There are many games available on PS5 with opportunities to explore. God of War Ragnarok is one of the best looking games players can experience on the system, and Cyberpunk 2077 has a varied nightlife. Those are some good open console examples, but are these games all about exploration? It is safe to say that they are not as rich as their worlds.
For anyone looking for worlds that beg to be explored, these PS5 games should do the trick. They may not be all about exploring the unknown, but they certainly reward players for going off the beaten path, and that's what matters most.
Non-PS5 exclusive games were also considered if their research was particularly good.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Become a courier and see the sights
Death Stranding 2: On the Beachlike the original game, it is ultimately about delivering packages in a post-apocalypse. The protagonist, Sam, unlocks more modes of transportation and other equipment faster than the original to make Sam's journeys easier, from a three-wheeled motorcycle to a weight-distributing exoskeleton to a delicate piece of rope.
There's a lot to cover between Mexico and Australia, and it's one of the best looking games on PS5 yet. There's a lot of sand and rubble to sift through, but it's still beautiful. The bunkers that house the NPCs aren't as attractive compared to other post-apocalypse games, but it's always fun to discover a new quest giver with a strange quirk, from one full of birds to another that houses an aspiring pizza chef.
Spirit of Yotei
Bloody but beautiful
Ghost of Yotei is one of the bloodiest games of 2025 and there is even a setting in the options to increase the effects of mud and blood. It is a tale of revenge as Atsu, the protagonist, hunts down the six Yotei who killed her parents and destroys the Yotei land through cruel means. Players have plenty of opportunities to engage in bloody swordplay, but more so than the original game, Ghost of Tsushimait seems Ghost of Yotei tries to balance the action and amplifies the exploratory bits.
Riding between areas looks great in one of the most comforting segments of horseback riding in years thanks to the black stripes. Climbing mountains through platforming puzzles is also a treat. Then there are various roadside attractions that can increase various stats, such as resting at a hot spring to build health or chopping bamboo to gain stamina for special attacks. Report on Ghost of Yotei is simple: beauty is all around, even in the midst of bloody battles. All it takes is for players to stop and appreciate a flower bud once in a while to put things in perspective.
Sword of the Sea
Surfs up
Sword of the Sea is a spiritual continuation Waya game known for being an experience. The game begins with players waking up as a statue with a magical sword in hand that is not used for combat but is instead a surfboard. Players will traverse a seemingly endless supply of sand dunes, with the goal of each minibiome rejuvenating the life and water within.
Bringing aquatic life back to the sandy plains is a treat that gets better with each unlock and makes for a cool experience unlike most PS5 games. It's something like Eyes in this way, which also had an environmental message in it Zelda-like dungeon crawling design. Sword of the Sea it also has some side activities, including skateparks for players to test their sword skills, like Tony Hawk from the far future.
Hell is us
No map, no problem
Hell is us is another post-apocalyptic PS5 game, but this one takes a strange approach to navigation. Players must keep an eye on their compass, written journal notes, NPC dialogues, and more if they want to make it through this action-adventure game. There's some action-based combat, but it's as distinctive as a Silent Hill game.
that means Hell is us is more about exploration and puzzles than action, and while navigating the large world without much help can be frustrating, it's another unique approach to the medium in 2025 that deserves attention. There are no markers to let players know where they are going for any major or minor task. It's exciting, kind of like playing The Legend of Zelda on NSZ again.
Disappear
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim it might seem like a wild choice since it's an RPG, but it's also one of the best games you can put someone up and just say, “Go!” There is combat, gradual leveling, and a deep skill progression system like most RPGs, but the combat isn't the best part, or even close to the best part of the experience. The tutorial area is lengthy, but after that liberation in the world of Tamriel is as open as it was in 2011.
Open world games have come a long way since 2011, but there's still something special about going anywhere and discovering new towns, caves and ruins The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Witnessing a dragon, mammoth or giant for the first time is also terrifying and exciting, which is still great decades later, whether players are dealing with the original version, various remasters or enjoying it in VR.
