and loud. Its streets are full of neon, rain, adverts and characters with their own agendas. The strength is in the side jobs and character-driven quests, which often feel as memorable as the main story. Gunplay and driving are fast, and the build choices let you play in very different ways. The 2020 launch was rocky, but the game has been patched many times since.
Why it ranks here: It sits at No. 4 because its city and its quests are the sharpest in this list. It sits just below Zelda at No. 3 because Nintendo’s world is more inventive about exploration, and above Ghost of Tsushima at No. 5 because Night City has more depth and choices.
Who should play it: Players who like dark, sharp sci-fi, flexible builds and a city that keeps surprising them.
Where to play: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S (2020). The Nintendo Switch 2 Ultimate Edition launched on 5 June 2025.
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3. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom picks up after Breath of the Wild. Link wakes beneath the ruins of Hyrule Castle, and the kingdom above has changed. Princess Zelda is missing, Ganondorf’s dark power is spreading and the land is threatened by a sinister force known as the Gloom. Link has to explore the Sky Islands above Hyrule and the Depths below the surface, learning new abilities as he goes. Every discovery raises a new question about the ancient past and the kingdom’s future.
Its best feature is how the tools work together. Ultrahand lets you build vehicles and bridges from parts, and the other abilities open up new ways to solve problems. The world is more layered than its predecessor, with the Depths and Sky Islands adding routes and secrets. Experiments are fun because the physics respond to what you build. Its story is simpler than its systems.
Why it ranks here: It sits at No. 3 because no other world asks you to invent a solution as often. It sits below Elden Ring at No. 2 because that world feels more hostile and dangerous, while Zelda is more playful. It sits above Cyberpunk 2077 at No. 4 because its exploration never stops feeling clever.
Who should play it: Players who love experimenting, puzzles and wandering off the marked path.
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, released on 12 May 2023 by Nintendo.
2. Elden Ring
Elden Ring is set in the Lands Between, a vast and broken realm where the Elden Ring has shattered and its shards have been scattered. The player is a Tarnished, an exile who is awakened and sent to reclaim the power of the Elden Lord. The land is full of demigods, monsters and ruined kingdoms, and the golden Erdtree at the heart of the realm looms over every region. The stakes are simple and huge: become the Elden Lord, or be consumed by the decay spreading across the land.
Its open world is built as a set of hostile but rewarding landmarks. Caves, castles and cliffs hide bosses and secrets, and the game rarely tells you where to go next. Combat is demanding but fair, with every weapon and spell suiting a different style. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, released in 2024, adds a new land of its own. The difficulty is part of its identity.
Why it ranks here: It sits at No. 2 as the most demanding and rewarding open world here. It sits below Red Dead Redemption 2 at No. 1 because that game pairs its world with a deeper, more emotional story. It sits above Zelda at No. 3 for its sharper sense of danger.
Who should play it: Players who want a serious challenge and do not mind learning the hard way.
Where to play: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2 (Tarnished Edition, 28 August 2026), which includes the original game and Shadow of the Erdtree. Full release history: Wikipedia
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1. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is set in 1899 across a vast American frontier. You play as Arthur Morgan, a senior member of the Van der Linde gang. The gang is a family of outlaws who have been on the run for years, led by Dutch van der Linde, whose vision is slipping. Arthur’s loyalty is tested as jobs go wrong, the law closes in and rival groups circle. The stakes are the gang’s survival and Arthur’s own sense of right and wrong, and every town and camp is a chance to decide who Arthur becomes.
No open world on this list feels as alive. Towns follow their own routines, and weather and hunger change how you move. The performances are excellent, especially in Arthur’s relationships with the gang. Riding across the land at dusk is a highlight. The pace is slow in places.
Why it ranks here: It takes No. 1 because it is the most complete world on this list. Elden Ring at No. 2 is harder and more mysterious, and Zelda at No. 3 is more inventive, but Red Dead’s towns, characters and daily routines give it a warmth the others cannot match. Cyberpunk 2077 has sharper quests, but no city sells its place as convincingly.
Who should play it: Players who want a deep story, a believable world and time to slow down.
Where to play: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (2018), with PC following on 5 November 2019. Full release history: Wikipedia
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Conclusion
The strongest picks on this list share one habit: they make you want to go off the path. Red Dead Redemption 2 does it through its people, Elden Ring through danger, and Zelda through the tools it gives you to invent your own solutions. Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 both turn side quests into stories that stay with you, while Ghost of Tsushima wins by making every landscape feel like a set piece.
