Most Immersive Open World Games

Occasionally, a game comes out that players just want to cozy up to for hours on end. Open-world games can be riveting, or they can be frustrating and tedious. The scale of an open-world game can be both its strong and weak suit. On one side of the spectrum, some games have enormous maps that are time-consuming to traverse.

With focused gameplay, however, open-world games can provide immersive experiences that have immense replay value. The realism of these maps is awe-inspiring. Love or hate the following titles, they are some of the highest-selling in gaming. Let’s take a look at the most immersive open-world games.

Death Stranding

Many fans were heartbroken to hear that masterclass game developer Hideo Kojima wouldn’t be working on the critically acclaimed Metal Gear Solid series any longer but were quickly placated to learn the iconic creator was opening his own studio. His first foray into the world of video games as an untethered designer was Death Stranding.

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Although it’s a bit avant-garde for some, the world that Kojima created is nothing short of spectacular, especially from an immersion standpoint. Players get to control Sam, a “futuristic delivery man” portrayed by the talented Norman Reedus of Walking Dead fame. Although the game itself is superbly strange, it’s also incredibly enthralling (although some may find it hard to enjoy its quirky gameplay). It’s definitely worth a look, if just to appreciate its open world.

Prey

Prey is not an open-world game in the sense that players can immediately explore the entire map, but they will be able to return to previous areas. Essentially, Arkane created a 3D Metroidvania, and a fantastic one at that. Prey is an immersive sim set within Talos 1, a quite large space station that has been taken over by an alien threat.

Talos 1 is a masterclass of world design, with each area telling a story through its environment. The map is interconnected, not only in terms of exploration but also in consistency. Even though the campaign mainly takes place after the station has become a wasteland, it is easy to buy Talos 1 as a real place.

Shenmue

Before Shenmue arrived for the Sega Dreamcast back in 1999, the concept of open-world games was still very much in its infancy. While most other developers were still trying to figure out how to make the leap from 2D to 3D though, Yu Suzuki was instead focused on creating one of the most immersive and realistic video game worlds of all time; and boy, did he succeed.

Set in the late eighties, the game allows players to explore parts of Yokosuka; a small city in Tokyo’s Kanagawa prefecture. All the NPCs that they’ll encounter are fully voiced and have their own well-fleshed-out identities and daily routines. The game even utilizes historic geographical data to ensure that the in-game weather matches that of the period in which the story takes place.

Ghost Of Tsushima

Where Shenmue serves as a window into life in 1980s Japan and, in its sequel, 1980s Hong Kong, Ghost of Tsushima instead takes players back quite a bit further. Set on the island of Tsushima during Japan’s Kamakura period, Sucker Punch Productions’ epic action-adventure tells the story of a samurai named Jin and is one of the best-looking games of the PS4 era.

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What makes Ghost of Tsushima all the more impressive is that it was developed by a Western studio. Indeed, Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi once described the game as an amazing achievement and also expressed his surprise at how historically accurate the title really is. The attention to detail paid throughout the game is astounding and really helps to draw players into its beautiful open-world.

Minecraft

Minecraft is inescapable. The game has been around for more than a decade, and at this point, it is starting to seem like Minecraft will continue to exist until the end of days. Considering the unrestricted freedom provided by its sandbox, the game’s potential is only capped by a player’s imagination, and its community has proven time and again that the sky is the limit.

Obviously, Minecraft does not strive to be a realistic sim, and the game does not have a massive map filled with lively cities and secrets to be discovered. However, Mojang provides users with the tools they need to create their own worlds.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is not for everyone, but if the game clicks with someone, it might just become one of their favorites. As the title implies, this project is all about simulating the flying experience, and realism is prioritized to quite an extent. That said, the game does provide players with some options to neutralize the difficulty. Alongside a mode revolving around specific flight plans, Microsoft Fight Simulator also includes the entirety of Earth as a world map, permitting players to just pick a location and fly there.

