The best open-world games on PC

The open game world attracts players with its possibilities, various interesting features. It's always pleasant to wander through sprawling forests, imagine the unique scent of greenery. Or to dive into the world of Ancient Greece and bravely fight enemies. A player can simply dig and build while traveling to gather the necessary resources for crafting.

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We offer our readers a list of the 20 best open-world games on PC. These projects may open up new possibilities. Let's go!

Minecraft

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Of course, our list begins with the beloved Minecraft. This famous sandbox game has ensnared millions of players in its captivating world. It's easy to get lost for several hours here, as the endless digging, building, farming, crafting, resource gathering, and much more can engage you for hours, days, and even years.

This title needs no special introduction. We’ll say that the game transforms if you play with friends, sabotage other players, or create real masterpieces to show off to other fans. Anyone can download textures or mods to diversify the gameplay.

Too simple? Well, then readers can challenge themselves by creating their own server using our guide. The possibilities are endless, and anyone who wants to should take advantage of them. If you are looking for a great co-op game where you don't need to struggle, Minecraft is perfect for such purposes.

Palworld

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An open world filled with cute cartoon creatures is a recipe for success. Perhaps the creators understood this and decided to make Palworld, which immediately soared to the top of Steam charts. Incidentally, this title is also included in another one of our interesting lists — top 20 best survival games.

The title seems really interesting at first, but after several hours of repetitive actions, it becomes boring: cool Pals are caught, everything is built. What to do next? The bright visuals and cute creatures no longer save the situation, as fresh experiences, new content are needed.

Fortunately, the creators understood this as well, so a major update will be released soon. They promise a new region, an arena, new Pals, and much more. We wait, hope that it’ll allow Palworld to re-enter the Steam charts because the project is truly worth it!

Final Fantasy XV

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One of the author’s favorite games. When you love a project so much, it's truly difficult to find the right words to describe it, but I'll try.

Final Fantasy XV attracts with its unique adventure vibe on the Regalia, excellent chemistry between the main characters who fight various monsters, help each other, support each other, undertake important missions, and cook delicious meals. Seriously, just one look at the food prepared by Ignis will make you want to try this culinary masterpiece.

The storyline is another aspect worthy of attention. At the start, the story might seem boring to some, but it soon picks up pace, making you binge through chapter after chapter. Yet, you take the time to roam the world with friends, hunt monsters, and extend the adventure to delay saying goodbye to this brilliantly executed title. The graphics, plot, main characters, journeys — all were crafted to be a 10 out of 10 by the developers!

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

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Geralt of Rivia couldn't gallop past our top list on his trusty horse Roach. A brutal, strong, charismatic character who immediately wins you over. However, the game's success is not just due to him, but also the story, open world, various monsters that fill the locations, interesting quests.

The combat system is well implemented, along with skill upgrades, weapons, armor. Traveling through different places is very engaging, especially in Toussaint, which, after all the dark, grim areas, feels like a paradise where Geralt is treated with respect.

It is also worth mentioning that all responses in dialogues will affect the game's ending, so it’s better not to skip them and read carefully. By the way, we have a list of games where choices influence the story. Read more at this link. Additionally, any reader can diversify or ease the gameplay with cheats for The Witcher 3.

Grand Theft Auto V

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Creating a list of the best open-world games, we couldn't leave out the legendary GTA V, which once conquered the world. New horizons, quests, a location filled with lively people. You can drive, enjoy the music and suddenly find that someone has a task for one of the three characters.

After the serious fourth part, GTA V is filled with comedic situations, memes, humor. There are many new features not seen in previous versions, along with action, heists, shootouts.

But what players enjoyed the most was the online version, where even more madness could be unleashed.

Death Stranding

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It's not without reason that this brilliant game is sometimes called a delivery simulator, because the main character has to deliver various cargoes, such as medicines, on foot (although over time, the player will get access to vehicles). The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, where after each person's death, a massive explosion of dark energy occurs, destroying everything around it, which is why the player cannot kill.

Kojima, a genius, put in a lot of effort to create his brilliant project. Many players appreciated Death Stranding, but there are those who either didn't like the game at all or didn't understand it (because the title is too genius!). Another appealing factor is that the main character is played by "The Walking Dead" star Norman Reedus.

You’ll travel a lot and enjoy beautiful landscapes. The graphics are vivid, mesmerizing, so the title might captivate you at first glance.

Far Cry 5

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Earlier we mentioned the madness in GTA V, but forget about that because Far Cry 5 won’t let anyone relax. The player can hide in the bushes or quietly walk through the forest, but a helicopter will inevitably fly overhead, highlighting the character, and an epic shootout will ensue. There are many such helicopters, probably because the brainwashed residents have an endless supply, otherwise, it can't be explained.