Different players will want different worlds. If you want a challenge that teaches you through failure, Elden Ring is the one to start with. If you would rather walk into a warm, lived-in world and hear its stories, Red Dead is the easier entry. Fans of the wizarding world will get the most from Hogwarts Legacy, and anyone who wants a bright city with lots to do should try Spider-Man 2 or GTA V.
Red Dead Redemption 2 takes the top spot because it is the most complete of the ten. Its world is alive in the small moments, its story gives every ride across the land some weight, and its best scenes feel like the reason the game exists. The others are excellent, but none of them matches that balance of world, story and mood.
Which of these have you played, and which one did I rank too low? Tell us your favourites, your own top ten, or any open world you think we missed in the comments.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which open-world game should a beginner start with?
Start with The Witcher 3 or Ghost of Tsushima. Both have clear goals, strong side quests and a map that teaches you how to move. The Witcher 3 offers more story depth, while Ghost of Tsushima is easier to follow and quicker to pick up. Red Dead Redemption 2 is also a good choice if you enjoy slow storytelling and do not mind a gentler pace in the early hours.
Is Red Dead Redemption 2 still worth playing in 2026?
Yes, especially if you like long, character-led stories. It came out in 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and the PC version launched on 5 November 2019. Its world and story have not dated badly, and the attention to detail is still rare. If you are new to the series, play it at a relaxed pace, since its best moments often come during quiet rides and conversations.
Which games on this list are on Nintendo Switch 2?
Four titles have Switch 2 versions. Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition and Hogwarts Legacy Switch 2 Edition both launched on 5 June 2025. Elden Ring Tarnished Edition arrived on 28 August 2026 and includes Shadow of the Erdtree. The Witcher 3 Remastered launched on 29 September 2026 as a separate purchase at £45.99, with owners of the original Switch version getting it free.
Do I need a PS5 to play Marvel’s Spider-Man 2?
No. The game launched on PlayStation 5 in October 2023, and a PC version arrived on Steam and the Epic Games Store in January 2025. If you have a capable PC, you can play it there without buying a console. Check your preferred store for the current price, since offers change often. The story and open city are the same on both platforms, so the choice comes down to the hardware you already own.
Is Ghost of Tsushima available on PC?
Yes. The Director’s Cut launched on Windows on 16 May 2024, after the original PlayStation 4 release in 2020 and the PlayStation 5 Director’s Cut in 2021. The Director’s Cut includes the Iki Island expansion. If you already own the PlayStation version, check the store listing to see what the Director’s Cut adds before buying again. The multiplayer mode Ghost of Tsushima: Legends also exists as a separate option for players who want a shared experience.
Is Horizon Forbidden West on PC?
Yes, through the Complete Edition, which launched on PC on 21 March 2024. The original game came out in 2022 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. If you are choosing between platforms, the PC version is a good choice for players who want to switch between games quickly, while the console versions suit those who prefer a couch setup. Check the store page for the current price and any bundles before you buy.
Does Grand Theft Auto V still get updates?
Yes. Rockstar announced free upgrades for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S owners in June 2026, which means the game is still getting attention years after launch. Check the PlayStation Store or Xbox Store for the current version and any charge. Owners of the older PC release should check the Rockstar Games Launcher for the latest details. If you only want the story, the PC and console versions have the same core game, so pick the one you can play most comfortably.
Which game on this list has the toughest world?
Elden Ring is the toughest, with bosses, traps and hostile landmarks that punish carelessness. Its difficulty is part of the design, and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion adds more challenge. If you want a gentler experience, Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher 3 offer a more forgiving start, although both can still be demanding in later hours. Expect to die often in the first few hours, and treat each lesson as part of the learning curve.
Does Elden Ring have a story?
Yes, but the game does not explain it directly. You piece together the story from items, locations, conversations and the Lands Between’s broken history. The set-up is clear: you are a Tarnished trying to become the Elden Lord. How much you learn depends on how curious you are, and players often find key details by exploring off the main route.
Are there multiplayer options in these games?
Some are. Grand Theft Auto V includes GTA Online, a shared world where players can team up or compete. Ghost of Tsushima has the multiplayer mode Ghost of Tsushima: Legends. Most of the other titles on this list focus on single-player play, so check each store page for the current options before you buy. Multiplayer options can change over time, so the store page is the best place to confirm the latest details.
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