Outside of landing the planes, the map can only be interacted with from the sky; consequently, Microsoft Flight Simulator might not be exactly what most people are looking for in an immersive open-world game.

Sons Of The Forest

In early access, Sons of the Forest is the sequel to 2018’s The Forest, which is a great survival open-world game in its own right. Despite still being unfinished, the 2023 project already has a fair amount of content, particularly if someone is mainly interested in the survival gameplay loop rather than the story. Once again, players find themselves stranded on a beautiful but hostile island that is home to cannibals (and other natives), who might or might not be aggressive toward the outsider.

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Sons of the Forest is punishing and addictive. While encouraging exploration, the island is also packed to the brim with things that can spell someone’s doom, and discovering these dangers often produces a playthrough’s most enjoyable moments. Endnight’s project is a full-blown survival game that will likely become a must-play once it fully debuts.

TheHunter: Call Of The Wild

Many open-world games incorporate hunting in some form or another, but very few are designed solely around the act. theHunter: Call of the Wild is arguably the most well-known hunting game on the market, and it has earned that reputation over a number of years. Boasting realistic gameplay that rewards precision and planning, this game encourages players to get lost within its maps.

While not set in an endless sandbox, the game features a wide assortment of reserves that can be freely explored, and they are all reasonably large. If someone picks up the base game, they will gain access to two areas, although they can buy a bunch more as DLC.

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

The Legend of Zelda series is one that’s always been built around exploration and adventure and has featured open-world elements since making its debut back in 1986. It was not until almost three decades later and the release of Breath of the Wild, however, that its creators truly embraced the idea of a fully open world.

Not since Ocarina of Time has a Zelda game made quite as big an impact, both in terms of its sales and its critical acclaim. Granted, the size of the map can be a little daunting at first and certain areas of it can sometimes feel quite barren, but the sheer sense of freedom provided by the game makes it a must-play; not just for series fans, but anybody who loves adventure.

The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Overkill as it might seem to double down on Zelda‘s open-world entries, Tears of the Kingdom is such a fantastic experience that it deserves to be spotlighted all on its own. A proper sequel to Breath of the Wild, TOTK finds Link traversing a familiar Hyrule that is in the process of recovery; unfortunately, a new disaster has once again sent the world into chaos. This time around, the map is littered with considerably more small villages and splashes of civilization, translating to a wide range of charming side quests. Even though it is not quite as desolate as its predecessor, TOTK‘s Hyrule still largely feels like uncharted territory that is simply waiting to be explored.

In the sequel, Nintendo focuses heavily on introducing tools designed to encourage and facilitate player creativity. Link has the ability to combine items together, allowing him to create vehicles, weapons, and mechanisms to complete puzzles. Like BOTW, TOTK wants players to forge their own epic stories rather than simply follow map markers until the credits roll (that said, the 2023 game has more story-related quests than BOTW).

Outer Wilds

Stuck within a 22-minute time loop punctuated by a star going supernova, Outer Wilds‘ protagonist must traverse a solar system to find the cause behind the catastrophe. This process involves jumping on a ship and visiting a couple of planets in search of clues; in the meantime, players might run into a few NPCs who are minding their own business and, perhaps, living their best lives.

Despite the premise’s urgency, Outer Wilds has quite a relaxed tone since exploration is the name of the game here. As information is learned about the time loop, players get to immerse themselves briefly in the worlds they visit, all of which have something unique to offer.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Technical issues aside, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is one of the most realistic video games of the past few years. The level of detail found throughout the game is incredibly impressive, allowing it to provide a remarkably accurate representation of life in the early 15th century. It also has an excellent story full of memorable and well-written characters, which only increases the sense of immersion that players get.

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Those looking for a historically accurate game set in the medieval period will struggle to find much better and anybody who does check it out will find it difficult to put down. With a Switch port currently in development and rumors of a sequel beginning to circulate, fans will be hoping that this proves to be just the first of many great Kingdom Come games.

