As games increase in complexity and visual fidelity, one has to question whether they can evolve in scale without running into all kinds of technical issues. However, if the past decade or so has proven anything, the open-world genre can thrive under several constraints and offer some of the most memorable experiences in gaming.
Even as we focus on the 30 best open-world games ever made (as of 2024), there’s truly something for everyone. The narratively minded will love Ghost of Tsushima, Red Dead Redemption 2, Horizon Forbidden West, and Death Stranding. Those who favor emergent gameplay have Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Sea of Thieves.
Then you have titles that reward creativity, like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Satisfactory, and The Forest. Let’s look at all the other incredible open-world titles available and what makes them so great.
