The best open-world games 2025

What are the best open-world games? From the early days of gaming, open-world games have always been right at home on PC. The leap into full 3D with Grand Theft Auto 3 and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind might have brought open-world games to the console masses, but our best open-world games remain right here on PC.

These days, open-world games are their own genre separate from best PC games list, too.

Here are the best open-world games on PC:

Oblivion Remastered

Arguably one of the greatest open world games of all time, Oblivion Remastered takes a classic game and gives it a new coat of paint. The visual upgrades are truly stunning thanks to the power of Unreal Engine 5, and the core gameplay remains largely unchanged as the original game engine is running in the background. All the Oblivion Remastered console commands which give you complete control over the game engine.

With that said, there are some changes introduced in Oblivion Remastered to give the game some important quality of life tweaks, including tweaks to the leveling system, the ability to sprint, and additional animals to make combat feel more fluid and responsive. Give our Oblivion Remastered mods guide a read to see how you can make more changes to this great game.

Assassin's Creed Shadows

The ninja-filled Assassin's Creed game we've waited over a decade for, AC Shadows has wowed critics and players alike since it launched in March 2025. While our own Assassin's Creed Shadows review isn't as glowing as others, we've still had plenty of fun tracking down the shadowy Shinbakufu across feudal Japan as dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke.

Shadows' open world is nothing short of stunning, offering up nine Japanese regions for you to scour and revel in. There's even an AC Shadows guides suite with you.

Monster Hunter Wilds

The Monster Hunter series has finally gone full-open-world with its latest incarnation, Wilds. Monster Hunter games have traditionally been pretty unforgiving and a real toughie for newbies to get into, but Wilds is infinitely more approachable than its predecessors – though that doesn't mean you won't get to beat the snot out of big beasties with complex combos if you're after that kind of thing.

As Ken notes in his Monster Hunter Wilds MH Wilds guide hub if you do begin your hunt.

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Genshin Impact

When Genshin Impact was first released back in 2020, many gamers were quick to remark upon its many resemblances to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – which is a very flattering comparison, considering that BOTW is one of the greatest open-world games of all time. However, while the latest Zelda game remains a Nintendo Switch exclusive, Genshin Impact can be enjoyed on PC, giving PC gamers a beautiful, Ghibli-esque world to explore at their leisure – and for free, too.

So what do you do in this world? Well, there's an expansive story for you to complete (which you'll be pleased to hear can done without paying thing), loot to obtain, food to cook, weapons to craft, and an expansive cast of Genshin codes.

Play Genshin Impact for free.

Final Fantasy XIV

Final Fantasy XIV is the second attempt at bringing Final Fantasy into the MMO arena (or third, depending on whether you count its original form as a separate game). Whether you're a seasoned fan of the series or have never played anything Final Fantasy-related before, this is an MMO that works just as well as an immersive standalone fantasy experience, as it does as a continuation of a franchise with a proud legacy. The story is completely removed from earlier titles in the series, but there are plenty of Easter Eggs and unlockables for those in the know.

Like all good MMOs, what you do once you enter the world of Hydaelyn: there are sprawling adventures to embark on, with new content added all the time (read our FFXIV Endwalker review for an insight into some of the most recent additions), but it can also be just as rewarding to spend your time fishing, or running errands for the NPCs of the world. The world is so beautiful and atmospheric that it's easy to spend endless hours in it.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

The alien symbiote known as Venom has descended onto earth, and there's the smaller matter of Kraven the Hunter who seems to be working his way through a lengthy hit list. Placing you in the suit of both a more experienced Peter Parker and a fresh-faced Miles Morales, the two Spider-Men work together to fight crime as they go up against the franchise's most iconic bosses – while trying to navigate each of their complex personal lives.

When it comes to open worlds, Insomniac's Spider-Man series with its expansive recreation of New York is easily up there with some of the best around. New York is the perfect city for web-slinging, filled with tall buildings and tight alley ways to showcase Spider-Man's traversal abilities.

Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima burst onto the scene in a riot of color, wind, and katanas. Jin Sakai is a young samurai and an unlikely survivor of a brutal Mongol attack against his clan. To fight back the Mongol invasion and take his revenge against the warlord Khotun Khan, Jin must balance his samurai training against the dishonorable way of the ghost. It's a classic revenge story in the style of Akira Kurosawa and Masaki Kobayashi – it even has a Kurosawa mode to capture the experience of playing through an authentic old-school samurai flick.