Kenshi

Kenshi is an ambitious game that drops people into a massive open-world and challenges them to make their own way. After creating a group of starting characters, players are not given much direction, so they must venture out into the unknown as they gradually develop their party’s skills through activity. They can build houses, farm goods, and establish settlements, just to name a few things.

Although not entirely without written quests, Kenshi largely relies on its established mechanics to organically inspire stories built upon a user’s personal ventures. The result is a punishing and overwhelming experience that is also immersive and frequently deeply satisfying.

Batman: Arkham City

“Immersive” is not a synonym for “realistic.” Rocksteady’s Arkham games do not pretend to be grounded crime dramas; however, in terms of making players feel like they are the Dark Knight, they are almost flawless. An argument could be made that Arkham Knight represents the franchise’s peak in open-world design, but the polarizing Batmobile sections can pull someone out of the experience if they do not enjoy them. Arkham City has no such issue, and the game nails almost everything else.

After being purposefully arrested and imprisoned, Batman finds himself in the eponymous Arkham City, a large-scale prison that serves as the home of Gotham’s worst and most iconic criminals. Armed with an impressive arsenal of tools, DC’s Caped Crusader investigates Hugo Strange’s Protocol 10, all the while engaging in a plethora of side content. Arkham City’s nature means its streets are mostly devoid of NPCs, except for thugs who have a date planned with Batman’s fists. While this emptiness would be frustrating in most open-world projects, Arkham City provides narrative justification for this decision, helping to enhance the immersion.

Hogwarts Legacy

Avalanche’s Hogwarts Legacy rode the hype train all the way to a wildly successful launch. Harry Potter games are nothing new, but great ones are rare; in many ways, the 2023 release is the first title to properly take advantage of the franchise’s gaming potential.

Regardless of someone’s feelings for Harry’s story, Harry Potter‘s universe is generally regarded as fantastic, and Hogwarts Legacy enables fans to immerse themselves in a world filled with magic, mystery, and charm. Even if its story is nothing to write home about, the game absolutely nails its aesthetic, and players can spend dozens of hours living out their Wizarding World fantasies.

Yakuza 0

Nowadays, the mantra for open-world games seems to be that “bigger is better”, but Yakuza has constantly proven that is not really the case. Yakuza 0 takes place in two districts called Kamurochō and Sotenbori, neither of which is particularly huge. However, these settings nevertheless effectively complement the main story and also provide players with a playground to participate in entertaining optional content.

The Yakuza games blend realism with over-the-top silliness fit for B-movies, and the open-world tends to focus on the former. These maps are packed with arcades, restaurants, and bars, along with containing plenty of side activities and mini-games.

Mafia 2

This one is a different case than all the other games on this list as Mafia 2‘s open-world is mostly set dressing that does not offer much to do outside of driving from one main mission to the next. This is not a map designed to distract people for hours on end.

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However, in terms of realism, Mafia 2 does a fantastic job of recreating the aesthetic of the late 1940s and early ’50s. The cars, slums, and shops all come together to craft an immersive landscape soaked in historical accuracy (despite the game taking place in a fictional city), albeit one that cannot be interacted with in any significant way.

Outward

An acquired taste, Outward somehow combines many standard ideas found in action RPGs in a way that gives the game an entirely unique feel. For one, this open-world title incorporates survival elements like a hunger meter, and players will need to keep a close eye on these mechanics as they are not especially forgiving. Outward also opts against the typical “save the world” premise, focusing instead on a more mundane debt-clearing quest to get players started. This storyline is primarily there to incentivize the main character to begin adventuring, at least until they no longer need a reason to justify heading out into the unknown.

Outward is all about exploration and discovery. Whenever heading out into the world, players need to prepare themselves for their travels as they could quickly find themselves stuck in a dire situation. The map can be accessed in its entirety right from the start, even though some sections are obviously designed for higher-level players. Outward has its share of issues, such as underwhelming combat, that could be deal-breakers for some people, but the game’s open-ended structure is a huge positive in its favor.

Outward: Definitive Edition is the version to get.

