Top 30 Best Open-World Games Of All Time 2024

Video games, you love them or hate them. You can’t get enough of them, or you want nothing to do with them. At one point in history, open-world games were innovative as seen in urban chaos; then, they become massive and stunning in scale with titles like Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City. However, the genre hasn’t stopped evolving, and this generation presents arguably the peak of open-world gaming as a whole. So let’s take a look at the top 30 best open world games of all time and why you should play them.

30. MAD MAX

• Publisher(s): Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one | Linux | macOS
• Release Date: 1 September 2015
• Genre(s): Action-adventure, vehicular combat
• Mode(s): Single-player

It’s a lonely road out there full of endless desert and roaming bandits. Mad Max takes the sheer expanse of its landscape and ties it closely to vehicular play. You’re either roaming the land scoping out different bases to take out or assaulting convoys for precious rewards. A decent story and top-notch characterization for max helped push the game past your average cinematic adaptation.

29. MAFIA 3

• Publisher(s): 2K Games
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one | macOS
• Release Date: 7 October 2016 ( Windows, PS4, Xbox one, macOS )
• Genre(s): Action-adventure
• Mode(s): Single-player

Story-wise mafia 3 already had us hooked as protagonist Lincoln clay went about establishing his dominance in new Bordeaux. That means plenty of shootouts and storming bases belonging to the Marcano family. It’s what happens going forward as clay has to double-cross some allies tighten his control on the city and decide what kind of ruler he wants to be. The atmosphere of 1968 from its politics to the racism inherent is captured frighteningly well and even if the game can be somewhat of a grind mafia 3 is still worth checking out.

28. JUST CAUSE 3

• Publisher(s): Square Enix
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: December 1, 2015
• Genre(s): Action-adventure
• Mode(s): Single-player

Just Cause 3 had its share of issues at launch especially with performance and loading times on consoles. The game offered you a massive world to wreak havoc in. But was it as wholly impressive as Just Cause 2? well, no but there were still vehicles to surf, plants to grapple in, heaps of explosion to trigger. The world itself was also big enough to keep you busy with various side missions and challenges to complete.

27. MASS EFFECT ANDROMEDA

• Publisher(s): Electronics Arts
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: NA: March 21,2017 | PAL: March 23,2017
• Genre(s): Action role-playing
• Mode(s): Single-player, Multi-player

Yes, Mass Effect Andromeda was disappointing and continues to have. However, it did bring some new characters and a decent story line that had some clumsy execution. The planets are themselves are large and you have full of things to do. But they’re really meant as a playground for the combat. You can create a build with engineer biotic and soldier skills and go wild priming and detonating targets as necessary.

26. L.A.NOIRE

• Publisher(s): Rockstar Games
• Platform(s): Windows | PS3 | PS4 | Xbox one | Xbox 360 | Nintendo Switch
• Release Date: 17 May, 2011 ( PS3, Xbox 360 ) | 8 November 2011 ( windows ) | 14 November 2017 ( Switch, PS4, XB1)
• Genre(s): Action-adventure
• Mode(s): Single-player

Team Bondi may have shut down but the uncanny valley that it crossed with Eleanor’s facial animations lives on. The game also offers you a strong and great single-player campaign. The campaign keep focused you on investigations, questioning witnesses and exploring the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles in the 1940s to 1950s. So if you’re a guy who likes his video games with a hint of Scorsese L.A.NOIRE is for you.

25. MIDDLE-EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR

• Publisher(s): Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment
• Platform(s): Linux | Windows | PS4 | PS3 | Xbox one | Xbox 360 | OS X
• Release Date: 30 September, 2014
• Genre(s): Action-adventure, hack and slash
• Mode(s): Single-player

Dismissed as an assassin’s creed clone from the outset. Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor intricate world served you as an excellent playground for the Nemesis system. This allowed you to brainwash orcs, set them against each other and infiltrate more doors leadership to kill the black hand of Sauron. The combat of this game which expanded further on the free flow system of the Batman Arkham series was also top-notch and kept you hooked through many a Nemesis encounter.

24. WATCH DOGS 2

• Publisher(s): Ubisoft
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 15 November, 2016 ( PS4, XB1 ) | 29 November, 2016
• Genre(s): Action-adventure
• Mode(s): Single-player, Multiplayer

In terms of standard Ubisoft open world games, there may not have been much expectation from watch dogs 2. As it turns out it was surprisingly fun if you were sneaking across rooftops or navigating around San Francisco. Gaining followers, hacking into the private lives of citizen and completing the myriad of other tasks available. Watch Dogs 2 may not have set new standards for the genre but it’s still a really fun open-world game overall.

