The best open-world games to sink yourself into…

Breath of the Wild kickstarted a subgenre of open-world games where players are quite literally kicked out of a door and told to go, given no specific path to follow, only driven by their curiosity.

Open-world games are predicated upon a desire for freedom, total autonomy in exploration, and the ability to look into the distance and go to that location without hindrance, and Breath of the Wild places freedom at the forefront of its design.

Its world is so densely populated with puzzles, bosses, dungeons and characters that you never feel as though you’re heading in the wrong direction. This environmental freedom, coupled with the game’s absurdly liberal mechanics, is an unprecedentedly powerful tool for player enjoyment and never fails to sate our curiosity.

With its serene, cell-shaded landscape and drifting, whimsical, yet minimal score, Breath of the Wild remains a technical triumph for the Nintendo Switch four years later, and it's been calling us back to play again ever since. Breath of the Wild 2 was officially announced last year (although it feels like a lifetime ago), and we're brimming with excitement to jump back into Hyrule once more.

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From Software’s triumphant first true open-world game found itself across gaming platforms this year, and it has undoubtedly met our expectations - and then some. While so many games fail to realise the potential of the open-world genre, Elden Ring truly utilises its newfound potential, packing The Lands Between with a ludicrous amount of content, all of which is interweaved with George R.R Martin’s monumental lore.

Elden Ring is a technical marvel, its landscape is intricately detailed and expertly crafted beyond realms of belief, not to mention the game’s impeccable mechanics that revive the familiar crushing difficulty of the Souls’ games with a plethora of tweaks that have inexorably freshened its formula.

The shining glory of Elden Ring, however, arises from its bosses; there are over one hundred bosses to encounter throughout the world that are sure to test your mettle, each more crushingly difficult than the last. Think you’ve got what it takes?

Easily one of the most anticipated in recent years, Horizon Forbidden West is an absolutely definitive next-gen experience begging to be seen. With a huge expansive world, a sprawling narrative, and some of the most amazing creatures in gaming; mechanical dinosaurs, Forbidden West is ripe for boundless exploration and hours of entertainment.

The latest addition to the Assassin’s Creed roster, Valhalla doesn’t reinvent the wheel of open-world gameplay mechanically or narratively. However, what Valhalla does offer is a solid, enjoyable, satisfying gameplay loop with some stunning environments to explore.

There’s something quite wonderful about playing as a pillaging Viking invading Medieval England in tandem with Assassin’s Creed’s usual blend of mystery, intrigue, and betrayal thrown in. If you’re a fan of this gaming cornerstone, you’ll definitely find something worth enjoying in this latest instalment.

Forza’s most ambitious title yet, Horizon 5 is one of the most graphically impressive, and above all, gratifying racing games available today. Technologically, this game is a total achievement, cars have never looked better, and what better place to be racing the best cars in the world than the sprawling land of Mexico?

Embracing the arcade-like chaos of its predecessors, Forza Horizon 5 certainly isn’t a racing simulator by any means, realism isn’t the goal; it’s entertainment, and it delivers. With over 500 cars to choose from, each one detailed to a frankly ridiculous level, and with plenty to see and explore in the lush serenity of Mexico, from jungles to deserts, and temple ruins, it’s our favourite world in a Forza game so far. Do yourself a favour and pick this one up, it’s an essential title for the Xbox Series X and PCs alike.

In a world gripped by civil war, monsters, and a looming apocalyptic prophecy, the final chapter of Geralt of Rivia’s story finds him trudging through the war-torn continent in search of an old flame, and for answers to his waking nightmares. An absolute epic in all regards, The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is one of the finest narratives to grace gamers - period. Each, and every quest and side quest is lovingly crafted, unique, exciting, and rarely bogged down by its sheer size. You will laugh, you will cry, and you’ll miss it dearly when it’s over.

From sailing across the tempestuous seas of Skellige, galloping across the boggy corpse-laden mires of Velen, or strolling through the vineyards of the breathtakingly serene and fantastical Toussaint, The Witcher 3 never falters throughout its hundreds of hours of gameplay. When you’re not tracking and stalking vampires, and all manner of horrific creatures, you can relax with quite possibly the most addictive, and exciting card game within a game ever; Gwent. And the more you win, the more you can expand your deck. Don’t knock it till you try it, it's so good it's subsequently received a free-to-play standalone spin-off and inspired a deck-based tactics game.

Despite the game being seven years old at this point, it remains as stunning as ever, and better yet, there’s a next-gen update scheduled for later this year with some new DLC to accompany it, and we’re beyond excited. If you haven’t played The Witcher 3 yet, don’t miss out on the gaming experience of a lifetime, you won’t regret it.

