When Elden Ring burst onto the scene in 2022, it breathed new life into the open world format, which was starting to stagnate for a lot of gamers. Players were plunged into the vast Lands Between, hunting Great Runes as the Tarnished. Elden Ring‘s biggest draw is its encouragement of exploration, rewarding players with epic bosses, rich lore, and legendary gear.
The question then lingers, are there any other open world games as immersive and engaging as the From Software masterpiece? The answer to that is a resounding yes, followed by five of our picks.
Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition (PS5, PC)
One of the most visually stunning games ever made, Horizon Forbidden West expands upon 2017’s Zero Dawn with a world that’s twice as large, teeming with fascinating characters, vicious enemies, and gorgeous landscapes. As the name suggests, the further you go west in the game, the tougher the going gets for Aloy.
The Complete Edition of Forbidden West also includes 2023’s Burning Shores expansion, which pushes the graphical boundaries even further, thanks to it being developed exclusively for current-gen. The final battle feels like something straight out of a movie. If robot dinosaurs and intriguing sci-fi plots are your thing, you could easily sink hundreds of hours into Forbidden West.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Although series mastermind Toshihiro Nagoshi left Sega in 2021, the Like a Dragon franchise is stronger than ever. Not losing one bit of the series’ quirkiness, Infinite Wealth introduces players to the bustling streets of Honolulu, Hawaii, alongside the familiar stomping grounds of Isezaki Ijincho.
And when you need a break from the main story, a plethora of relentlessly fun mini-games are at your disposal, such as classic Sega arcade titles and the returning Pokemon-inspired Sujimon. Infinite Wealth proves that even without its creator, the Like a Dragon series has a bright future.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut (PS4, PS5)
Sucker Punch’s 2020 hit, Ghost of Tsushima, brought about a tsunami of popularity for Japan’s Tsushima Island. Meticulously capturing the island’s breathtaking beauty, Ghost of Tsushima takes you to the 1600s, when Mongol invaders arrived in Tsushima and terrorised the island. You play as Jin Sakai, the nephew of Tsushima’s jito (land steward), who embarks on a journey to rid the island of the Mongols, while questioning the samurai code of honour he devoutly follows on the way.
The Director’s Cut takes immersion a step further with enhanced visuals on PS5 and the Iki Island expansion. While most won’t physically visit Tsushima, playing the game really makes you want to. The level of detail is astounding and for samurai enthusiasts, the story is equally captivating. The open world exploration may err towards the “Ubisoft game” trope, but everything else surrounding it is stellar and definitely worth a playthrough.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (PS5)
The biggest PS5 exclusive so far, Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 greatly improves on every strength of its 2018 predecessor and 2020’s Miles Morales, in addition to fixing fan complaints. The Venom plot line set up all the way back in Spider-Man (2018) is satisfyingly explored, although most of the lines Tony Todd recorded weren’t used, suggesting we might get a Venom spinoff.
Kraven is also a menacing villain, and the Last Hunt storyline makes the antagonist very fascinating. The New York map returns, now expanded and enhanced with all three boroughs. There’s also a blazing fast travel system, but the upgraded web-swinging and brand-new web wings mechanics make you never want to use it.
Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Cyberpunk 2077 was undoubtedly the most controversial launch of 2020. Having been in development for 8 years, the state it launched in was unforgivably appalling. However, CD Projekt Red took a page out of the No Man’s Sky book, and made a tremendous turnaround on Cyberpunk 2077. The game is virtually unrecognisable today compared to how it launched, which has allowed its numerous strengths to shine brighter.
Neon-soaked Night City’s seedy atmosphere brims with life, secrets, and danger at every turn, making it a delight to explore. Most times, exploration might involve dodging bullets, but that’s part of the cyberpunk charm. Even with bumps in the road, CD Projekt Red deserves praise for crafting a city that feels this alive.
Do you agree with this list? Let us know your favourite open world games in the comments!