Gothic 2

Piranha Bytes achieved open-world perfection with the original two Gothic games, so much so that the developer spent the next two decades trying to recapture the same magic, to mixed results. The first entry is impressive and arguably features the best story in the trilogy, but in terms of open-world design, Gothic 2 is up there with the genre’s best projects. Set on an island, the campaign finds the Nameless Hero going on a quest to defeat the dragons, a journey that will take them all across Khorinis.

The central storyline is nothing all that special, but Gothic 2 shines in its minute details. NPCs feel like they are leading lives within this world, and they have their own things going on that have nothing to do with the protagonist. Featuring an impressive range of customization and progression options, Gothic 2 encourages players to craft their ideal adventurer, granting them endless choices in how they fight, live, and explore. Although fairly small by modern standards, Khorinis is a joy to traverse, provided someone does not mind the occasional difficulty spike.

Sea Of Thieves

Rare’s Sea of Thieves garnered a mixed reception upon launch due to a lack of content. More than 5 years later, the pirate-themed game is still going strong, a triumph credited to the developer’s commitment to the project and the community’s appreciation of that work. Sea of Thieves can be played solo or as part of a crew, and both iterations have their positives; however, the latter opens up more avenues. The game takes place in a shared world, so groups of players can engage in PvP as they try to sink each other’s vessels.

Although not especially difficult, Sea of Thieves encourages exploration and self-reliance. Treasure seekers will need to read and figure out maps for themselves rather than just follow a waypoint. While on the sea, there is a sense that something could happen at a moment’s notice, challenging crews to stay on their guards at all times.

Rust

Rust often gets criticized due to the large number of players who shoot on sight and raid other peoples’ bases. Though this kind of behavior can make things difficult for new players, it’s arguably exactly what one should expect from a post-apocalyptic wasteland and therefore helps to make the game’s open-world a lot more immersive.

When all’s said and done, the radiation zones and irradiated animals in Rust pose very little threat to those who know what they’re doing. The unpredictable nature of humanity, on the other hand, ensures that players need always remain on their toes, while simultaneously making the experience feel a lot more genuine than it would otherwise have been.

Fallout 4

Through a series of updates, there were significant improvements made to the gameplay of Fallout 4. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world like the other Fallout games. Its expansive open-world is what keeps Fallout 4 surprising, to say the least.

Using the Pip-Boy is an intuitive way of finding one’s way around Fallout 4‘s gigantic and barren wasteland. On their expedition, players will find remnants of the old world and many vaults that only add to the immersion of Fallout 4‘s fantastic open-world.

Middle-earth: Shadow Of War

At first, what appears like a hybrid of a stealth game and another Tolkien-inspired one then reveals itself to be a wanton way for gamers to rampage across Mordor while leaving a wake of orc blood and possessed husks behind them. There are huge maps to explore and a great many missions to accomplish in Middle-earth: Shadow of War. Though, all aspects involve a world steeped in deep lore that fans of the Lord of the Rings movies and books will be sure to love.

Although the gameplay and story take some liberties with Tolkien’s Legendarium, it is meant to immersive the player into the world with fun and novel aspects; such as the enemy orcs that are immensely full of character and individuality.

Project Zomboid

The Indie Stone’s Project Zomboid has been in Steam’s Early Access for roughly 10 years, and the game nowadays manages to average around 20,000 players at any given moment. The end of the world is nigh and zombie hordes flood the streets of West Point and Muldraugh. Hope is almost lost, and the best anyone can wish for is that they see another sunrise. Players are not tasked with saving the world or finding a cure, but rather their main goal is survival. Naturally, this is easier said than done.

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Even though the project is still in development, Project Zomboid already offers a fair amount of content and mechanics. In its current state, this title is among the most immersive survival sandbox games on the market, and things are likely to only improve over the coming months and years. That said, Project Zomboid is quite a difficult and hardcore experience, so newcomers should be prepared for a tough time.

