Good open world games are so common these days that we take them for granted. The genre is responsible for some of the most incredible technological achievements in all of entertainment, and this was already the case in its early days during PS2 and Xbox era. The classic games that wrote the original open-world blueprint overcame hardware limitations to create groundbreaking masterpieces that provided a level of freedom that was unprecedented at the time, and were defined by cohesion, tight campaigns, and focused sandbox design, philosophies that have faded slightly in recent years.
Most of the first great open-world games are surprisingly fun because they're not only charming time capsules, but they also avoid a few of the pitfalls of modern projects. Describing anything as “perfect” might seem like an overstatement, but these upcoming open-world games have come as close as possible to warranting its use.
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“Classic” is a vague term, so we'll limit our selection to games from the PS2 and Xbox era.
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Only games that fit the open world genre 100% will be included, so no pseudo-releases are welcome Ocarina of Time or the original The Legend of Zelda
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No game is flawless, but these titles were as good as they could realistically be.
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Everything falls victim to the passage of time and all PS2 and Xbox games are showing their age at this point. Therefore, these selections are viewed in the context of their eras.
Shadow of the Colossus
An open-world PS2 game so epic it still inspires awe decades later
Shadow of the Colossus it's great and its only glaring flaw is the PS2 itself. SCE Japan pulled off a technological miracle to get this game running on the hardware, but performance is still far from ideal; as a result, the PS3 remaster and PS4 remake are the best ways to experience this story, if only because it runs so much better than the original.
PS2 games that are still hard to come by
Naturally, the biggest console of all time has some all-time classics.
But make no mistake, Shadow of the Colossus in 2005 it was jaw dropping. Yes, the game was choppy at times, but we've never seen a PS2 world with such an atmosphere, along with such terrifying and beautiful creatures. As Wander, you travel through a haunted region that is largely devoid of life, with your goal of hunting down 16 colossi to save one girl. Defined by sections of purposeful nothingness, Shadow of the Colossus's world proved that density doesn't have to define open world design, while also showing that there is power in solitude and restraint.
Beyond Good & Evil
An open world game so perfect that Ubisoft was seemingly unable to come up with a worthwhile sequel
Modern open-world games try to balance quantity and quality, often placing more importance on the former. Revisiting these classics, I'm amazed at how they can create a massive impact from relatively small maps. Beyond Good & Evil's Hillys is tiny, even by the genre's late 2000s standards, but there isn't a single wasted space.
Each zone serves a purpose, both in the story and to expand the core mechanics. You have sections that focus on stealth, vehicles, shooting and combat, none of which overstay their welcome. The world and optional content are fully designed to complement the main story, and the campaign rarely has moments that could be defined as a “waste of time”. Ubisoft is synonymous with overlong open-world games these days, but the developer has perfected the formula Beyond Good & Evilcreating one of the most consistent adventures of all time. His design philosophy is almost in direct opposition to say Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Tyrant
Rockstar's best open world PS2 game, which is saying something
Tyrant
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October 17, 2006
Rockstar was at an absurd level throughout the PS2 era. In the span of roughly 5 years, the company released GTA 3, Vice City, San Andreas, Warriors, Red Dead Revolver, Hunt for people (1 and 2) and multiple Midnight club games and this list is not even complete. Even more impressively, some of them aren't just open-world games, but some of the most influential of all time.
The GTA the titles are naturally incredible and probably perfect in their own right; however, if we were forced to pick just one Rockstar release from this era, this would have to be it Tyrant. The 2006 game brings Bullworth Academy to life along with several areas surrounding it. Unlike the promise of endless chaos it offers GTAsandpit, TyrantThe map is more themed and intentionally narrowed down, while still giving you enough options and freedom to pursue a relatively unique school life fantasy.
The calendar system not only causes changes to the world itself, but ensures that you are always moving forward and that the pace of the campaign is consistent. Every mechanic and interaction serves each other and the entire journey without feeling like fluff. As the story develops, so does the environment and the tools at your disposal.
Midnight Club 3 is also pretty damn cool and probably the best open world racing game from this era.
The Ultimate Open-World RPG (early 2000s)
I admit, Morrowind it can be hard to appreciate the 2026 lens, especially the vanilla version without any mods or nostalgia. However, in 2002 an RPG this large and ambitious was unheard of, and Bethesda deserves props for making it work on the original Xbox. Vvardenfell is still probably the best setting in the franchise, and it's great to explore as well as tonally consistent. Factions, settlements, and politics all come together to create a lived-in world that is at once alien yet completely comprehensible.
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These games revolutionized the very concept of open world games for the better.
Probably more than Oblivion and Skyrim, Morrowind it really emphasizes player-driven discovery and exploration, even going so far as to eschew quest markers. You'll get lost at times, but the world design ensures you'll find yourself again before long. The main quest isn't always prioritized, but it's done well and ends on a high note; in addition, you really get stronger during the campaign.
Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
Destroy everything – fulfill the open world dream
Second, with open world becoming a thing, people wanted a game where they could destroy everything. It's just human nature and Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction he stepped forward to take the call. Even two decades later, Pandemic Studios' classic is still arguably the best example of a “destructive sandbox” as the entire game revolves around this concept. It's not that you can destroy every building and vehicle, it's more that you should and you'll knock them all down in a fury of explosions and fire that would put Hollywood blockbusters to shame.
Although it doesn't offer the same level of variety as some other open world games, Mercenaries: Playground of DestructionThe game is surprisingly restrictive, as players have a lot of freedom in how they approach the missions. The faction system helps create an adaptive world that ensures that actions have consequences while also ensuring that things will gradually escalate.
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
The Perfect Hulk Simulator
Although not necessarily one of the biggest releases, The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is one of the most fully realized open world concepts in history. Imagine an ideal Hulk game and you'll almost certainly imagine something similar Final destructionalbeit with modern graphics and Mark Ruffalo. A clear understanding of the brief, the team he would ultimately create Prototype build a map that completely accommodates the Hulk's moveset; basically you can break many things in many different ways.
Final destruction is built entirely around movement and destructive action, with every single mission and area emphasizing these two elements. Despite this rather strict focus, the game explores both aspects thoroughly enough that boredom never sets in.
The largest open world games based on the size of their maps
Open world games are popular for their massive maps. Here are some of the biggest open worlds for players to explore in the genre.
