The best open-world games on PC and Nintendo Switch
Large worlds you can explore freely, where you decide where to go next and something new waits behind every hill.
How to find games that really suit you: Tap “I like it” on up to 5 games. Playalike compares 20 traits such as combat, story and atmosphere and suggests games that hit exactly the same spot, even across genres.
-
1 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A vast, freely explorable northern realm packed with dragons, dungeons and side quests, where you grow into any role simply by doing it – warrior, mage or thief. The joy lies in wandering off in any direction and stumbling into stories everywhere.
Similar games →Buy Steam -
2 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A vast, freely explorable Hyrule where you can climb nearly any mountain and solve obstacles through physics, elemental systems and creativity. Puzzle shrines, breakable weapons and constant discovery make every journey feel personal.
-
3 Elden Ring
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A vast open world, demanding combat and countless secrets, from the creator of the Dark Souls series.
Similar games →Buy Steam -
4 Fallout 3
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A sprawling irradiated wasteland around Washington D.C. to roam freely, full of darkly funny stories and VATS-assisted gunfights. Moral choices shape towns, factions and the ending.
Similar games →Buy Steam -
5 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A vast, freely explorable Cyrodiil packed with guilds, side quests and dungeons, where you shape your character however you like. Its memorable guild questlines and quirky, charming NPCs keep this classic beloved.
Similar games →Buy Steam -
6 No Man's Sky
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A near-infinite procedurally generated universe where you hop freely between vivid alien planets, gather resources, build bases and upgrade your ships. Years of free updates have turned it into a relaxed sci-fi sandbox with optional co-op.
-
7 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A huge open world in which building and physics abilities let you find your own solutions.
-
8 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A legendary open-world RPG set on the alien volcanic island of Vvardenfell, prized for its total freedom, bizarre world design and deep lore. With no quest markers, you navigate by directions, join factions and shape your character however you like.
Similar games →Buy Steam -
9 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Open world
- Lots to discover
An open fantasy world with outstanding side quests and choices that have lasting consequences.
-
10 Red Dead Redemption 2
- Open world
- Lots to discover
An epic western about the downfall of an outlaw gang, set in an incredibly detailed open world.
Similar games →Buy Steam -
11 Minecraft: Java Edition
- Open world
- Lots to discover
The definitive sandbox: mine, craft, survive the nights and build anything you can imagine in an endless procedurally generated block world, solo or with friends on servers. The Java Edition adds a massive modding community on top.
-
12 Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag
- Open world
- Lots to discover
As pirate Edward Kenway you sail a freely explorable 18th-century Caribbean, boarding ships, diving for treasure and hopping between countless islands. Its naval battles and sea shanties make it one of the definitive pirate adventures.
-
13 Fallout 4
- Open world
- Lots to discover
As the lone survivor of Vault 111, you roam the irradiated ruins of Boston, blending gunplay with the slow-motion V.A.T.S. targeting system and building your own settlements. Faction choices and countless darkly funny side quests shape the fate of the Commonwealth.
Similar games →Buy Steam -
14 Terraria
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A 2D sandbox adventure where you dig, build and craft while ever-tougher bosses unlock new gear tiers and biomes. Its huge item pool and hidden secrets make it a near-endless experience, especially with friends.
-
15 Outer Wilds
- Open world
- Lots to discover
Explore a solar system caught in a 22-minute time loop and unravel a cosmic mystery.
-
16 Cyberpunk 2077
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A first-person RPG in a dense metropolis of the future, with many ways to approach each mission.
Similar games →Buy Steam -
17 Genshin Impact
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A vibrant anime-styled open world where you swap between a team of heroes and chain elemental reactions in fast real-time combat. Every region is packed with puzzles, secrets and climbable vistas, and regular updates keep expanding the world.
-
18 Hytale
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A voxel sandbox adventure that blends block building and exploring a procedurally generated fantasy world with RPG-style combat, dungeons and creatures. Powerful modding and server tools turn it into a platform for custom minigames and worlds.
-
19 Subnautica
- Open world
- Lots to discover
Stranded on an ocean planet, you dive ever deeper into a gorgeous yet terrifying alien sea. You build bases and submarines while piecing together the planet's mystery, and the dark depths themselves become the real source of dread.
-
20 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A realistic medieval RPG set in Bohemia, with a demanding combat system and lots of freedom.
Similar games →Buy Steam -
21 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Open world
- Lots to discover
As CJ you return to Los Santos and fight your way across a huge state full of gang wars, corrupt cops and absurd side activities. Vehicles, shootouts, RPG-like stats and a legendary radio soundtrack make it one of the most expansive sandbox classics.
Similar games →Buy Steam -
22 The Witness
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A vibrant, deserted island packed with line-maze puzzles whose rules you must figure out entirely without instructions. The real reward is the epiphany of grasping each hidden principle, even in the landscape itself.
Similar games →Buy Steam -
23 Star Citizen
- Open world
- Lots to discover
A sprawling, still-in-development space MMO where you fly seamlessly from planet surfaces into orbit to trade, fight, haul cargo or crew huge multi-person ships with friends. Its level of detail is astonishing, though bugs and rough edges come with the territory.
-
24 Subnautica 2
- Open world
- Lots to discover
An underwater survival adventure on a new alien ocean world where you gather resources, build bases and push into ever deeper, more dangerous waters. This time you can also dive together in four-player co-op.
Similar games →Buy Steam
What matters with Open-world games
Open-world games work best when curiosity is the main reward. You spot something on the horizon, head toward it and end up with a story nobody planned for you. The games on this list handle that freedom very differently, so it helps to know what kind of open world you enjoy before picking one.
Start with difficulty and pace. Elden Ring offers a vast world full of secrets, but its combat is demanding and expects patience. If you want discovery without that pressure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild lets you climb nearly any mountain and solve obstacles with physics and creativity. Story matters too. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is known for outstanding side quests and choices with lasting consequences, while Red Dead Redemption 2 tells the downfall of an outlaw gang in an incredibly detailed western setting. Also consider whether you want company. No Man's Sky and Minecraft: Java Edition both support playing with others, which most entries here don't.
Older classics are still worth a look if you value freedom over polish. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind has no quest markers, so you navigate by directions on a strange volcanic island. That takes getting used to but makes exploration feel earned. For something lighter, Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag turns the open world into a Caribbean sea full of islands, naval battles and treasure dives.
Frequently asked questions
Which open-world game is best for beginners?
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition are approachable picks with lots of freedom and forgiving pacing. No Man's Sky is also a relaxed option if you prefer sci-fi.
Are there open-world games I can play in co-op?
Yes, No Man's Sky has optional co-op, and Minecraft: Java Edition lets you play with friends on servers. Most other games on this list, like Elden Ring's main experience or The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, are mainly built around solo play.
Which open-world games have the best story?
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Red Dead Redemption 2 are the strongest picks for narrative, with memorable characters and consequential choices. Fallout 3 also stands out, with moral choices that shape towns, factions and the ending.
Not quite your taste?
Tell us your favourite games and we'll find recommendations that fit you exactly.