STALKER: Call Of Pripyat

All the STALKER games are highly regarded and well worth checking out, and they have aged fine since they were never graphical showcases to begin with. Technically, none of these games offer traditional open-worlds, but Call of Pripyat is cut from the same cloth. The 2009 game splits its campaign into three main maps (along with some smaller sections), and players are allowed to freely explore each of these zones in any way they see fit. Even if they do not merge to form one continuous sandbox, these areas are effectively small open-worlds in their own right, and, tonally and thematically, they combine to create a larger universe.

STALKER has always nailed its atmosphere, creating a tense and uncomfortable post-disaster setting that is fully realized. Set in Chernobyl’s Zone following a nuclear disaster, the games craft a world that feels lived-in, and Call of Pripyat arguably does that better than any of its predecessors. While the franchise is an acquired taste, STALKER should be on anyone’s must-play list if they are interested in survival horror.

Shadow Of The Colossus

Compared to most modern open-world games, Shadow of the Colossus‘ Forbidden Land is small and barren. As Wander, players traverse the beautiful nothingness in search of colossi, stunning creatures that roam the land and largely do their own thing without bothering anyone. Then, Wander kills them, a decision instigated by a desire to protect a girl. On the surface, killing monsters to save someone is hardly an unusual video game plot, but Shadow of the Colossus subverts this trope.

Forbidden Land is empty except for the colossi. Between fights, players exist in complete solitude as they journey from one point to the next. While there isn’t a city to investigate or NPCs to interact with, Shadow of the Colossus is still one of the most immersive games due to the atmosphere it creates. These quiet moments also permit players to reflect on the protagonist’s actions in a way not encouraged by most games.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The perfect game for those who love hunting down and slaying abhorrent monsters. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt places the player once more into the boots of Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf. He’s a renowned witcher in the Northern Realms who takes on a variety of quests, not just fiend killing.

Beyond the lengthy main story, players can enjoy card games, fantastic optional quests that add lore details, and even partake in the dating scene, if one dares. With lots to see and do, this action RPG feels almost like a life simulation game, one that has great dark fantasy elements in addition to well-designed and balanced combat.

Although it doesn’t reach the same heights as The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077 also gets a lot of things right.

There are few games as expansive or rich in story as The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. As the Dragonborn, one can gallivant about the most northern province of Tamriel and slay dragons before consuming their souls. A gross oversimplification for this incredible game, though one that sums up just how awesome one’s time in Skyrim can be.

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A variety of character creation options, settings to explore, and sometimes hilarious sights to behold and exploit make this Nordic adventure one every appreciator of open-world games should play at least once in their life.

Dying Light

After Dead Island, Techland shifted its attention to Dying Light, another first-person zombie series. Although the franchises share a few things in common, the latter is set within full-blown open-worlds and emphasizes parkour. Dying Light 2: Stay Human is fun in its own right, but its predecessor is arguably Techland’s best project to date. While its successor focuses more on action at the expense of scares, Dying Light undoubtedly qualifies as horror, especially when the sun goes down.

Zombies have been done to death, and while Dying Light largely sticks to the standard tropes for the monster, it succeeds in making them seem dangerous. New players have to be constantly on guard and aware of their surroundings since they can be overwhelmed at a moment’s notice. The base game features the Slums and Old Town as its main maps, and they are fairly different from each other; however, anyone looking to pick up Dying Light should get an edition that includes the expansion called “The Following.”

Mad Max

Avalanche Studios is largely known for Just Cause, a franchise synonymous with sandbox gameplay, explosions, and one-liners. Just Cause 2 and 3 are generally among the most fun open-world games of all time, but “immersive” is not really the best way to describe them, although they can offer a delightful escape from reality. Avalanche has a few other similar titles under its belt, and while Rage 2 has its fans, the company’s most immersive open-world game is 2015’s Mad Max. Obviously inspired by George Miller’s beloved movie franchise, the post-apocalyptic game nails the most important element of the source material: the action-packed chases.