However, the character can also be discovered by passing enemy vehicles or people, leading to another shootout. This happens almost every minute! This annoys many players, but fans of endless action will appreciate it.

The game features a spacious open world, beautifully realized. Despite the shootouts, fishing, and hunting, it gets boring quickly. There isn't much to do, so the gameplay becomes monotonous. However, the plot is interesting, and the main villain is very charismatic. That's probably why he managed to brainwash so many people.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

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Another cool product from Ubisoft, immersing players in the world of Ancient Greece. The open world is filled with beautiful historical locations that will be familiar to many users. For example, there's a whole Colosseum here. Bright colors, warm tones, the azure sea, naval battles, travels. In Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, it's interesting to explore every nook, cranny. The creators really put in the effort to make this title.

You won’t only follow the main storyline but also complete side quests that are no less engaging. These quests contain such captivating stories that it's impossible to tear yourself away. These missions will feature battles with mythical creatures, tell dramatic stories, or reveal the true nature of people.

The main storyline, especially with the DLC, is also worthy of praise. Some of the player's actions will influence the ending, so it's best not to skip dialogues.

Fallout 4

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In 2015, Fallout 4 was met with negativity by fans of the series. Bethesda was in its usual form: cardboard characters with strange faces, an unimpressive plot, poor optimization. However, thanks to modders, the project gained new dimensions, possibilities, allowing it to quickly rehabilitate itself.

Bethesda has always been good with open worlds, and this title is no exception. The locations are diverse: city ruins, various military bases, farms, dungeons, vaults, and much more.

The project is good, but playing without mods is unbearable. Create your dream game with improvements. Where to find the best ones? In our collection.

Genshin Impact

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Beautiful characters, a vibrant world, interesting missions, a combat system. If the user love collecting things, this game is perfect because players need to gather heroes to explore dungeons, complete quests, fight bosses. As you progress, you assemble a whole team of characters. Only 4 members can be in a team at once. One of them is controlled by the user, while the rest are controlled by AI. The player can switch between them.

Besides battles, travels, heroes can climb cliffs, walls, swim, cook food, glide on wings, gather resources, craft equipment.

The title has a rich and well-developed lore. You can explore it by talking to NPCs, reading books in local libraries, or completing main and side missions.

Elden Ring

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Pain, suffering, humiliation, acceptance... All these unforgettable experiences are provided by Elden Ring. The open world here is quite interesting, as players are invited to gather resources, fight monsters, bosses, explore dungeons.

This cannot be called a classic sandbox. Here, the player is given the chance to explore the world calmly. Well, as calmly as possible… There are many difficult bosses. One mistake — and you start over. Classic. But the player can pre-clear levels.

The authors also worked on the lore. Playing won’t be boring. However, if someone does not like hardship and constant challenges, it's better to postpone playing this title.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

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Another Assassin’s Creed, but this time the action unfolds not in sunny Greece. By the way, we do not recommend playing the title immediately after Odyssey because, at the start, the character is surrounded by snow, gray tones, and not the most engaging locations. However, players need to endure this because the game offers interesting gameplay as the action shifts to England.

The open world here is not empty; it is filled with various activities. Atmospheric locations generate picturesque views that can make the player forget about the quests. Players will also journey to the fantastic worlds of Valhalla, Asgard, Jotunheim.

Dragon's Dogma 2

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Fans of the first part eagerly awaited the sequel, and finally, the moment has come. Dragon's Dogma 2 is bigger, deeper than its predecessor, with a giant open world playing an important role. Now it makes sense to explore and unravel the secrets hidden by the developers.

The project is unique in its own way, thanks to the pawns. The companions of the main character do not have detailed personalities like in other RPGs, but they don't need to. Pawns are creations from other worlds that serve the player faithfully without asking unnecessary questions. The most interesting part is that all these characters were created by other players! Moreover, they remember their journeys with their owner, and if another player finds a hidden stash, their pawn will guide you to the treasure.

Another distinctive feature of the game is the combat system. You’ll fight not only regular monsters but also real giants. The player can climb on them, search for weak spots, and even bring them down. Pawns also participate in the fun chaos, making every battle unforgettable! Unfortunately, the bugs will also be unforgettable. Currently, the project has performance issues, which is sad.

No Man's Sky

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The game with the largest open world. It’s not surprising because No Man's Sky has about a quintillion planets — a staggering and at the same time terrifying number. But this is the feature of the title: players are invited to travel through endless space, visit planets, gather resources, build bases, fight pirates, complete quests. The project can captivate for hundreds of hours.

The developers strive to release interesting updates to keep the audience engaged. For example, expeditions with their own conditions and goals have appeared. Rewards from these can be transferred to the single-player game.