Between bursts of dynamic stance-driven combat and tense showdowns with love-to-hate antagonists, you're free to explore Ghost of Tsushima's open world at your leisure. Compose a haiku at an idyllic meditation spot; follow a fox to a secret shrine; liberate a settlement from bandits. Our Ghost of Tsushima review calls it a "masterclass in open-world game design" – a "painter's vision of feudal Tsushima" that breathes new life into the most formulaic open-world game mechanics.

With sensible Ghosts of Tsushima PC requirements, the four-year wait for the port to arrive might have been excruciating for fellow open-world enthusiasts, but the director's cut is well worth it. Not only does it offer director's commentary, but it also includes the Iki Island DLC, performance improvements, and an online co-op mode.

Starfield

Love it or hate it, Starfield console commands.

Dragon's Dogma 2

Dragon's Dogma 2 review to read our verdict on Capcom's long-awaited sequel.

Elden Ring

Elden Ring review to see what we thought of this open-world game.

This is a must for Dark Souls fans, but even those new to the genre will find this a more welcoming entry point. If you're looking for some tips to give you a leg up, we've got guides to all the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree review, the DLC expansion to From's masterpiece has added even more content to this wonderful adventure.

Far Cry 6

Set on the massive island of Yara, you play as guerrilla fighter, Dani, rising to fight the corrupt regime. Your goal is to bring down the dictator, Antón Castillo (played by Giancarlo Esposito!), to liberate Yara from its oppressors. Far Cry 6 combat is satisfying, and the new RPG elements give it a fresh twist, but it's the wild countryside of Yara that we truly love. Yara is filled with unique areas containing swamps, mountains, jungles, and caves that you can explore either on horseback or by car.

Like we've stated in our Far Cry 6 review, though this isn't our favorite Far Cry game as it doesn't do much to move the series in an exciting new direction, it's so easy to fall in love with the gorgeous open world.

Cyberpunk 2077

Though it had a bit of rocky start, Cyberpunk 2077 has firmly earned its place on this list thanks to its vast open world and captivating story. It's easy to lose yourself in the dingey neon alleyways and rain-soaked streets of Night City, playing as V, a mercenary seeking out a new heist.

Slapping on the best technology and turning into a superhuman fighting machine, as you explore the Cyberpunk 2077 mods.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

Skyrim is one of those games we return to over and over again and the magic is always there. Its replayability comes from the hundreds of different ways to play through this open-world RPG, from typical character builds like thief and warrior, to trying to play the whole game as a vegan or role-playing as a character from the game's lore. Skyrim's open world is filled with characters and beasts going on about their daily business without you, and you'll often happen across a giant kicking a poor wolf into orbit or a couple of Thalmor escorting a captured Nord.

This fantasy open-world RPG explores Skyrim's vast and spectacular region – where you play as a Dragonborn, a prophesied hero thrown amid a tense civil war. The world is heavily inspired by the environments of countries like Norway and Iceland, taking their history, culture, flora, and folklore, and muddling them together with The Elder Scrolls' realistic brand of high fantasy. Skyrim has a captivating story and astounding attention to detail, which makes this nearly decade-old game still one of the most talked-about open-world games there is. It still has a dedicated modding community, so you can check out the best Skyrim mods once you've exhausted all the ways to play.

No Man's Sky

The backlash was brutal during No Man's Sky's release in 2016. The hype for the game was out of control, and the small studio Hello Games had an impossible job of delivering what players expected from the game. Six years and many updates later, that little studio has managed to turn No Man's Sky into the best open-world space game.

Forget open-world – No Man's Sky is an open universe. Whereas some open-world games give you a city or even a state to explore, this game starts with an entire planet and only expands from there. You can explore it freely – finding outposts, meeting wildlife, causing trouble, mining for minerals, looking for artifacts, building bases, and messing around with No Man's Sky mods. Then once you've fixed your ship and blasted off into the stars, you can find other completely different planets to explore and exploit. You could spend your entire life playing No Man's Sky and not see everything the game has to offer. You can even play with friends now, craft huge bases, and simply explore this incredibly gorgeous universe.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

While its world is broken up into a series of miniature open-world regions, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt fills each one with enough detail and character that they feel like one cohesive world. Whether you're tracking beasts across the battle-scarred plains of Velen, exploring the cobbled streets of Novigrad, or skulking through ancient woodlands, CD Projekt Red has crafted a world that feels authentic and fantastical in equal measure, and as a result is one of the best single player games ever.