In the face of the rapidly modernising American Wild West, we follow a band of gunslingers at the brink of collapse. Shepherded by their charismatic fantasist leader, Dutch, the Van der Linde gang roam the wilderness of the American Mid-West in search of stability and shelter from the law.

Broken, beaten, and starving, the Van der Linde gang are desperately searching for prosperity in a rapidly changing America, but the Age of Outlaws is at an end, and no actions go unnoticed. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game focused purely on an excellent character-driven narrative that is unmatched by any other game we’ve ever played; Arthur, John, Dutch, Micah, Sadie, and Abigail, these characters leap off of the screen in ways unimaginable in gaming.

Red Dead Redemption 2’s camp system creates these incredibly organic interactions with each character, from a pleasant morning greeting to a heart-wrenching catharsis, character encounters feel indescribably real. Major narrative developments are felt throughout the camp when tensions are high, conversations quickly become bitter or cut short, and the gang becomes more disparate and isolated from each other when things take a turn for the worse. It is these brief, organic moments of story-telling that take Red Dead Redemption 2 to new heights of achievement, and when the full brunt of this heavy, traumatic story delivers, you cannot help but be overcome with emotion.

And then, there’s the world of Red Dead Redemption 2, Mid-West America. Rockstar has never ceased to amaze players with their magnificent, detailed and realistic world-building, and they are yet to fail. Brimming with mysteries, scenic vistas, and true-to-life towns and cities, stepping into Red Dead Redemption 2 is an unfathomable sensation, and is yet another notch on Rockstar’s belt. Rockstar accompanies the stunning visuals, incredible narrative, and blood-pumping action with an absolutely killer soundtrack by Woody Jackson that only serves to elevate this already perfect gaming experience.

Our recommendation to play Red Dead Redemption 2 does not come lightly, we’ve spent over a hundred hours in this game, and we’ll spend plenty more in order to discover everything this richly detailed technical marvel has to offer.

You can still play Red Dead Redemption 2 on the PS5 and Xbox One Series X|S despite there not being an official version of the game for the latest console generation. There have been reports of a next-gen update that will potentially arrive late this year, but as of now, nothing has been confirmed.

Once again the PS5 has been graced with an incredible console exclusive that we were more than eager to sink our teeth into. Marvel’s Spider-man: Miles Morales is the definitive superhero gaming experience. I recall as a child playing 2004’s Spider-Man 2 on the PS2 and being utterly enamoured by swinging around New York freely, certain that gaming couldn’t get any better.

2020’s Miles Morales is a testament to the power of modern gaming, it is stunningly packed with detail, from the intimate indoor environments of home to the gigantic urban cityscapes of New York. Facial animations are impeccable and characterful and are accompanied by incredible voice-acting to boot. Action is intense and cut-throat on higher difficulties, testing your mettle as a gamer. Miles Morales is, unfortunately, a little short at 10 hours, so you should consider picking up the Ultimate Edition of the game; containing a remaster of the original game and Miles Morales.

Excitingly, Insomniac Games has recently announced the release of Spider-Man on the PC in an unforeseen move, so get ready for some fun, PC fans.

The latest instalment to the Pokémon franchise, Arceus revives the incredible Sinnoh region from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl into one of the best Pokémon games to be released in years. Despite our love for Pokémon, we can all agree they’re incredibly formulaic, down to the story, the combat, and the visuals. Game Freak aren’t particularly experimental with Pokémon’s core mechanic. This is where Pokémon Legends comes in.

Remember dreaming about an open-world Pokémon adventure as a kid? Seeing Pokémon as their actual sizes roaming the lands, actually flying on them? This is where Pokémon Legends shines. We also found there’s a hell of a lot more balance to the overall gameplay too. Instead of annihilating everything after a couple of hours of gameplay, Pokémon encounters remain challenging regardless of level. Actually dodging these gigantic Pokémon in the wilds, rolling and throwing Poke-balls is just as fun as you imagined, and then some.

Our major gripe with the game is its visuals, which frankly are quite awful for a game released in 2022, but do not let appearances fool you, this one’s worth picking up.

A game of limitless potential, what started as a simple dungeon-crawling survival game has exploded in popularity since its initial release. With millions of daily players, and an ever-creative fanbase (our favourite creation being the Lord of the Rings Minas Tirith recreation by the Minecraft Middle Earth Community), this game remains limitless to this day.

