Open-world gamesmight be slightly overexposed nowadays, but they are popular for a reason. For one, they (typically) offer a lot of content, to the point that a single game can keep somebody busy for a few months if they only play a couple of hours per week. Secondly, they encompass a wide spectrum of genres and themes, ranging from ambitious high fantasy to dense cyberpunk epics. Their gameplay varies greatly, too, so there should be something for just about everyone.
While (relatively)linear projects are a thing, open-world games are primarily associated with vast maps that are designed to be traversed freely. In fact, some of the best titles are all about exploration, encouraging players to simply walk in a direction and see what awaits. If you just want to explore and ignore the story, you will probably want to try these games.
Rockstar knows a thing or two about putting together impressive hardware-pushing open-world games, and nearly all the developer’s projects that fit this genre emphasize exploration to an extent.Red Dead Redemption 2is Rockstar’s biggest game to date, delivering an overwhelmingly vast Western landscape and slow-paced gameplay intended to forcefully immerse you in the world. Players can get absolutely and joyously lost, if they want to go down that route. That said, thestory missionsare easy enough to follow, soRDR2can mostly be played to somebody’s preference.
Now, I will say thatRDR2is arguably more fun to freely explore on a second playthrough than the first, just because the world and characters are so rich in history that knowing their backstory elevates the experience. A lot of that context will be missed if the story is ignored completely in favor of exploration, at least initially.
Outwardlays down a fascinating foundation that will, hopefully, be improved upon in the upcoming sequel. While quite rough around the edges and the definition of an acquired taste, the2019 originalis nevertheless worth checking out if you are seeking a survivalopen-world game built around exploration.
Putting aside a pretty unexciting story that mostly exists to provide some structure,Outwardchallenges players to simply head toward the unknown, explore a fairly vast fantasy realm, and survive the many, many challenges held within. Although it has plenty of issues,Outwardnails an intense sense of exploration, particularly during a playthrough’s opening hours when build experimentation is still at the forefront. It
At this point,The Elder Scrollsis synonymous withexploration-driven open-world RPGs, and that has been the case sinceMorrowind’s debut in the mid-2000s. Sure, that game can seem antiquated and quaint nowadays, but it is still a widely impressive achievement that absolutely shines in its map design and liberating freedom.
Morrowindis a fantastically put-together sandbox that deserves a remaster just as much as its successor,Oblivion. The latter mostly retains its predecessor’s core appeal, albeit with a slightly more conventional main questline. The original version is still great, but I recommend sticking with the 2025 remaster.
Skyrimneeds no introduction, and its legendary status is 100% down to its world rather than the main questline. You can easily ignore the story and just explore for dozens upon dozens of hours.
Building on the extremely solid foundations of its predecessor,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2will go down as one of the best open-world games of the 2020s, although you still need to go into it with accurate expectations. While way more accessible than the first entry,KCD2is nonetheless an immersive medieval sim that prioritizes realism above nearly everything, which means exploration is slow and challenging.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but the opening hours can be exhausting if somebody is not prepared for this type of experience. Although packed with well-written quests,KCD2also encourages cautious exploration, allowing players to just head out and discover organically.
Most open-world games let players decide if they want to stick to the main story or just wander freely to see what they find.Outer Wildsis a touch different, as the core gameplay loop is specifically built around choice-driven exploration. The solar system will be destroyed in 22 minutes, so you need to jump into a spaceship andhead to different planets, both to learn about them and to also try and figure out the truth behind the destruction. After everything goes supernova, the cycle resets.
Outer Wildscombines exploration and storytelling perfectly, allowing the former to carry the latter seamlessly. Players are given very little direction, and they are rewarded for embracing the galaxy’s mysteries with a unique adventure.
ConsideringDark Soulsis known for its tight level design, an open-world alternative was far from a guaranteed success. Yet,Elden Ringmanages to make it work, adopting a thrilling sense of discovery associated with sandboxes while still supplying intricate self-contained maps through its biggest dungeons. While the game includes a simple directional button that guides players down the main questline, this mechanic is primarily a quality-of-life inclusion and hardly the standard way to traverse the Lands Between.
Once you enterElden Ring’s core map, simply pick a direction and go. If you hit an area with enemies that are a bit too difficult, just turn back and try somewhere else. The Lands Between is ridiculously dense with things to discover, be it optional bosses, mini-dungeons, or loot. Eventually, you will reach one of the compulsory areas and fight a fewgod-like enemies. There is something around every corner.
Frankly, at this point,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wilddoes not need to be sold. Nintendo’s game helped revitalize the open-world genre to an extent, and its approach to sandboxes has certainly influenced other projects. Except for defeating the final boss, everything inBOTWis technically optional, and Link can go where he wants in Hyrule and do what he wishes right from the start.
Link might not have the required armor to survive a burning-hot desert or the stamina to climb a mountain, but he can meet those requirements by simply exploring and discovering everything Hyrule has to offer. When it comes tojust exploring an open-world,BOTWis nearly untouchable.
Tears of the Kingdommostly follows in its predecessor’s footsteps, albeit with more standard quests and NPCs.
1Subnautica
The Best Open-World Game For Exploration
Subnauticais brilliant. Set on an alien planet that mostly consists of water, players have to explore the depths, both to survive and also learn more about the world they find themselves in. While the core story is quite interesting,Subnauticashines in its open nature, where exploration is not only encouraged but required.
While not technically horror,Subnauticacaptures both the majesty and terror of the ocean, filling it with beauty and nightmares. The game also offers quite a few different modes that tweak the experience, so players can decide if they want apunishing hardcore experienceor a more relaxing voyage.
