Want to escape to a new open world? Take a look at our recommendations.
Open-world games are the ultimate form of gaming escapism. When you're in the mood for an expansive adventure, there's nothing better than navigating the countryside of rolling hills, expansive cityscapes, or alien planets. Nowadays, when it comes to good open-world games, especially on PC, we have so many options that we have to choose from, and if you're craving a game that is really addictive, we recommend starting with the excellent examples below.
Elden Ring
Released: 2022 | Developer: FromSoftware | steam
Elden Ring isn't just a great open-world game, it's also an iconic game of 2022, which is why we named it Game of the Year. Beautiful and disgusting at the same time, this is an authentic vision of an open world. With no quest logs, map markers, or collection checklists, and the game's focus is entirely on your own organic exploration of the world, this real sense of discovery is absolutely fascinating.
Following the spirit of FromSoftware's famously brutal game Dark Souls, this is a game that doesn't show mercy – you have to be ready to die, die, and die again before you set foot in its vast kingdom. But it also makes your adventure very rewarding. It's an open world full of trials and challenges, and you'll feel like a true hero.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Released: 2020| Developer: Ubisoft | steam
The open world of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla is an amazing technical achievement. Nowadays, it's widely accepted that Ubisoft's approach to flagship games is too formulaic, but it does deserve credit – Valhalla's rendering of medieval England is worth a look at both in scale and detail. As an angry (and occasionally sneaky) Viking, you can roam freely across large swaths of the country, not to mention Iceland and other areas I don't want to destroy.
Valhalla is an epic action RPG that takes a lot of cues from The Witcher 3 and previous AC games to make you search for quests and treasures in a historical setting.
If you're craving a truly endless open world, Valhalla is a very rich and accessible adventure. Just don't expect to get it done before at least 100 hours.
Death Stranding
Released: 2020 | Developer: Kojima Productions | steam
An open-world action-adventure game developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. This is the first game released by the famous game producer Hideo Kojima since Konami's independence, the game is based on the theme of "links", and players need to reconnect the United States by transporting various important goods on the deserted continent of the United States (called "United Cities America" in the game) to build a new America.
Players will take on the role of Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus) as the "delivery man", in a world torn apart by the impact of "Death Stranding", players will start from the "Capital Node City" on the east coast of the new United States and make their way to the west coast, in addition to delivering supplies to various strongholds, and connecting various places to the "Cairo Network" in order to contact and obtain information about their surroundings.
In terms of design, the game screen adopts a third-person perspective. During the transportation process, the player will mainly encounter several types of enemy obstacles; "Mule" is a former delivery man who is obsessed with goods, and will snatch the player's goods when they approach their stronghold. The "Terrorists" are hostile anti-American armed groups that have the same bases as the Mils, but they are equipped with lethal weapons and are not intended to kill Sam but rather to kill Sam, so the player will still be spotted and attacked even if they are not carrying goods. Another type of enemy is called "BT" (Beached Thing), BT only appears when it rains "Time Fall", and has no entity, in the game's universe, if a creature (both human and animal) is not properly incinerated within 48 hours of death, the corpse will turn into BT, and in the worst case, it will even cause a "Voidout", which is powerful enough to destroy the entire city. During the game, players need to use special weapons to deal damage to BT.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Cloth time: 2019 | Developer: Rockstar Games | steam
This is the third installment in the Red Dead Redemption series, a prequel to the 2010 game Red Dead Redemption and a commemoration of Rockstar Games' 20th anniversary. Set in the 1899 fictional West, Midwest, and South of the United States, the game takes on the role of Arthur Morgan, a member of a bandit gang called the Van der Linde. Arthur must face the reality that the Old West era in the United States is slowly coming to an end, and try to survive in the face of challenges such as government power and other gangs. The plot also follows another gang member, John ᐧ Marston - the protagonist of the previous game Red Dead Redemption.
The game can be played from both first-person and third-person perspectives. Players are free to explore and interact with the open world. The game includes gunplay, hunting, horseback riding, non-player character (NPC) missions, and more, and has a morality system. The game features a "bounty" system that gradually increases as the protagonist commits crimes. Similar to the number of chase stars in the Grand Theft Auto series, the bounty attracts police and bounty hunters to try to capture the protagonist. The game also features an online multiplayer mode called Red Dead Redemption Online, which was released in beta at the end of 2018 and officially launched in May 2019.
During the exploration, players may also witness or participate in some random occurring events, such as bandit sneak attacks, crimes, requests for help, shootouts, public executions, beast attacks, etc. Arthur may have heard someone calling for help in the field; If he goes to the rescue, the rescued person will be very grateful to Arthur and may reward him in the future. Players can also participate in small quests provided by some NPCs, such as duels, bounty hunts, treasure hunts, poker, blackjack, dominoes, and other activities. Hunting also plays an important role in the game: the game can be eaten, sold, or crafted into various supplies. When hunting, the player must pay attention to the choice of weapons and the location of the prey, as this will determine the quality and price of the prey. After hitting the prey, the player can choose to skin it immediately, or simply transport the carcass. Animal carcasses will gradually decay, causing them to become less valuable and will also attract other predators.