Build, survive, and thrive as best as you can against the horde of monsters that appear in the night, and most importantly, get as creative as you can.

Despite being released in 2017, Destiny 2 has seen expansion after expansion since its initial release. Destiny 2’s latest DLC expansion, The Witch Queen is the definitive way to enjoy this game. The strongest story, the most creative environments and bosses that elevate from the traditional Destiny boss fights, and the best visuals, while we weren’t huge fans of the grind-y Destiny 2 that was released over five years ago, The Witch Queen’s narrative is stripped down to 10 hours, isn’t bogged by pointless filler, and is a welcome addition to the game.

The second entry onto our list by Rockstar, Grand Theft Auto V needs no introduction, you’ve probably already played it to death, whether that was on an Xbox 360, an Xbox One, or an Xbox Series X|S, GTA V has firmly planted itself in our homes for over nine years.

The continued popularity is owed in large part to the major success of GTA Online, where you can freely roam Los Santos with friends and wreak havoc across the city, sporting the latest vehicles and weapons that seem to be becoming increasingly ridiculous as time goes by.

Yet, GTA: V makes its way onto our list primarily because of its fantastic narrative that is one of the most memorable gaming has to offer.

Michael De Santa is an ex-bank robber who unlike many, has successfully evaded a life in prison or death. He’s settled down, has a family, and is reaping the rewards of his wealth: a leisurely life. Life, as a result, has become stagnant: gone are the thrills of his youth, and in its wake is aimlessness. It seems fateful that Michael is destined to become wrapped up in his anarchical former life, and a return to this lifestyle leads him to form newfound associates and reunite with some old ones.

While much of the initial focus of the game is primarily on Michael, players also experience the stories of Franklin Clinton, a street gangster taken under Michael’s wing, and Trevor Philips, an unrelentingly chaotic psychopath who is hellbent on destruction.

Grand Theft Auto V is exciting, atmospheric, and action-packed, its story is masterfully told and rarely falters under the weight of its huge narrative. If, for some reason, you’ve never played through this story, don’t wait, it’s worth your time.

Our ocean’s endless expanse has always been of great fascination to us, largely because of its mysterious nature. Over 80 per cent of it has been unexplored and unseen by humans, which is unquestionably a source of excitement, and terror in its unknown world.

Subnautica is the quintessential realisation of this great fear of the unknown. You play as the sole surviving crewmember of the Aurora, a gigantic spaceship that crashes into the ocean of an alien planet. Stranded and alone, you find yourself at the mercy of the endless ocean, and what lies within. Your goal; uncover the mystery of why the Aurora was destroyed and escape the planet, but it’s not going to be easy.

If you’re not a fan of deep water (thalassophobic), this probably isn’t the game for you. The indescribable eeriness of peering into a 2,000-meter trench, the mystery of what lies below is skin-crawlingly jarring, and rest assured, you’re not alone.

Mechanically, Subnautica is incredibly simple, the core gameplay loop is focused on gathering essential supplies and gradually expanding your outreach across the ocean. Eventually, you’ll find blueprints for improved tech, allowing for deeper ocean exploration, allowing you to safely traverse its depths for rare resources and narrative events.

Subnautica carefully rides the line between a relaxed, exciting survival game, and a blood-pumping horror game, which has kept us returning time and time again for years. The latest expansion, Subnautica: Below Zero found itself onto next-gen consoles in 2021, and so far it’s blown us away with its sheer scope. If you’re a fan of classic survival games, with a twist, Subnautica is a perfect game to pick up.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you probably knew it’d be on here, despite the game encroaching upon 10 years old, Skyrim’s player-base rarely ever seems to dwindle. In a large part, it’s thanks to Skyrim’s modding community, with a collective 3.3 billion mod downloads between Skyrim and Skyrim: Special Edition on the Nexus community.

Despite its fervent modding scene, Skyrim remains a game-changing open-world experience and a cornerstone of the genre due to its excitingly free play style. Build a home, have a family, and lead a guild, Skyrim manages to capture the freedom of our imagination and boundlessly run with ideas unexplored in any other medium. Freedom is at the heart of Skyrim’s longevity and is clearly why it’s remained so popular ever since.

Endless, bustling towns and vistas litter the landscape, where mystery is around every corner, and the freedom to act is all yours. Become a werewolf, a vampire, a thief, an assassin, an arch-mage, it’s all within your grasp, should you take the plunge. We’ve sunk hundreds of hours into the game, exploring each and every play style, still finding new ways to revitalise our experience, and we’ll probably spend hundreds more here. Skyrim’s legacy endures and is totally worth your time.