Top 20 Open World Video Games of All Time

How much more freedom could you want? Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 Open World Games of All Time.



For this list, we’re looking at the best of the best when it comes to letting players roam freely in massive, sprawling landscapes. And to keep things fair, we’re only including one entry per franchise. We also won’t be including any MMORPGs since their worlds continue to change and evolve constantly. Let’s get started.

It says a lot that Ubisoft have been trying to 1-up themselves for seven years. FPS titles can be rather linear. While the story here arguably is, there is plenty else to do on the Rook Islands. And it’s all beneficial and unpredictable. You can take hunting side quests, eliminate enemy bases, and craft anything you need. The variety in how you tackle situations, with different weapons and vehicles, make exploring the chaotic setting worth it.

Space is daunting. So is exploring the deepest depths of the ocean. Put those two together and you’ve got the utter brilliance that is “Subnautica.” After crashing onto a faraway planet, you’re tasked with compiling resources in order to escape. Only, if you thought our planet’s sea creatures were intimidating, just wait until you get a load of these. “Subnautica” knows how to keep you on your toes while you explore its dark, dangerous world.

Now this is how you create a bigger, bolder sequel. “Just Cause 2” takes what its predecessor did and cranks the volume all the way up. On a grander island, with the amount of vehicles and weapons severely increased, players have way more fun causing mayhem. It’s a bombastic, explosive, high-octane action movie of a game, and the freedom to bring this explosiveness to an expansive world is all the more satisfying.

It’s far from the most well-known title on this list, but it demands the attention of any horror fan. Set after a second disaster at Chernobyl, this FPS/survival horror game tasks players with hunting down their assassination target as an amnesiac hero. But exploring the area means coming into direct conflict with horribly mutated creatures and humans. It’s an incredibly bleak game with an equally dreary landscape to discover.

For the most ambitious game set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe at the time, “Shadow of Mordor” needed a giant, perilous land to wander. Luckily, it did not disappoint. Set between “The Hobbit” and “Fellowship,” players roam as a vengeful archer of Gondor. There are legions of Orcs and Uruks to rip through, satisfying your need for revenge of your slain family. And it’s all given much more weight thanks to the game’s inventive Nemesis System.

Take the longest-running cartoon family and mash them with “Grand Theft Auto,” and you’ve got something way more fun than it sounds. There’s an alien invasion in Springfield and wacky antics are bound to ensue. You’re given objectives but driving around town as recklessly as you want is a genuine treat. If you’ve ever wanted to play your way through the cartoon city, this is the closest you can get.

Exploration is a key factor for open world games. And there are few games that feel as great as “Marvel’s Spider-Man.” Swinging around New York City with a surprising amount of abilities is incredibly fluid. There’s a variety in the tasks you can accomplish throughout the city. And though some of them can grow a little stale, venturing into the world’s different corners never does. You can fast travel, but why would you want to?

A far off future where humans have reverted back to tribes and massive, mechanical animals rove freely. Tell me you wouldn’t want to explore that world’s secrets. Players are given an absolute arsenal to use against these mechanized beasts, of which there is high variety. Taking the behemoths down feels immeasurably satisfying. And each new area of the world brings new tribes and pieces to the puzzle of what led to humanity’s downfall.

A game so influential, it became the benchmark for every gruellingly tough game. “Dark Souls” is unique to other open world titles with its labyrinthine design. But exploration is still significant. As is learning from the many, many mistakes you’ll make when facing the game’s difficult enemies. Though it may turn some away, this learning process encourages others to keep exploring. How deep can you go? How long before another enemy rips you to shreds?

Most post-apocalyptic worlds are gloomy and filled with dread. But “Nier” proves that they don’t have to be. The overgrowth of nature is serene as you glide around as the android 2B. Composer Keiichi Okabe’s score lends itself well to the peaceful landscape, as well as the pulse-pounding action sequences which can have gameplay switch from hack and slash to shoot ‘em up. And that’s not even getting into its challenging and thought-provoking story.

That’s right; Obsidian’s “Fallout” spin-off made it while Bethesda’s main entries didn’t. But it more than deserves the spot. Most games in the series are showered with praise for open-ended gameplay. “New Vegas” made improvements on that of “Fallout 3” while including dastardly characters and tantalizing storylines that do the real Sin City proud. There are degenerates and factions hidden around every corner of this wasteland, making it endlessly fun to explore.

After 10 games, it’s remarkable that Ubisoft only recently released the best in the series. Ancient Greece has never seemed so lively in a game, with each island lush with wildlife and packed with content. Yet set against the Peloponnesian War, they also bring treacherous villains. “Black Flag” is another extraordinary entry. But with “Odyssey’s” similar sea warfare, deep lore and characters, and quests that pull you in every direction, it’s clear which reigns supreme.

“Arkham Asylum” already gave us bat-tastic gameplay, so setting the sequel in a criminal-infested city was a gift from the Heavens. Batman has one of the best rogues galleries in comics. With each of his baddies receiving different types of quests and thugs crowding the streets, there’s plenty the Caped Crusader can do. As we soared from building to building with Batman’s belt of goodies, we knew it as the next evolution in superhero gaming.

“Red Dead Redemption” is an excellent Western experience. But its prequel is a master class in capturing life in the Old West. There’s something to do everywhere you go, whether it be hunting, stealing, bringing in a bounty, solving murders, or just riding around on your trusty steed. It’s the type of game you never want to end; a near-perfect adventure world you just want to keep living in. Also, it’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

Hideo Kojima birthed one of gaming’s most treasured franchises. And his final entry contains one of the most dynamic open worlds yet. A dynamic weather system, a real-time day-night cycle, and different types of terrain immerse you in it. Blended with the series’ signature stealth gameplay and the choice of your objective order, the world and enemies adapt to how you play. This positively forces the player to change up how they approach each situation.

If you want a game to give you objectives, “Minecraft” may not be for you. But if you want a game that lets your imagination run wild, where you can build your own extensive open world, then… Well, let’s face it. You’ve been playing this game for years. What players have been able to create with a bunch of pixelated blocks is genuinely astounding. In “Minecraft,” variety truly has no end.

“Grand Theft Auto” has seen numerous memorable entries. Just look at “San Andreas.” But when it comes to rampaging through a gigantic city, Rockstar have always managed to get better and better. Their latest was released way back in 2013 and they honestly haven’t needed to release a new one yet. With so much to do, and how addictive it all is, it feels like several games wrapped in one beautiful, notorious package.

“Skyrim” may get all the love, but it’s “Morrowind” we have to thank for it. It’s a precursor for everything we think of when it comes to open world fantasy RPGs. And it’s exceedingly impressive for the time it was released. It is a 100% free-form experience, letting you venture into the unknown and carve your own path. “Morrowind” improved upon its predecessors astronomically and influenced the path Bethesda is still going down.

The sentence, “Nintendo reinvented the franchise” is said so often when referring to “Breath of the Wild” that it’s almost lost its significance. But it should never be understated. Hyrule has never seemed so grand, so real, or so lived in. There’s something tucked into every nook and cranny whether it be a new weapon, a lovely village, or a magical, awe-inspiring moment. It beckons with a powerful sense of discovery unmatched by most games.

We’ve said it before, we’ll say it a thousand times: “The Witcher 3” is an immense success when it comes to crafting a video game world. The dark fantasy setting lends itself incredibly well to the damaged characters and horrific monsters. There’s a drive in Geralt to find his loved ones, but it’s weighed down by thankless duty and a war-ravaged landscape. Through him, the player wants to explore, piecing back together a broken kingdom.