Mad Max‘s map is a fairly typical desert wasteland, and while not the most original or visually exciting setting, it complements the series’ tone and story well. The title centers around vehicular combat, to the point that players will steadily upgrade their cars as the campaign progresses. Mad Max is, ultimately, about the eponymous character, and Avalanche did a fantastic job of allowing fans to role-play as Max in an adventure that feels authentic to the cinematic versions.

No Man’s Sky

When No Man’s Sky launched, it was missing features and was riddled with bugs. Among the missing features was online multiplayer. Now, developer Hello Games has delivered on their promises by adding multiplayer, among other things. The difference between what No Man’s Sky was when it launched and what it is now is a night and day difference.

Open-world exploration in No Man’s Sky is spectacular. The scale of the game is so large that it is impossible to traverse. Traveling between star systems is a thrill in No Man’s Sky. It is the most realistic interplanetary travel game to date.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Open-world exploration in the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto 5 is more than most players could ask for. The expansive fictional city of Los Santos contains plenty of intricacies that keep players engaged for hours on end. This is Rockstar Games’ most realistic Grand Theft Auto game, and bargain hunters can buy it for cheap now that it’s been out for a while.

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Although the cars, people, and places are fictional, their creations were often inspired by the real world, with many iconic Los Angeles locations showing up throughout Los Santos. This game about stealing cars could be the most realistic open-world game.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

One of the best turn-based RPGs of the last decade, Divinity: Original Sin 2 has great writing, unbeatable combat for its genre, and an overwhelming amount of content. Rivellon is a dark fantasy world with a deep history that is properly explored by Divinity: Original Sin 2. While familiarity with previous entries in the franchise adds to the experience, it is not needed to appreciate the 2017 entry.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is not a sandbox game that provides players access to the full map right out of the gate. The RPG is divided into acts that are set within their own areas; during their respective chapters, these locations can be explored freely by players. Permitting someone is strong enough to survive encounters, they can go wherever they like.

The Getaway

A PS2 exclusive, The Getaway was seriously impressive in 2002. Team Soho successfully recreated London, bringing the city to life in astonishing detail. Nowadays, open-world games set in parts of or full real-life cities are somewhat common, but that was far from the case in the early 2000s. Team Soho’s project was and still is a technical marvel, and the developer prioritized immersion through the elimination of a HUD, including things like quest directions. While this can lead to frustration at times, this creative decision forces players to be 100% engaged since they cannot just rely on mindlessly following a point marker to get where they need to go.

Compared to modern open-world games, The Getaway is considerably more streamlined, with the campaign primarily focusing on telling the dual stories of Mark Hammond and Frank Carter. Players will eventually gain the ability to freely explore the available map, but this requires completing the main missions. Also, like so many early attempts at open-world structures, the gameplay has not aged particularly well, and it was hardly flawless to begin with.

Subnautica

Subnautica and its sequel, Below Zero, take place on an alien planet largely consisting of water. After arriving at 4546B, players must set out to explore the map’s underwater regions to try and find a way off the planet, along with learning some secrets about this world. Below Zero expands on its predecessor’s above-water areas, but both games are at their best when they force players to explore under the ocean.

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Underwater open-world games are in very short supply, and Subnautica sets such a high bar for this type of experience that it is unlikely it will be surpassed anytime soon.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Ten games later in the series, Assassin’s Creed continues to surprise players. In one way or another, its story revolves around the Animus. The Animus is a device that allows a person to interact with their genetic history. Through this device, players can relive their ancestors’ lives.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey takes place during the Peloponnesian War in Greece. As the latest game to release in the series, it offers the best open-world experience in the series thus far. With gorgeous visuals and top-notch dialogue, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is one of the best open-world games to dive into.

Origins and Valhalla also have immersive open-worlds.

Horizon Zero Dawn & Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the most recognizable open-world games on the PlayStation 4. Players are immersed in a world where robotic dinosaurs run rampant and humans are brought back to their primitive state. As protagonist Aloy, players embark on a journey to defeat the machines and prevent them from wiping out humanity. This is one of the most spectacular open-world games to launch on the PlayStation 4. Horizon Zero Dawn continues to surprise at every turn, which is why many consider Horizon Zero Dawn to be a must-play game.