But despite all the efforts, the project quickly becomes monotonous. The biomes on the planets repeat, they stop being surprising, space travel becomes less interesting. There is a lot of content, but something still feels missing. Perhaps it’s the lack of storyline missions, large ships to command, or individual factions to battle with. Nevertheless, the project has grown and transformed significantly since its release.

Red Dead Redemption 2

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We urge you to be cautious with playing Red Dead Redemption 2! The open world is so good that after experiencing it, it may be hard to find anything else that compares. This happened to the author of this article. In RDR2, you want to live and never be distracted by reality again.

First, Rockstar has delivered an impressive storyline. The story is mature, complex, cinematic, making you feel like you’re part of a great Western action movie. Second, there are numerous side missions that can surprise gamers. Sometimes a simple capture of a criminal turns into a whole adventure filled with drama or comedy.

However, the most important aspect of RDR2 is its lively open world. There is always something happening, and the player is part of it. The game features well-developed hunting + fishing mechanics, various points of interest, and nature that amazes with its beauty, dynamism. It’s hard to describe this in words. We recommend seeing it for yourself.

Hogwarts Legacy

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The title is enchanting with its magical atmosphere, which will surely appeal to fans of the Harry Potter universe. The dream of many people who have been waiting all these years for that coveted letter will come true. So what if it's only in virtual reality? The main thing is that now each of us can explore Hogwarts, the areas surrounding the school, and the common room of our chosen house.

Finally, it's possible to cast spells, wave a wand, walk around in robes. However, players won’t encounter the main characters from the books + films because the events take place before the golden trio appears.

Your character starts immediately in the fifth year because they possess ancient magic. Throughout the storyline, you’ll learn spells, use them actively, solve puzzles, chat with and help NPCs, and simply enjoy this world.

Cyberpunk 2077

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Upon release, the game was met with, to put it mildly, a lukewarm reception from fans. This was due to aggressive marketing, as the developers claimed it was nearly the best title in the universe. However, what players received were endless bugs, shattered expectations, disappointments.

But the developers did not give up and managed to refine Cyberpunk 2077 into a masterpiece. Now it can truly be called one of the best open-world games, teeming with variety: neon districts in Night City, poor areas, gang neighborhoods, DogTown, added with the Phantom Liberty DLC. You certainly won’t be bored, as exploring the city and all its locations will take up a lot of time.

Of course, the strong point is the storyline. Combined with Phantom Liberty, players can expect thrilling adventures in a world where wealth and poverty starkly contrast.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

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A unique game that has created its own genre, or more precisely, its direct sequel. Here, the open world is not just a backdrop but the main driving force, as it lives independently of the player. At disposal is an entire continent where kingdoms constantly battle each other.

The journey always begins with the role of an ordinary wanderer, and from there, the player decides their own fate. They can gather an army of village men and chase bandits across the map. On the other hand, they can become a lawbreaker themself. With a squad, the user can join another lord's army, become a mercenary, or perhaps a feudal lord. From a feudal lord, the path leads to the throne, but that’s not all. Nothing prevents you from creating a state, eventually establishing dominance over all!

Bannerlord combines elements of RPG + grand strategy. There are many skills to upgrade, crafting, trading, looting. You’ll need to manage a castle or state wisely to maintain influence. When it comes to battles, the game changes again. You find yourself in the thick of things, where numerous armies clash in real-time.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

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If you’re looking for the most realistic open world, passing by Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a crime. In this regard, the project even surpasses RDR2. The Middle Ages have never been shown so authentically, offering not only an excellent RPG with a captivating storyline but also a true survival simulator.

The main character is highly human. He needs food, water, sleep. To avoid scaring off residents, enemies with his smell, he must bathe, wash his clothes, and any misdeed is punished not only by imprisonment but also by poor treatment. How NPCs perceive you greatly affects many aspects, including the romantic storyline.

The main feature is the combat system. Fencing plays a huge role, and you, along with the character, will need to learn techniques. If you don't learn how to handle a sword, any ruffian with a club can send the hero to the afterlife.

Horizon Forbidden West

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Forbidden West has surpassed its predecessor in many ways, with pleasant changes affecting all aspects of the game. The Horizon series has gained many fans thanks to its unique setting, intricate storyline. The events take place after the complete extinction of all life on Earth, but the planet has managed to recover from the catastrophe.

Humanity has reverted to a state of primitive tribes, while cybernetic versions of animals roam alongside the real ones. The world is filled with the ruins of a bygone civilization, which encourages exploration of every corner of the map. The open world here is truly interesting, incredibly beautiful, so we recommend taking your time, enjoying it.

The changes have not only made the game bigger and more colorful but have also improved the side quests. These secondary tasks have become much more engaging and have developed their own plots, providing players with a fully-fledged RPG experience.

In each of the presented games, the open world is unique and holds great significance. Harsh medieval times, captivating fantasy, bustling cities, and vast cosmic expanses — all this is open to our readers!

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