Chia
Released: 2023 | Developer: Awaceb | steam
Tchia is an action-adventure video game played from a third-person perspective. The player controls the titular protagonist and must explore the tropical archipelago in order to rescue her kidnapped father. Tchia has the ability to "soul jump", which allows her to possess and control animals and inanimate objects found in the world and use their powers to travel to new areas, solve puzzles, and defend against opponents. For example, by soul jumping onto a dog, the player can use its digging abilities to dig up a treasure map. According to developer Phil Crifo, players can soul jump onto more than 30 animals and "hundreds" of objects.
Tchia can explore the archipelago in human form. She is equipped with a glider and a raft that allows her to quickly navigate between different locations. Tchia is very good at acrobatics. She can quickly slide down hills, climb trees, and use it to catapult over the canopy and climb almost any type of surface. Through exploration, players will discover different points of interest, mini-games, and treasure chests filled with cosmetics, meet other non-playable characters, and complete side quests. Tchia has elements of a rhythm game, and players can play Tchia's ukulele at will. Players can play "Soul-Melodies", which allows Tchia to perform feats such as summoning animals for soul jumping, changing the time of day, or changing the weather in the game. These game sequences are skippable. Tchia's appearance, as well as her glider and raft, can be extensively customized.
Grand Theft Auto 5
Published: 2015 | Developer: Rockstar Games | steam
Grand Theft Auto V is a 2013 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. This is the seventh major installment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise after 2008's Grand Theft Auto IV, and the fifteenth installment in the entire series. Set in Southern California and set in the fictional state of San Andreas, this single-player story follows the three main characters – retired bank robber Michael De Santa, street gangster Franklin Clinton, and drug dealer and arms smuggler Trevor Phillips – and their attempts to commit the heist. Under pressure from corrupt government agencies and powerful criminals. The open-world design gives players the freedom to roam the open countryside of San Andreas and the fictional city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles.
The game can be played from a third-person or first-person perspective, and its world can be navigated on foot or by car. The player controls the three main characters in a single-player game, switching between and after missions. The story centers on heist sequences, and many of the missions involve shooting and driving games. The "Wanted" system is responsible for managing attacks by law enforcement against criminal players. Grand Theft Auto Online is the game's online multiplayer mode that pits up to 30 players in a variety of different co-op and competitive game modes.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition
Released: 2022 | Developer: Bethesda | Steam
Ten years after its original release, Skyrim remains the definitive open-world RPG. In the history of video games, the spectacular winter landscape here must be one of the most popular attractions – and it's popular for a reason. It's still an adventure of absolutely breathtaking scale and variety, allowing you to not only travel anywhere you want on a huge map, but also allow you to become whoever you want to be – from a thief to the leader of a wizarding guild.
Today, the ever-growing library of user-made models allows you to tailor the experience to your liking and add more content to its already huge open world. Whether you want to turn it into a realistic survival simulation, a ridiculous super-powered sandbox, or a battle to the death against Thomas Tank Engine, the power is in your hands.
Dying Light 2
Released: 2022 | Developer: Techland | steam
Dying Light 2 combines zombie survival with first-person parkour and is a post-apocalyptic playground. Its massive city, part controlled by survivors and part home to roaming bandits and the undead, traversing it is a pleasure – as you progress, you'll gradually unlock more and more tools until you run, fight, zipline, and complete quests on walls. Glide as much as you want.
When night falls, you'll find yourself appreciative of this agility. When the sun sets in this open world, the scariest and fastest undead monsters come out to play – get caught outside the safe house and find yourself running for your life through the rooftops in a thrilling free-running chase. The day-night cycle gives the city its own life (or is it lifeless?). ), which makes Dying Light 2's open world incredibly unique.
Forza Horizon 5
Released: 2021| Developer: Playground Games | steam
PC Gamer has awarded Forza Horizon 5 the Best Open World Award of 2021, which means it naturally deserves a spot on this list. Forza Motorsport 4 is a good interpretation of the UK, but Mexico's natural diversity makes for an even more diverse playground. Instead of endless fields and hills, you're traversing ancient temples (a bit disrespectful, of course, but very funny), deserts, rainforests, and sandy beaches. It's a vibrant environment and the perfect location for a four-wheeled digital tour.
The weather and time of day can also have a transformative effect, and while the sun is shining, the race is even more exciting when you're in the middle of a storm or being chased by a wall of sand. The weather is local and also affected by seasonal changes, which makes this world always changing.
It even manages to avoid map icon fatigue, as each icon promises another fun activity – and with post-launch support, it now even includes some surreal Hot Wheels tracks. It may be one of the best racing games, but it can also teach most open-world games a thing or two.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Published: 2015 | Developer: CD Projekt RED | steam
It's not just the sheer size of The Witcher 3's massive open world that's impressive, but also how rich it is. It's a landscape full of stories. Everywhere you go, you'll find deep and captivating quests that will distract you from your initial trip and encourage you on a fantastic winding journey through a brutal fantasy world.
Eight years after its release, it still stands out as a truly incredible feat in the world of game development. Its open world is so extravagant and well-crafted that it feels like it's a miracle to exist. What's even more impressive is that its two DLCs (Heart of Stone and Blood and Wine) push the bar even higher.
And all this is enhanced by the appearance of the starring hero Geralt himself - who is undoubtedly one of the best travel companions in the history of the game. His rugged charisma and heart of gold make him the perfect hero for the game's rugged terrain and a character you'll be more than happy to spend over 100 hours with.