Horizon Forbidden West continues Aloy’s story as she ventures toward the titular zone in search of information regarding a plague that is spreading across the world. Bigger and generally better, the sequel takes everything that worked in its predecessor and expands on it, including open-world exploration.

Forza Horizon 3, 4, & 5

In the realm of open-world racing game franchises, Forza Horizon sits above and beyond any of its rivals. All the games are great in their own right, and Playground does a stellar job of adapting real-life locations into beautiful maps that respectfully reflect the areas’ cultures.

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Although the first two entries are incredible, they cannot compare to their more modern sequels in terms of scale and visuals. When it comes to the last three games, subjective opinion is likely to dictate whether someone prefers Forza Horizon 3‘s Australia, Forza Horizon 4‘s Scotland, or Forza Horizon 5‘s Mexico. E

Some players were taken aback by Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain‘s storytelling, which was scattered throughout the game rather than focused. Open-world is not something familiar to the Metal Gear Solid series, and it would seem as if the storytelling suffered.

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is a masterpiece in its own right. The sense of realism is above and beyond. Love it or hate it, The Phantom Pain is one of the most realistic open-world games of all time.

Mortal Online 2

MMORPGs can be immersive in their opening hours, but that impression typically lessens as players begin to focus on ways to take advantage of the mechanics. Mortal Online 2 advertises itself as the “most immersive MMORPG,” and this tagline also serves as a disclaimer to new players. Star Vault’s project is a cutthroat sandbox game fueled almost entirely by its community.

While Mortal Online 2 provides a (massive) map, cities, and tools, players will need to essentially create their own content and fun. Naturally, this technique is risky since the game’s value is entirely dependent on the playerbase’s commitment.

Marvel’s Spider-Man

Developer Insomniac Games’ rendering of New York City is the closest representation that players have seen of the city in gaming yet. Touring through real-life locations like Central Park is both overwhelming and awe-inspiring.

Future open-world games can learn a lot from Spider-Man for PlayStation 4. Although it is possible to fast-travel in the game, the city is so detailed and immersive that most players won’t want to. It will be a while before players forget the brilliance put into Spider-Man for PlayStation 4.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales also deserves an honorable mention.

Watch Dogs 2

Some would say that the Watch Dogs series is a Grand Theft Auto copycat, but it is so much more. Sure, players can steal cars and drive, but that is one of the few things the two games have in common. Watch Dogs 2 allows players to manipulate their environment through technology.

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One can change the color of traffic lights, open gates, and disable people’s cell phones. The amount of realism contained in Watch Dogs 2 makes it outstanding. This open-world game is super realistic, and too few people have gotten a chance to play it.

Elden Ring

After dabbling in open areas throughout the Souls series, FromSoftware went full open-world for 2022’s Elden Ring. Set in the Lands Between, players are the Tarnished, a being charged with collecting the Great Runes in order to restore the titular ring. Dropped into a sprawling landscape split into massive regions that each come with huge and small dungeons, Elden Ring leaves the Tarnished free to their own devices almost entirely, although the game does provide direction for those who want it.

Elden Ring‘s map is ridiculously expansive, and it offers not just quantity and density but also quality and variety. Epic bosses, strange side quests, fascinating lore, and all the equipment one could want are waiting to be discovered in the Lands Between.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar is arguably the leading developer when it comes to open-world projects, and Red Dead Redemption 2 set an extremely high bar that the entire industry will struggle to surpass. Set around the start of the 20th century, the Western game brings to life a long-gone era of American history, guiding players through an array of detailed cities and landscapes that will effortlessly teleport them to a time when outlaws were part of everyday life.

Red Dead Redemption 2‘s immersive open-world goes beyond just stunning visuals or detailed environments. The gameplay emphasizes the minute everyday behavior that would be standard during that time. At times, Rockstar prioritized realism over entertainment.

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