The most popular open world games of all time

There are so many different genres to choose from in the gaming world, each offering a unique experience that you simply cannot find anywhere else. Open world games are easily some of the most popular, and it's easy to see why, as players not only have access to vast environments to explore and conquer, but can also experience an epic story over the course of dozens, if not hundreds, of hours.

There are literally 1,000s of games to choose from, coming from countless iconic developers, but among them are a select few that are widely considered to be the best in one of the most stacked gaming categories. It doesn't matter who the player is or what kind of game they're looking for; it's pretty hard to argue that these titles are anything other than loved and adored by the entire community.

Elden Ring

Setting a new standard to clear

Details:

• Gigantic vast world

• Crazy enemy and variety of environment

Elden Ring redefined how many people saw the open world genre, as the world wasn't just a large environment full of random points of interest, but an interconnected network of hidden structures and breathtaking landscapes, each bringing with it new challenges and secrets for players to discover.

Part of what makes the game so great is the actual gameplay, as FromSoftware was able to not only translate its signature soulslike combat to a much larger playing field, but also went above and beyond in terms of the number of builds possible in one game. Even though he's only a few years old, he's already cemented himself in the Hall of Fame and will continue to amaze players for decades.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Storytelling at its best

Details:

• Meaningful side quests

• The consequences spread across regions

The Witcher 3 elevated the concept of open-world storytelling by treating side content with the same care as the main story. The continent feels alive, shaped by political tension, moral ambiguity, and richly written characters who all feel equally important in the larger context of the world.

On the exploration side, players are driven by curiosity rather than necessity, and each region offers a huge amount of meaningful content instead of just random filler that inflates the world. Its universal appeal lies in how well it balances an engaging narrative with an immersive world, perfectly demonstrating that the writing alone can be enough for a game to be considered a classic.

Red Dead Redemption 2

A true work of art

Details:

• A dynamic world full of content

• A deeply emotional narrative

Red Dead Redemption 2 is revered by many players for its obsessive attention to detail and the emotional story that runs through the entire experience. The world is grounded in reality and the story understands this all too well, sending the player on a deeply personal journey that never strays too far into the realm of the absurd.

Players are also given plenty of opportunities to go off the beaten path and explore the outer reaches of the world, often being rewarded with character arcs and interesting mysteries they might otherwise miss. And whenever the game is mentioned, it's pretty hard for people not to declare that the story and character writing in it is probably the best in the entire gaming world.

Fallout: New Vegas

Beyond The Traditional RPG

Details:

• Branching stories of political factions

• Emphasis on player freedom

Fallout: New Vegas it shows players that RPG mechanics can be effortlessly incorporated into an open-world game design without making things too overwhelming or inaccessible. Mojave is a political battleground where players have all the tools to sway factions to their side or away from them, completely reshaping the moral landscape of the world one word at a time.

Each decision made is not just a single moment that exists in isolation, but a single step in a long chain of events that can easily snowball into either total collapse or triumphant victory. This attention to selection makes it so popular with players of all ages, whether they played it at release or are returning to it in modern times.

Everyone's favorite fantasy adventure

Details:

• A liberating exploration style

• A massive modding legacy

It's hard to talk about open world games without mentioning it Skyrimas if it wasn't Bethesda's crowning achievement, many of the best titles in the universe simply wouldn't exist. Starting out as a simple prisoner, players slowly rise to power and can choose to follow any path they choose, no matter how dark or light it may be.

There are virtually endless builds and skill paths for players to follow, and it's quite common to see one person experience the game in a completely different way than another, simply due to the amount of width offered by the systems and the world. Reissue memes aside, this remains a stellar example of how to capture the true meaning of fantasy in the gaming world.

Grand Theft Auto 5

The ultimate urban playground

Details:

• Sandbox modern city

• Unrivaled co-op mayhem

GTA 5 is the product of nearly two decades of game design, and that time certainly hasn't been wasted. The city is really massive and players don't need to complete certain missions; instead, they could roam around and cause as much chaos as they wanted.

The addition of multiplayer makes the game the perfect modern sandbox for players who love to cause mayhem and have fun without worrying too much about the consequences. Even GTA 6 around the corner, the game will remain one of the best in the series and easily a mainstay of the modern gaming landscape.

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Redefining what it means to discover

Details:

• Unguided but deeply rewarding exploration

• Minimum down pressures along one route

Breath of the Wild it didn't just change how open-world games were viewed as a whole, it completely disrupted the way developers would continue to design their future environments. Hyrule is beautiful, vast, and liberating, with no real limits to what players can do or where they can go.

If they choose, players can jump right into the final battle or divert their attention for 100 hours before taking on Ganon. It's the purest example of what the genre stands for, which is the freedom to explore and discover at a pace that suits any play style.

Batman: Arkham City

Density above clear scale

Details:

• Meaningful points of interest

• Fluid flow and combat

Arkham City it does something that very few open-world games do, and that's populate the world with purposeful content that ensures each session is packed with things to do and see without ever devolving into a filler fest.

Every rooftop, alley, and interior space has a gameplay or narrative purpose, and moving between these locations is as fun as the action itself. Despite countless other superhero games attempting to break the mold, it remains the gold standard for translating the energy of comics into a more interactive and intense medium.

Shadow Of The Colossus

Scary in the best possible way

Details:

• No filler content

• Emotional environmental narrative

Shadow of the Colossus no need to introduce. Not only is it popular with players around the world, but it remains one of the most mysterious, eerie, yet beautiful experiences the gaming world has ever seen, sending players on a spooky mission across a desolate landscape with very little guidance to explain why.

Years later, the game remains an icon, even for players who never had a chance to play it when it first came out. Its impact can also be seen reflected in the rest of the industry, with many developers explicitly citing it as a major influence on the visual and gameplay philosophies of their projects.

Minecraft

The birth of a whole new wave of open world games

Details:

• Procedural, almost infinite worlds

• Creativity above all else

Minecraft is about as popular as any video game can get, but it seems like it can only get bigger after all these years. The basic idea of ​​an open-world sandbox made of blocks sounds interesting enough, but beneath the surface lies a huge depth that is only really limited by the player's own creativity.

Since release, players have built mechanical contraptions out of slime, raced to the finish line thousands of times, and recreated entire cities at 1:1 scale, all despite the insane amount of mods that add even more content to an already overcrowded game.