23. ASSASSIN’S CREED 4: BLACK FLAG

• Publisher(s): Ubisoft
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | PS3 | Xbox one | Xbox 360 | Wii U
• Release Date: 29 October, 2013
• Genre(s): Action-adventure, stealth
• Mode(s): Single-player, mltiplayer

After assassin’s creed 3 failed to set expectations on fire, Ubisoft had to redeem itself with Assassin’s Creed 4 Black flag. This game not only did it offer a more interesting hero in Edward Kenway. The world was busting with all sorts of possibilities like a sunken treasure, hidden ruins, crazy ship battles, and more vibrant fortress assaults. The standard Assassin’s Creed gameplay was intact but the world felt more realize with the ship providing an excellent new core mechanics.

22. TOM CLANCY’S THE DIVISION

• Publisher(s): Ubisoft
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 8 March, 2016
• Genre(s): Action role-playing, third person shooter
• Mode(s): Multiplayer

Ubisoft massive third-person shooter looter had its share of bumps in the road after launch. You could argue that it’s open-world location could be utilized better but there’s still a smattering of content to go through. Side missions and story missions aside it’s great to see sections like the West Side piers where skirmish and resistance take place or the dark zone where PvE and PvP collide. The division isn’t perfect but for scratching that looter itch it can be pretty darn compelling.

21. GHOST RECON WILDLAND

• Publisher(s): Ubisoft
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 7 March, 2017
• Genre(s): Tactical shooter
• Mode(s): Single-player, multiplayer

An open-world full of camps to assault various terrain to navigate in tons of weapon to collect. Sounds familiar, despite Ghost Recon wildlands simplifying much of the stealth from the franchise. It still delivers a fun open-world shooter and hey, if you really want a more challenging experience try going solo in ghost mode with Permadeath enabled. Various events in PvP add more variety while plenty of open-world havoc is possible thanks to vehicles and attack choppers.

20. SUNSET OVERDRIVE

• Publisher(s): Microsoft studios
• Platform(s): Windows | Xbox one
• Release Date: 31 October, 2014
• Genre(s): Action-adventure, third-person shooter
• Mode(s): Single-player, multiplayer

The spider-man before insomniac spider-man. Sunset overdrive took the outlandish weaponry best scene in Ratchet & Clank and translated it into a radical open-world. The movement system was simply a joy to use especially as you tore down legions of the od’d. Sunset overdrive had its share of interesting challenges, unique characters and a colorful world that just felt fun to roam around in. So if you’re done with spider-man then you might want to take a trip to sunset city.

19. NO MAN’S SKY

• Publisher(s): Hello games
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 9 August, 2016( PS4 ) | 12 August, 2016 ( windows ) | 24 July, 2018 ( Xbox one )
• Genre(s): Action-adventure, Survival
• Mode(s): Single-player, multiplayer

This open-world game following an underwhelming launch hello games committed itself to no man’s sky releasing numerous free updates like story missions and quests, vehicles and true multiplayer. Don’t get us wrong no man’s sky can still be a huge grind for resources and base building. But if you’re into chilling out exploring outlandish planets and even venturing under the sea no man’s sky may be your jam with its vast universe.

18. METAL GEAR SOLID 5: THE PHANTOM PAIN

• Publisher(s): Konami Digital Entertainment
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | PS3 | Xbox one | Xbox 360
• Release Date: 2 September, 2015
• Genre(s): Action-adventure, stealth
• Mode(s): Single-player, multiplayer

For all the problems that some fans may have with the narrative. Metal gear solid 5 the phantom pain offers some very very fun open-world gameplay. The mission themselves seem fairly routine in the loading times during helicopter rides can be draining. Still, the game throws in enough freedom to approach objectives as creatively or bizarrely as you want. Orchestrating your own play style and taking in theses stellar production values that creator Hideo Kojima is known for.

17. FORZA HORIZON 3

• Publisher(s): Microsoft Studios
• Platform(s): Windows | Xbox one
• Release Date: 27 September, 2016
• Genre(s): Racing
• Mode(s): Single-player, multiplayer

Playground games had really started making a name for itself with Forza horizon 2. However, Forza Horizon 3 was the first game in the series to be developed exclusively for the Xbox One. The size of the world is pretty great with Australia providing a gorgeous backdrop for killer racing moments. However, the sheer gameplay loop of horizon festival really took a hold pushing us to establish more festivals locate more burns and unlock more cars. Using drone mode to scout out the lay of the land and being able to customize different events didn’t hurt either.

16. BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT

• Publisher(s): Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 23 June, 2015
• Genre(s): Action-adventure
• Mode(s): Single-player

As a sequel to Batman Arkham City Batman Arkham Knight might not have flowed together nearly as well. This open world games provided some good open-world variety from investigating crime scenes and catching notorious criminals to shutting down militia checkpoints throughout the city. The Batmobile could be seen as an annoyance especially when it comes to combat but the chase sequences and its use and puzzles were fun.

15. MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR

• Publisher(s): Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 10 October 2017
• Genre(s): Action role-playing, hack and slash
• Mode(s): Single-player, multiplayer

Bigger may not always be better but the fusion of shadow of Mordor Nemesis system with battle for middle-earth’s epic conflict works out pretty well in this game. The basic open-world still presents side content to rush through, orcs to slay in more than a few annoyed enemies out to get you. It’s all the extra layers like fortress assaults with our multi-tiered stages the presence of bodyguards that can protect you and the loot and abilities that will keep you going. It doesn’t hurt that the microtransactions have been effectively removed as well.

14. MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN

• Publisher(s): Sony Intractive Entertainment
• Platform(s): PS4
• Release Date: September 7 2018
• Genre(s): Action-adventure
• Mode(s): Single-player

Insomniac games this spider-man takes the movement offered and sunset overdrive and expands on it like crazy. Offering the best swinging system since spider-man 2 and a seamless combat system. You could argue that the open-world missions aren’t all that inventive. But it’s that feeling of being spider-man and zipping through them with all of the movement abilities that make the gameplay so much fun. Of course it also doesn’t hurt that the main campaign is excellent with great voice acting, stellar visuals and some genuinely heartbreaking moments.

13. FINAL FANTASY 15

• Publisher(s): Square Enix
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one | Google Stadia
• Release Date: 29 November 2016 (PS4, XB1) | 6 March 2018 (Windows)
• Genre(s): Action role-playing
• Mode(s): Single-player

Yes, the story is by and large a fractured mess spread across numerous properties. But regardless there’s just something appealing about the world of Final Fantasy 15. Traveling across the countryside with your homies, bonding over campfires in learning cooking or just battling the vast array of demons populating the land can make for a fun experience. At the very least the game looks incredibly sharp with the fantasy aspect meshing well with a more down-to-earth and realistic aesthetic.

12. THE ELDERSCROLLS 5: SKYRIM SPECIAL EDITION

• Publisher(s): Bethesda Softworks
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 28 October, 2016
• Genre(s): Action role-playing
• Mode(s): Single-player

As a remaster the elderscrolls 5 Skyrim special edition contains many of the bugs inherent in the original release. The strength of these open world games is the sheer freedom in doing whatever you please or the range of things to discover is simply awe-inspiring. Skyrim may not win points for its combat but its quest riding handcrafted dungeons and exploration from sprawling visas to cities that feel alive cannot be denied.

11. FALLOUT 4

• Publisher(s): Bethesda Softworks
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 10 November 2015
• Genre(s): Action role-playing
• Mode(s): Single-player

Fallout 4 probably one of the most controversial open world games titles and sequels this generation. Though its loop of exploring, shooting and looting can be incredibly addictive. Some fans took issue with the streamlined mechanics and perk systems. Even if you ignore the settlements and radiant quests there are plenty of interesting stories to uncover. The sheer details and random occurrences in the world also help keep us entrenched in the commonwealth even when everything else has turned to dust.

10. FAR CRY 5

• Publisher(s): Ubisoft
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 27 March 2018
• Genre(s): First-person shooter
• Mode(s): Single-player, multiplayer

Design-wise there might not be anything wholly new but Ubisoft makes numerous small improvements. Emphasizing exploration, the shooting feels tight these stealth aspects are strong and the campaign is fully playable and co-op. Did we mention that hopes County looks gorgeous and as no towers?

9. ASSASSIN’S CREED ORIGINS

• Publisher(s): Ubisoft
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 27 October 2017
• Genre(s): Action-adventure, Stealth
• Mode(s): Single-player

Ubisoft’s revamp up the Assassin’s Creed franchise didn’t just slap some RPG elements on it and call it a day. Assassin’s Creed origins featured a much larger open-world than before. With a heavier focus on hack and slash combat, loots and exploration. The story might have been wonky but the side quest feels strong narrative-wise. Needless to say, the sheer range of content ultimately props the experience up.

8. ASSASSIN’S CREED ODYSSEY

• Publisher(s): Ubisoft
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one | Nintendo switch | Google Stadia
• Release Date: 5 October 2018
• Genre(s): Action role-playing, stealth
• Mode(s): Single-player

Thankfully assassin’s creed odyssey took the formula of origins and made it better leaning heavier into the action RPG-looter genre. Odysseys world offered more variety a richer combat system and even more side content to complete. To its credit, the story is pretty good playing out over three compelling acts with there own mysteries, mythical beasts, and plot twists. But it’s the open-world in the constant pursuit of men maxing that will keep you going.

7. SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER

• Publisher(s): Square Enix
• Platform(s): Windiws | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 14 September 2018
• Genre(s): Acton-adventure
• Mode(s): Single-player

Shadow of the tomb raider continues the narrative from the 2015 game Rise of the tomb raider. It’s the twelfth mainline entry in the tomb raider series. Players take on the role of Lara croft as she explores environments across the continent of Central America. The game features the largest hub in the franchise; the Hidden City of Paititi. A new barter system allows players to trade and sell various resources. The controls for swimming have been completely revised, as Lara is now able to hold her breath underwater for a longer period of time due to the introduction of air pockets. And much more interesting things to do.

6. FORZA HORIZON 4

• Publisher(s): Microsoft windows
• Platform(s): Windows | Xbox one
• Release Date: 2 October 2018
• Genre(s): Racing
• Mode(s): Single-player, multiplayer

It’s not enough that Forza Horizon 4 provides the sprawling land of Britain for racing or a huge selection of cars to race. It’s the gameplay loop, the dynamic seasons that provides new events or the shared world interface which lets you link up with other players. The multiplayer could use some improvements but in terms of freedom, mission design racing mechanics and progression Forza Horizon 4 is perhaps the finest open world games in racing category out there.

5. GRAND THEFT AUTO 5

• Publisher(s): Rockstar Games
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | PS3 | Xbox 360 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 17 September 2013
• Genre(s): Action-adventure
• Mode(s): Single-player, multiplayer

They say no King rules forever but rockstars Grand Theft Auto 5 shows no sign of slowing down, even with Red Dead online or the horizon, even if you divorce the online component from the game there’s just so much attention to the detail. Memorable plotlines and lovable characters to find in the campaign. Some mundane things do get in the way that scouting mission was a killer. But it only amplified the excitement of the heists and again if you ever get bored of the story there are plenty of side missions, random activities, sports and what not to experience in Los Santos.

4. HORIZON ZERO DAWN

• Publisher(s): Sony Intractive Entertainment
• Platform(s): PS4
• Release Date: 1 March 2017
• Genre(s): Action role-playing
• Mode(s): Single-player

Also touted as of the finest PS4 exclusives ever made. Horizon Zero Dawn is simply wondrous in its open world games design. The sheer attention to detail in its graphics meshes incredibly well with the number of quests and interesting location to discover. Hunting giant machines can result in epic encounters. There’s something cool about embarking into unknown territory. Perhaps stumbling upon a cauldron or an interesting bit of lore. Even with all of the heavy contenders’ horizon zero dawn still does a great job in creating intrigue with its world.

3.THE LEGEND OF ZELDA BREATH OF THE WILD

• Publisher(s): Nintendo
• Platform(s): Switch | Wii U
• Release Date: 3 March 2017
• Genre(s): Action-adventure
• Mode(s): SIngle-player

A total reimagining of the typical Zelda formula that we know and love. The legend of Zelda breath of the wild gives unprecedented freedom to its players. The story serves as nothing more than a context for the epic adventures undertaken and Nintendo has done a fantastic job ensuring. There’s something interesting around every corner. Say what you will about weapon breakage lack of real Zelda dungeons or even how hard enemies can be. The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild is an open-world experience unlike any other. Plus it makes towers interesting, what more could you want.

2. THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT

• Publisher(s): CD projekt
• Platform(s): Windows | PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 19 May 2015
• Genre(s): Action role-playing
• Mode(s): Single-player

There were plenty of expectations from CD Projekt Reds movie Witcher 3 Wild Hunt. But none of us could have ever imagined it delivering an almost all of theme. Vast open world games full of amazing characters in-depth quests with stellar writing a story campaign that was equal parts endearing and epic and of the world itself. Full of unique locations and things to discover sealed the deal on what was an amazing game. Sure the combat was just fine but that didn’t take away from what was essentially Geralt last hurrah or too substantial and excellently made DLC.

1. RED DEAD REDAMPTION 2

• Publisher(s): Rockstar Games
• Platform(s): PS4 | Xbox one
• Release Date: 26 October 2018
• Genre(s): Action-adventure
• Mode(s): Single-player, multiplayer

The current king of open world games and titles for good reason. Rockstar Games is painstaking attention to details is apparent in every aspect of the game. Cinematic presentation, beautiful graphics, variety of activities, side mission design and so on. The world itself encourages discovery as you look for campfires help out denizens or rob people blind. Not enough can be said about how the game handles weapon customization, horse riding, racing, characterization and much more in such an intricate manner. All you need to know is that Red Dead Redemption 2 is worth playing and then replaying for a long time.