And your exploration through these rugged locales is constantly rewarded with new quests, characters, beasts, and encounters. In The Witcher 3, you never want fast travel around the map for fear of missing out on a new and exciting adventure, and what higher praise could there be for an open-world game">

Saints Row 4

The Saints Row series is the perfect antidote to the traditional modern open-world game. Volition took the template set by Grand Theft Auto 3 and cranked up the ridiculousness. Things were fun enough with Saints Row 2 and 3, with insane missions such as diving in front of traffic to make money off insurance, but Saints Row IV took it one step further and added superpowers.

While the city of Steelport hasn't changed much since the last game, being able to jump up tall buildings in a single bound or run faster than a speeding bullet adds an incredible amount of fun to the equation. Very quickly you'll find that you don't need cars, helicopters, or even guns – why bother when you can run up to an enemy at super-speed and punch them off the map? These powers ensure Saints Row IV feels worlds apart from the series' main inspirations, and makes it one of the most entertaining open-world games out there.

Combine this with an alien invasion storyline, an absurd and diverse range of missions, and the fact that you're doing all this while playing as the President of the United States – it's not hard to see how this barmy game has garnered a cult following.

Fallout 4

You can sink a lot of hours into Fallout 4. From traversing the dusty post-apocalyptic plains to scavenging hidden resources to build a base and survive this new, uncertain future. The retro-futuristic wasteland of Boston, MA is brimming with adventures, memorable characters, and more locations than you could visit over the course of a 100-hour playthrough. Whether you're battling through the mutant-infested streets of downtown Boston, braving the heavily irradiated Glowing Sea, or taking a tour of the Salem Witch Museum, Fallout 4's gigantic open world never feels empty.

Before you set off in your hazmat suit to explore the wastes, be sure to check out our Fallout 4 console commands to tweak your experience further.

Red Dead Redemption 2

In RDR2, you'll play Arthur Morgan, a wanted outlaw and part of the Van der Linde gang, led by the infamous and duplicitous, Dutch. Even though the gang's fate is sealed, hope is an involuntary reaction that will carry you through this melancholy love letter to the Old West. But it's Rockstar's immensely detailed open world that makes Red Dead Redemption 2 so special.

The diverse landscape changes from frozen lakes and snowy mountain edges to dusty plains and murky swamp waters. NPCs are responsive to your character's honour bar and will react to your presence in town, depending on how well-behaved you've been. If a bounty is out for you, you'll need to visit the local post office to pay it off before you can enter freely into 'wanted' territory or risk being hunted down by bounty hunters.

Check out our Red Dead Redemption 2 review to see just how the open world lets you play as you please, with story missions that open up or close off different areas. You are mostly free to roam the expansive American frontier; from meeting strangers on the side of a road, plodding into town to get a haircut, to tracking down legendary animals in the severe terrain of the Grizzlies, you'll want to touch every part of Red Dead Redemption 2's intriguing and captivating open world.

Grand Theft Auto 5

While Grand Theft Auto 3 basically pioneered the 3D open-world game, GTA 5 is the culmination of everything Rockstar wanted to achieve with that innovative experience. The ridiculously large area of San Andreas is your playground, including the LA-inspired city of Los Santos, and it's one of the most detailed open-world regions seen before or since in a game. There are easter eggs, stores, sports, and countless side missions to occupy you wherever you end up.

If that's not enough, there's also GTA Online, which builds on what's great about the GTA 6 release date.

Batman: Arkham Knight

"Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman" should be the mantra for all open-world games. Rocksteady's third and final foray into the world of the Dark Knight boasts a near-complete recreation of Gotham City, and while it's a smaller play area than most other open-world games – few are as detailed and littered with fan service as in this superhero game.

Every square metre of Gotham has something of interest to catch your attention, whether it's a dastardly murder, an interesting encounter, an intriguing riddle, a gang of ne'er-do-wells to beat up, or a billboard ment that you should really take another look at after you're doused with Scarecrow juice. Getting around the city is a lot of fun, too, from grapple-glides to barrelling through the streets in the Batmobile.

