No Walls, Just Wonder
Freedom changed everything about how we play. The most extraordinary open worlds give us stories that unfold at our own pace, on our terms! But these 20 titles stand above the rest. They are recognized for their unforgettable journeys through meticulously built playgrounds limited only by imagination. Let's dive into the the 20 greatest open world games of all time.
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
What makes a great monster hunter? CD Projekt Red answered this question with great narrative depth and morally complex quest design. Released in 2015, the game spans multiple massive regions, including Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige. Blood and Wine is one of the best expansions.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt · 14 Minutes Official Gameplay [HD] 1080p by【XCV//】
2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Dragons returned to Tamriel in 2011, forever changing what we expect from fantasy RPGs. Bethesda's masterpiece offers hundreds of quests across snow-capped mountains and ancient ruins. The modding community has kept Skyrim thriving, with over 60,000 mods available on Nexus alone.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) - PC Gameplay 4k 2160p / Win 10 by FirstPlays HD
3. Grand Theft Auto V
Los Santos pulses with life, from celebrity-filled Vinewood Hills to gang-controlled Davis. Rockstar Games spent $265 million developing this cultural phenomenon, making it one of the most expensive games. The 2013 release broke seven Guinness World Records in its first 24 hours, generating $800 million.
Grand Theft Auto V Gameplay (PC HD) [1080p60FPS] by Throneful
4. Red Dead Redemption 2
Arthur Morgan's journey through Rockstar's meticulously crafted American frontier represents gaming's pinnacle of environmental storytelling. Every detail, whether mud accumulating on horses or realistic animal behavior, brings unparalleled immersion. The development team literally studied historical photographs and visited real locations.
5. Elden Ring
FromSoftware's haunting open fields connect legacy dungeons with unprecedented freedom, challenging traditional open world layout. The Lands Between contains six distinct regions. George R.R. Martin came up with the world's backstory and cosmic mythology before Hidetaka Miyazaki and team built upon it.
ELDEN RING Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PS5] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
6. Horizon Zero Dawn
How would primitive humans fight robot dinosaurs? In 2017, Guerrilla Games chose to pivot from their Killzone shooter series. The game's post-post-apocalyptic setting features tribal societies about 1,000 years after modern civilization collapsed. As per reports, it required five years of development.
Horizon Zero Dawn - Epic High Action Combat & Free Roam Gameplay 4K by DKGames
7. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Nintendo reinvented exploration by crafting a world governed by consistent physics and chemistry systems. The "go anywhere you see" approach abandoned traditional dungeon progression. Apparently, you can defeat Calamity Ganon immediately after leaving the Great Plateau. This design philosophy emerged after developers experimented with 2D prototypes.
ZELDA BREATH OF THE WILD Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME (4K ULTRA HD) No Commentary by Shirrako
8. Fallout: New Vegas
The Mojave Wasteland's faction politics remain unmatched in gaming history. Obsidian Entertainment brought this beloved RPG in 18 months using Fallout 3's engine. Despite its rushed progression, New Vegas has many narrative paths with genuine consequences based on faction allegiances.
FALLOUT NEW VEGAS Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME (4K 60FPS) No Commentary by Shirrako
9. Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Ancient Greece sprawls across 256 square kilometers in Ubisoft's largest historical playground. The Naval combat system, refined from Black Flag, lets players explore a good number of states of the Greek world. They also get to meet Socrates, Hippocrates, and other historical figures.
10. Ghost Of Tsushima
Sucker Punch Productions studied samurai films for years to perfect their feudal Japanese setting. Ghost of Tsushima’s innovative guiding wind system replaced earlier map markers after extensive playtesting, which showed it enhanced immersion. Here, players use a variety of ghost weapons to create distractions.
GHOST OF TSUSHIMA Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PC ULTRA] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
11. Minecraft
This started as Markus "Notch" Persson's side project in 2009 and became gaming's ultimate creative sandbox. Microsoft bought Mojang for around $2.5 billion in 2014, recognizing the cultural phenomenon. The procedurally generated worlds can span 60 million blocks in each direction.
MINECRAFT Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME (4K 60FPS) No Commentary by Shirrako
12. Cyberpunk 2077
Night City's verticality sets new standards for urban open world layout. Despite its infamous launch issues, CD Projekt Red's ambitious dystopia displays architectural detail in six districts. The game's development involved motion capture from Keanu Reeves, who spent days recording dialogue for Johnny Silverhand.
Cyberpunk 2077 Gameplay 4K by UnitedG
13. Far Cry 3
"Did I ever tell you the definition of insanity?" Montenegro's iconic question defined Ubisoft's tropical revolution. Released in 2012, the game's Rook Islands were inspired by Indonesia's environment and cultures. The hunting and crafting systems were late additions, implemented 14 months before release.
FAR CRY 3 Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PC] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
14. Batman: Arkham City
Gliding through Gotham's prison district remains nostalgic. The game's combat system, refined from Arkham Asylum, has been imitated countless times but rarely matched. A large variety of synced attack animations were present, with interior locations like the Sionis Steel Mill offering multi-layered environments.
Batman: Arkham City - Full Game Walkthrough in 4K 60fps by Batman Arkham Videos
15. Death Stranding
Kojima Productions crafted a post-apocalyptic America where connection is the core gameplay mechanic. After leaving Konami, Hideo Kojima assembled a team of 80 developers. It’s "Strand" system permits individuals to indirectly help others by leaving tools and structures in its hauntingly beautiful surroundings.
DEATH STRANDING Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PS5 PRO] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
16. No Man's Sky
Every star, planet, creature, and ecosystem is made algorithmically, ensuring a unique experience for each player and virtually limitless exploration opportunities. Folks must manage resources to survive hostile environments and defend against aggressive creatures or dangerous factions using a multitool that can mine, scan, or attack.
No Man's Sky - Longplay Full Game Walkthrough [No Commentary] 4k by Loopy Longplays
17. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Historical accuracy drives every aspect of Warhorse Studios' medieval Bohemia. The system is optimized for duels but can be punishing when outnumbered, reflecting its focus on realism. Combat mechanics were built with input from historical European martial arts practitioners, requiring gamers to consider attack angles.
18. Spider-Man (2018)
Here, combat is dynamic and improvisational, combining melee strikes, web-based attacks, and environmental interactions. Players get to chain combos, use gadgets like electric webs and concussive blasts, and utilize stealth to take down enemies. Interestingly, Spider-Man’s "spider-sense" alerts them to incoming attacks.
Marvel's Spider-Man (2018) - Gameplay (PS4 HD) [1080p60FPS] by Throneful
19. Shadow Of The Colossus
Team Ico's minimalist masterpiece proves that emptiness can be more potent than fullness. The game features only a sword and a bow as weapons, emphasizing strategy and observation over brute force. Also, director Fumito Ueda's "design by subtraction" idea removed traditional enemies.
(PS5) Shadow of the Colossus | ULTRA High Graphics Gameplay [4K 60FPS HDR] by Dieison Games
20. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Afghanistan and Angola-Zaire Border Region serve amazing tactical freedom in Kojima's stealth sandbox. The Fox Engine allowed for realistic weather patterns and a day-night cycle that directly impacts playability strategies. Enemy AI adapts to player tactics—wear too many headshots and soldiers don helmets.
