12 Best Open World Games to Lose Yourself in 2023

The best open world games are an excellent investment for gaming fans.

While a linear story holds its appeal for those who enjoy structure and simplicity, open-world gaming opens the door to potentially limitless possibilities. With an open world game, there isn’t just one main storyline to follow, but countless potential paths to explore.

Open world games have become some of the most popular choices in the world in recent years as people invest heavily in consoles with mind-bending graphics and realism. A truly exceptional open-world title that offers you unlimited opportunities to lose yourself in a completely different environment and play as you choose.

Today, we take a look at some of the best open-world games around.

1. Minecraft

Perhaps not the first title you think of when you imagine open-world gaming, Minecraft is a wonderful insight into just how much freedom the right title can give you. Technically, Minecraft is a “sandbox” game, but it still falls under the “open world” category. You are free to explore wherever your map takes you and play the game of your choice.

You can chop trees, mine for resources, explore dungeons and fight enemies. Alternatively, you can sit back and relax by building your own ideal home from blueprints you find online. Minecraft fan communities have already built some amazing places to explore if you’re tuning in on the web. Minecraft has many add-ons and mod packs available, so you can further customize the experience.

2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Few games have the same level of acclaim as Skyrim. It’s a title you can spend months exploring and still only end up finishing part of the story. One of the best open-world games ever created, this title gives you limitless places to explore and tasks to complete. Sure, you can follow the main storyline and continue your quest as a dragonborn, but you can spend hours discovering secrets and challenges hidden behind dungeon doors.

Even if you avoid every single major settlement or town in Skyrim, you’ll still be able to complete 30% of the title’s quests in the wilderness. Moreover, the map is filled with other non-exploration tasks such as stealing from NPCs, tracking down treasure, or fighting dragons.

3. Genshin Impact

Considered one of the best mobile games of all time, Genshin Impact is much more than just a mobile title. If you want to see all the beautiful graphics in their full glory you can tackle this game on a range of consoles as well as on your PC. Genshin Impact takes elements of games like “Breath of the Wild” and combines them with titles like “Final Fantasy.”

In this wonderful world, you can climb mountains, swim through lakes, interact with NPCs, and do countless quests. Moreover, the game benefits from constant improvements, with new characters and quests being added all the time. As an added bonus, this title is completely free to download and play as long as you like.

4. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla

Most of the games in the Assassin’s Creed franchise have some unusual open world elements. The “Valhalla” title released in 2020 was one of the highest rated releases from the series and for good reason. The game is one of the top titles on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, with amazing graphics to explore.

Assassin’s Creed plunges you headfirst into the Dark Ages, where you travel across England as a Viking to find a new home where your clan can thrive. Not only will you fight enemies and complete quests, but you’ll also have the opportunity to meet new people, make friends, and build your own settlement. The landscape is wonderful to explore and full of surprises hidden around every corner. It’s a game where you can easily lose yourself.

5. The Elden Ring

One of the hottest games in the world right now, Elden Ring is shaping up to be one of the best open-world titles ever developed. The game comes from the artistic mind of George RR Martin and the extraordinary Hidetaka Miyazaki, so you know you’re in for a treat. In this game, you take on the role of a “Tainted” warrior, traveling the “Middle Lands” in search of the gods.

The plot is extraordinary and the dense open world is definitely full of secrets to discover. Each door and location is as thrilling a ride as the last. However, keep in mind that this title is really built to challenge you. It’s one of the harder games out there to complete, so if you’re bored with titles like “Dark Souls” you might not enjoy it.

6. Grand Theft Auto 5

We can’t have a list of the best open world games without mentioning everyone’s favorite crime rich series. Although Grand Theft Auto is older than some of the other titles on this list, it still holds up well and is a fan favorite among countless gamers. It’s one of the most successful games of all time, allowing you to build your world however you see fit.

You can drive through the winding streets of your bustling city, track serial killers, run from the police or try your hand at a little shark wrestling. There are missions to hunt and new community missions are being uploaded on the web all the time. While this title may have you questioning your ethics from time to time, it’s still worth the investment.