While the story might not be as good as the other Arkham games, Arkham Knight is still one of the best Batman games when it comes to gameplay, gorgeous visuals, and an open world you want to spend dozens of hours exploring – and if you're an avid DC reader then it'll never get boring thanks to the countless easter eggs you'll stumble upon.

Days Gone

Formerly a PlayStation exclusive, Days Gone is now available on PC, complete with a whole host of fixes and enhancements that make it the definitive way to play it. Clambering aboard your hog and driving through the Pacific Northwest, our Days Gone review describes it as a "workmanlike open-world adventure" that's "elevated into something special by its spectacular horde fights, ambitious scope, and warmly written characters." The only thing spoiling it slightly is that the mandatory stealth missions can end in instant failure if you're not careful.

Varied missions add to the appeal of its exhaustive open world, from clearing out forts, navigating a research facility, or rescuing captive locals from the Ripper cult. Now that it's on PC, Days Gone has seen its first PC mods, from slowing the zombies pace to a classic movie shamble or reshading the game to look like Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead remake.

Whether you're playing the game for the first time or revisiting it to explore the creation of the modding scene, Days Gone deserves its spot on this list, if only so people can give it a real chance on PC.

Watch Dogs 2

In a world where Grand Theft Auto 5 exists, releasing another modern, open-world city-based game can be difficult. But Ubisoft found a way to freshen up the formula by adding hacking, soulslike game invasions, and sharper social and political commentary. Watch Dogs 2 does all that in a slightly condensed, caricatured, but believable recreation of San Francisco.

The troubles of the main character Marcus and the misfit hacker group DedSec make for a far more satisfying and friendly backdrop than that of the first game. The sequel was finally allowed to take the (frankly hilarious) hacking mechanic and have fun a bit of fun with it. Anything can be hacked, from smartphones and traffic lights to vehicles and security cameras, and with various drones along for the ride, the moment-to-moment gameplay is action-packed, varied, and surprisingly funny. Nothing beats hacking a parked car and using it to play bowling with any nearby security guards.

There are some standout missions across the main story, but exploring San Francisco is the main highlight, thanks to a top-tier soundtrack, a detailed recreation of the Bay Area, and the ability to hack oncoming traffic to clear up the roads a little. Check out our Watch Dogs 2 review if you want to know more.

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

Metal Gear Solid V earns its place on this list for two reasons: it's the first MGS game to make it to PC, and it's the only open-world MGS game (we're not counting Survive). Many were sceptical of the genre shift ahead of its release, but Metal Gear Solid V was one of the most satisfying, immersive, and entertaining open-world games ever made.

MGS V is a war game that offers an incredible amount of content – there are at least a couple of hundred missions, for starters. The stealth systems are fantastic, with loads of moving pieces fitting together like polished clockwork. Light, cover, stance, and noise are all things you have to be careful of, and if you arouse suspicion, the guards can even communicate via walkie-talkie or even with other bases if reinforcements are needed.

The open world adds so much to these stealth mechanics by expanding the game's scope. You can observe outposts from miles away and make a plan of attack, and the game gives you complete freedom to do things however you like – no matter how crazy. Check out our Metal Gear Solid 5 review if you want to know more.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Odyssey isn't the only open-world game we recommend from the Assassin's Creed series. Assassin's Creed Valhalla has significantly better combat, allowing you to wield dual-wield axes like a berserk Viking warrior, among many other weapon combinations. It's rather fitting then that the protagonist is a badass Viking named Eivor, who seeks glory in battles against the native Saxons currently ruling over England.

Our Ymir's Tear Stones.

Forza Horizon 5

As open-world Forza Horizon 5 review tells of a game that is a celebration of everything motorized, only this time it's set in a breathtaking slice of Mexico. Whether you're hurtling down the side of a volcano or navigating a dense jungle, Forza Horizon 5 pairs together solid arcade racing with an open world that rivals anything on this list. Check if your PC can run the game at recommended or minimum specs by comparing against the Forza Horizon 5 system requirements.

And there we have it, the best open-world games you can find on PC. The genre's come a long way since the early days of procedurally generated dungeons in best free PC games adopt a more open design.