7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Among the most popular open world games ever created, Witcher 3 is thrilling enough to inspire its own Netflix series with Henry Cavill! This unusual open-world title is full of unique side quests and things to discover, from monsters to romantic entanglements. The game features one of the largest maps ever made for a video game, so you can have hours of fun.

In this game, you get to play as Geralt, traveling around the country looking for people with monster problems. Every task you complete earns you money and rewards, as well as giving you the chance to meet interesting new people. This game is especially appreciated for its smooth and streamlined fight scenes, which you will surely fall in love with.

8. Red Dead Redemption 2

Another highly acclaimed and highly popular title on our list of the best open world games, Red Dead Redemption 2 is brimming with amazing storylines and innovations. Inspired by western stories and literature, this is a game that will help you find your inner cowboy in no time. The main story of the game tells the story of “Dutch” and his efforts to keep his gang afloat in various ways. The great thing about this game is that you can play it however you choose.

You can decide to help other people on the map to earn a little money, or you can blindly rob them. In the process, you’ll be able to explore countless new beautiful areas, each with its fair share of wildlife to hunt and kill. The story is fantastic, the combat is surprisingly realistic, and there is enough to keep one playing for months without getting bored. It’s a total winner.

9. Far Cry 6

Any game in the Far Cry series offers you an exceptional open-world experience. But for the purpose of this list, we’re going to look at the most recent addition to the franchise. Far Cry 6 is a first-person shooter set in the fast-paced and fictional region of Yarra, somewhere in South America. Here, you train as a guerilla fighter, planning to overthrow the dictatorship created by the Castillo family.

Far Cry 6 comes with the same impressive open world experience as its predecessors, so you’ll find plenty of side missions and areas to explore. There are also secrets hidden across the map, races to complete, and companions to find along the way. Plus, if you feel like being a hero for a while, you can help out some local citizens.

10. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Looking for an open world with a little less reality and a little more magic? Breath of the Wild has you covered. A fan favorite among Nintendo fans, this title once again puts you in the shoes of Link – an explorer from the region of Hyrule. This title gives you the chance to discover Hyrule like never before. In fact, finding your own routes is greatly encouraged by the map.

There are trees and mountains to climb, missions to complete, treasures to find and even recipes to learn if you feel like upgrading your cooking knowledge. The main storyline is also excellent, with a decent learning curve to tackle as you develop your skills. If you already love the Zelda franchise, this is a game you can devote many hours to.

11. Spider-Man

Spider-Man is a game that’s a real joy to play – not just if you’re a Marvel fan. Unfortunately, the title was a PlayStation exclusive release, so if you’re an Xbox gamer or computer fan, you may not have experienced the 2018 installation yet. As you might expect, the latest Spider-Man game gives you the chance to step into the red and blue of Peter Parker as he fights crime across New York.

The main story is great and well written, but you are not limited to just following the central story. There are plenty of collectibles hidden throughout the city and side quests that allow you to level up your gear. There’s also a wide selection of suits to discover, which is sure to appeal to any comic book nerd out there.

12. Horizon Forbidden West

One of the highest rated games to come out in 2022, Horizon Forbidden West is higher than previous games in the series. This amazing game lets you explore truly beautiful and unique lands, encounter new tribes, and fight bigger, deadlier machines than the previous title. You will be thrown into the role of Aloy, a warrior trying to find out why Earth is dying and save her people.

The story is as unusual as the previous game; However, there are tons of side quests to uncover. The open world is bigger and richer than what you’ve seen in previous Horizon games. However, you may be reunited with some old friends along the way. The rich atmosphere is especially impressive when partnered with the PS5’s impressive hardware.

Discover a new open world

There are plenty of amazing open world games to discover in the gaming landscape today. Some of the best titles like Skyrim and Grand Theft Auto are still traditional favorites. However, new options like Horizon Forbidden West and Elden Ring are starting to take the world by storm, especially thanks to the arrival of new consoles and graphics.

We have lost your love open world game? Share your thoughts on the best titles in the comments below.

If you’re a mobile game fan, don’t forget to check out our best Android games and best iOS games!